I recommend reading The Arab Ear and the American Eye: A Study of the Role of the Senses in Culture, by Sharif Kanaana and translated into English by Ibrahim Muhawi, along with several thoughtful responses. The researchers explore the relevance of seeing versus hearing in American and Arab cultures. The abstract describes how Kanaana

seeks to establish the hypothesis that in Arab culture the ear is more significant than the eye as a guide to belief. While [Dundes'] “Seeing is Believing” is about American culture, in using its categories as a basis for the study of the Arab ear, this article brings to the fore its implicit comparative perspective. The theoretical point at issue is the determining power of culturally established cognitive patterns.

Furthermore,

The analysis elaborates upon the metaphorical significance of the eye in Arab culture, showing that the Arab fear of the eye may be justified in view of the manipulative power that resides in images. Translated in terms of culture, it may be that the reliance on the eye breeds a need for visual stimulation and constant change, while reliance on the ear leads to reliance on tradition and fear of change.

Jewelry people commonly wear in many countries (pictured below), which provide protection from the “evil eye,” is one of the first items that comes to mind. The belief is that the desirous eye of a person has the power to inflict harm on whatever it sees. So, many people wear amulets to deflect the gaze of the evil eye, thus confounding it and averting any harm.

For protection against the evil eye, charms are commonly worn in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond

What are your thoughts on the preference Arabs give to hearing versus seeing, and vice versa for Americans? Do you agree with the argument that relying on hearing has caused Arab countries to stagnate, while a preference for the visual has inspired innovation and growth in the US?

Sean

RW3 CultureWizard