The Algerian Malouf As A Resistant Memory: A Critical Cultural Reading Of Urban Sound Poetry

Abstract

Abstract: This study offers a critical cultural reading of Algerian Malouf, conceptualizing it as a transformative cultural-ethical project. It argues that Malouf transcends its status as a mere preserved musical heritage, emerging instead as a living discourse that actively reshapes collective memory and redistributes symbolic power within the urban fabric. The research specifically investigates Malouf as a dynamic urban text, a form of soft resistance, and a vital pedagogical and communal platform that cultivates values of attentive listening, dialogue, and "sonic citizenship." The findings reveal that Malouf contributes significantly to the creation of an equitable urban space, one that re-centers the human as a meaning-maker and co-author of collective identity. It further establishes a critical and aesthetic educational experience that moves beyond rote learning, fostering collective participation that activates lived memory while actively resisting simplification and commodification. This perspective opens promising new avenues for research, particularly concerning Malouf’s interaction with digital space and the preservation of performance authenticity in contemporary globalized contexts