Bombs, turbans and chanting “In the Name of God” - these are the limited satirical portraits distributed of Arabs when it comes to comedy. Fortunately, there’s a growing positive association with Arabic comedic timing as more Arabs interact with stand-up performances and comedy more generally, especially those living in culturally meshed landscapes such as New York City.

Recently, the 7th New York Arab-American Comedy Festival (NYAACF) brought to light this very phenomenon. No Arab-American identity today is replete with questions of living in post 9/11 America - an obscure, actualized reality for each of us. When comedy comes from the mouth of those who are usually the pun of the joke, it broadens this reality to a more relatable whole.

Read the interview with the founder of the NYAACF, Dean Obeidallah, as he speaks about the festival, it’s planned tour in the Middle East and prospects for upcoming festivals.

Also check this blog, Arab Comedy and Media, which documents the latest in the New York Arab-American comedy scene aiming to deepen the debate of Arab comedy in pop culture assimilation.