© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Fiction, drama, filmmaking, and art play a significant role in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where intellectuals are often considered spokespersons for the people to the regime. From Morocco to Iran, they have a moral authority that promises influence, imposes responsibility but also invites manipulation by those in power. This article provides a historical examination of the production of culture from the end of the nineteenth century to the revolutions of the twenty-first century. Language reform, war, Palestine, gender justice, Islam, and decoloniality have figured importantly on the MENA cultural scene. During the past 20 years systematic translation of MENA literature and new film festivals featuring MENA cinema have helped to globalize MENA culture.