Kareem manages to weave transnationalism, anti-nationalism, Quebecois separatism, universalism, and humor within a story that contemplates the sheer absurdity of policing identity. I must say, I love that it’s set in a library, that secular sacred space where redemption and salvation crescendo around stories and images. A DISTINCT SOCIETY invites audiences of all backgrounds to transcend borders and interrogate our fears. Along the way, whatever cultural and political signifiers we ascribe to “America,” “Canada,” “the Middle East,” and “Muslims” morph into whole new ways of reflecting our...
Kareem manages to weave transnationalism, anti-nationalism, Quebecois separatism, universalism, and humor within a story that contemplates the sheer absurdity of policing identity. I must say, I love that it’s set in a library, that secular sacred space where redemption and salvation crescendo around stories and images. A DISTINCT SOCIETY invites audiences of all backgrounds to transcend borders and interrogate our fears. Along the way, whatever cultural and political signifiers we ascribe to “America,” “Canada,” “the Middle East,” and “Muslims” morph into whole new ways of reflecting our actual lived experiences. An extraordinary artist has crafted an exquisitely engaging tale.
