From Niche to Mainstream: Tracing the Trajectory of Fansubbing in the Arab World

Abstract

This study aims to examine the development of the Arab fansubbing phenomenon, focusing on the Arab fansubbers' demographic characteristics, registration patterns, and workflow styles between 2001 and 2023. Furthermore, it strives to comprehend the role of fansubbing in disseminating global content within the Arab world, emphasizing its potential as a means of promoting mutual understanding. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study examines a corpus of 360 Arab fansubbers and their associated metadata primarily sourced from Subscene.com, a popular subtitle-sharing platform. Additionally, it explores digital interactions such as online forums, dialogues, and comment sections. Therefore, the findings indicate a significant increase in registered fansubbers, signaling a growing interest in fansubbing activities within the Arab world. Moreover, there have been noticeable shifts in the distribution of audiovisual fansubbed materials, signifying evolving preferences and practices. Finally, diverse collaborative practices have emerged within these communities, indicating a shift towards a more cooperative working style.