CMES (Center of Middle Eastern Studies)
Vol 19, No 1 (2026)

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF NABATI POETRY: REMEDIATION, AUDIENCE ROLE, AND AUTHENTICITY NEGOTIATION

Syaifullah Syaifullah (Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta)
Ahdiyat Mahendra (Universitas Islam Negeri Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi)
Khasanah Khasanah (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Tarbiyah Al Muslihun Blitar)



Article Info

Publish Date
15 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study examines how Nabati Poetry is transformed within the digital ecosystem of TikTok. The research explores the ways in which poetic structure adapts to the platform’s logics, the role of audiences in shaping contemporary popular literary practices, and the negotiation of authenticity within participatory digital spaces. Employing a multimodal digital ethnography approach combined with qualitative content analysis, six TikTok videos featuring Nabati Poetry published between 2020 and 2025 were purposively selected based on audience engagement and thematic richness. The findings reveal that structural adaptation occurs through compressed verses, heightened emotional intensity, and expressive visuality in order to align with TikTok’s algorithmic dynamics. Audiences emerge not merely as passive recipients but as value curators, actively shaping performative norms and determining the visibility of poetic content. Authenticity, moreover, is shown to be negotiated not only through adherence to classical forms but also through cultural resonance, visual strategies, and participatory relevance. This study contributes to Arabic digital literary studies by demonstrating how platform cultures reshape oral traditions through remediation, audience agency, and sociotechnical aesthetics.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

cmes

Publisher

Subject

Description

The CMES (Center of Middle Eastern Studies) journal is a distinguished peer-reviewed academic publication dedicated to advancing rigorous scholarly research on Middle Eastern studies. It publishes high-calibre research articles, theoretical studies, and critical reviews that engage with both ...