How Media Underrepresentation Impacts Copts Outside Egypt 

In a recent discourse, I engaged with a Coptic Egyptian expatriate, Andrew Edward, aged 25, concerning his experiences as a member of the Coptic community living outside Egypt. Edward articulated that he seeks to maintain a connection with the Egyptian culture by consuming media such as films and television programs. As an Egyptian expat myself, I could relate to his perspective. However, Edward expressed that while Egyptian cinema serves as his primary source of insight into the Egyptian culture, it has, in fact, distanced him from his Coptic heritage, as he does not observe any expressions or portrayals of the Coptic culture in such media. He noted that the Coptic culture is deteriorating, with many cultural practices, foods, folklore, language, music, and other Coptic heritages being completely unknown not only to the Egyptian populace but also to the Coptic community, particularly those residing outside Egypt, who lack a communal setting to engage with their cultural roots. When asked whether media representation could potentially mitigate this problem, he asserted that while the dearth of representation of Copts in Egyptian cinema is undoubtedly one of the primary reasons for the absence of Coptic culture in Egyptian society, it may be too late to remedy the issue by initiating representations of Copts in media. He contended that the Egyptian identity and culture are not malleable at this stage, particularly since Copts are beginning to lose touch with their heritage. These reflections reveal that the social exclusion of Coptic Egyptians is not limited to violence, lack of opportunities, or implicit discrimination resulting from their status as a minority in Egypt. Even Copts living outside of Egypt are susceptible to experiencing a sense of detachment from their identity. Consequently, despite Edward's belief that the problem may be beyond redemption, the solution to the social exclusion of Copts can only emanate from Egyptian society itself, with Egyptian cinema being a primary mode of engagement, as the society tends to be most receptive and open-minded when it comes to such media.