Halal arts: Censorship or creative ethical practice?

The idea that Islam, and in particular Islamic movements, have a vexed relationship with cultural heritage, artistic creativity, irony and laughter has been discussed in media outlets in Europe and North America since at least the 1990s. The emergence of an Islamic cultural and artistic scene has therefore been welcomed by activists and public servants as an opportunity to show a “different”, “moderate” and thus more “modern” face of Islam. The emergence of halal arts is a critical reaction to omnipresent secular mass culture deemed to be destructive to the cultivation of a pious self, but which at the same time has shaped the understanding of younger generations of Muslims of the role of culture. The author focuses on some of arts common features, mainly with regard to its emphasis on the necessity to find legitimate Islamic artistic expression in terms of content, form and the aspects surrounding its performance.