Social media has become the breeding ground for artists from around the world to showcase their talents. Gone are the days when artists needed to vie for an agent’s – or agency’s – attention to make a name for themselves. Talents from across industries have garnered massive followings through social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok. And it is no different for comedians. Online comedy is becoming a genre in and of itself, with a number of comedians trading in a physical stage for a digital one. Moreover, there has been a recent spike in content creators both within the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, and within the Arab diaspora worldwide, taking to Instagram and TikTok to satirise cultural norms found within their families and within society. Poking fun at the mother forever trying to find a husband for her daughter, the Arab boyfriend who disappears on his girlfriend as soon as Ramadan starts, and everything in between, these comedians wield comedy as a form of social commentary. And it’s all in good fun. Mai Maxwell (@MaisVault) Egyptian-American content creator, Mai, known to netizens as MaisVault, takes archetypical ‘Middle Eastern…
