Prophets in motion: Bringing prophet stories from the Holy Quran to life on screen

Abstract

Audiovisual translation in the Arab world needs to have a broader corpus of research, to investigate the unique characteristics of the Arabic text and context, especially when it is from the Holy Quran. This case study compares the narration of the story of prophet Yusuf between the source text – the Holy Quran – and three series that tell the story in Arabic. Intersemiotic transcreation will be the main lens to investigate the scenes, while Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis forms the theoretical framework. Since the miracle of the Holy Quran lies in its language, Muslim scholars argue that it is not translated but interpreted, because translation may alter the words and meanings of this sacred domain. Attempts to teach the Holy Quran in creative ways, or books that show the meaning of its verses, aim to provide a clearer interpretation of the general meaning, for the specific or general audience. The three chosen series vary between animation, claymation, and live action. With each having its unique characteristics, the analysis of eight scenes adds more insight into such film productions, along with interpretations from Muslim scholars, both from the Sunni and Shia sects. The analysis finds that scenes based on verses from Surat Yusuf depended on verses interpretations that are uncommon among Muslim scholars. This affects the audience, especially those who learn better watching these series. Also, some scenes were added or omitted, which may be reasoned based on the target audience, assuming that may be considered sensitive. Furthermore, scenes that are not related to verses from Surat Yusuf may not serve the purpose of teaching the story of the prophet Yusuf because they do not have a credible source of interpretation from Muslim scholars or are considered very weak narratives. It is encouraged to produce case studies in the Arabic context, to further see similar or different patterns, in the sacred text or the general Arabic text, and suggest improvements or guidelines for such film productions.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science