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Showing posts from December, 2012

Beyond the Bombs: New Web Site with Fresh Perspective on Middle East and North Africa

Beyond the Bombs is a new, innovative, and much needed web site that gives the Middle East and North Africa a human face and paints a refreshing picture of the region--colored by its people, cultures, religions, languages, politics, and economics. The site has been created by Stanford graduate Ashley Lohmann who is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist and an Associate Editor (Middle East) at Fair Observer (see more here ). Check out the site at:   https://beyondthebombs.wordpress.com/

Islamic Codicology Course at Stanford, August 26-30, 2013

Please find below the announcement from the Stanford University Libraries and the Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA) about the upcoming Islamic Codicology Course at Stanford. For further inquiries, please contact John Eilts directly at  john.eilts@stanford.edu . The Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA) and Stanford University Libraries have announced a full week Islamic codicology course to be held at Stanford next August. This will be the first time the course has been offered in North America. I have attached the first announcement. The costs are set at 550 pounds for the full 5 day course for non-TIMA members and 500 pounds for TIMA members (membership costs 30 pounds per year). There is an option for attending the four day lecture series only and pricing has yet to be set. The fifth day is a hands on class. Space is limited and is guranteed on a first come basis. For further information please contact john.eilts@stanford.edu. Please feel free to send this to Stanford fac

Jameel Prize Exhibition at Stanford: Art Inspired by Islamic Tradition (Dec 12-March 10, 2013)

First U.S. Viewing of International Exhibition The Jameel Prize: Art Inspired by Islamic Tradition December 12, 2012–March 10, 2013 Stanford University Soody Sharifi,  Fashion Week , 2010. Courtesy of the LTMH Gallery, New York Stanford, Calif. — On view for the first time in the United States, “The Jameel Prize: Art Inspired by Islamic Tradition” opens December 12 at Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center. This special exhibition presents the work of 10 artists selected as finalists for the prestigious Jameel Prize, an international award bestowed by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and sponsored by Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives.  The Jameel Prize, awarded for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition, encourages the exploration of long-established practices of Islamic art, craft and design within a contemporary framework. The resulting exhibition demonstrates that artists can and do use these traditions in ways that are vividly

Arabology Season Finale Podcast Counts Down Top 20 'Alternative' Arabic Musical Artists of 2012

The 3rd Season Finale of 'Arabology'--hosted by Dr. Ramzi Salti, Lecturer at Stanford University, counts down the Top 20 'Alternative' Arabic Artists of 2012 including Mashrou' Leila, Rim Banna, Omeima El Khalil, Zeid Hamdan, Tania Saleh, Mike Massy, Natacha Atlas, Hana Malhas, Jadal, Yasmine Hamdan, Tania Kassis, Jowan Safadi, more. This episode is hosted by DJ Ramzi and guest host Mohammed El Jurf (pic below). To Download: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/64870 To Listen Instantly: http://www.radio4all.net/files/author30@gmail.com/4294-1-Arabology_S3E10.mp3 PLAYLIST (Artist/ Track/ Album/Label) 20. Safadi, Jowan/ A3ish Hayati (Live My Life) & Kul El Banat (All the Girls)/ Namroud/ Eka3 19. Massy, Mike/ Ya Zaman/ Ya Zaman/ Falak Productions 18. Jadal/ Bye Bye Azizi/ Single/ Forward Music 17. Natacha Atlas/ Taalet/ Paleo 2012/ Disques Office 16. Banna, Rim & Henrik Koitzsch/ Wait for Me (Intazirini)/ This Was Not My Story/ Un M

Online Magazine 'Jadaliyya' Flourishing in Its Second Year

http://www.jadaliyya.com/ Jadaliyya is an independent ezine produced by the Arab Studies Institute ( www.ArabStudiesInstitute.org ), a network of writers associated with the Arab Studies Journal ( www.ArabStudiesJournal.org ). Jadaliyya provides a unique source of insight and critical analysis that combines scholarship, advocacy, and local knowledge with an eye on audiences in the United States, the Arab world, and beyond. The site currently publishes posts both in Arabic and in English. Jadaliyya operations are mostly volunteer-run and self-produced by the editorial team and a steadily expanding pool of contributors, researchers, and guests. The Co-Editors are writers, scholars, and advocates with a primary interest in the Middle East. One motivation behind this effort is the need to discuss the “Arab World” or the “Middle East” as a place and space that is inhabited by communities, and not solely as an object of foreign policy or “social-scientific” inquiry. Hence, there

Meet Soprano Mariam Tamari

Born to a Palestinian artist father and a Japanese schoolteacher mother, opera singer Mariam Tamari grew up in Tokyo, Japan. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Tamari majored in music and philosophy. She made her lead opera debut in as Adina in L’Eliser d’ Amore at the Nissay Theater in Tokyo. Tamari has also performed as Kate in Madame Butterfly, Jeanne, in Jeanne d’ Arc au Bucher, Ivy Smith in On the Town, and as Maria in West Side Story. She currently performs as a soloist and recitalist in Japan, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Respected around the world, she has performed for the Emperor and Empress of Japan and the King and Queen of Jordan. She has been described as having "special flair for French melodies" and hailed for her "lucid musicality" and "virtuosity." Here is a video clip of Mariam Tamari performing in Ramallah in December of 2010: Here is a video clip of Mariam Tamari, Gen Tomuro --Puccini, "Tu che di g

Musician/Singer Jowan Safadi Detained by Jordanian Police

Jowan Safadi Jowan Safadi, whose new album Namroud has been hailed as both controversial and creative, was detained yesterday at the Police department of "Abdali" in Amman. He is accused of "insulting religion" during his concert last Wednesday in Amman. Jowan was set to present his Accoustic Show Live @ The Rainbow, Amman (Jordan) on Saturday Dec 1, 2012 at 8pm (see poster below then read on). According the Eka3 Facebook Page , Jowan Safadi was imprisoned in the "Jowayda" in Jordan.  Several msuicians have rushed to Jowan Safadi's arrest including Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi and Palestinian singer Rim Banna  (see screen captures below and keep reading on).  ( update on Dec 4: He was released the next day ). Jowan Safadi is originally from Nazareth but now lives in Haifa and produces alternative/experimental Arabic music with various influences. For 8 years, he was part of the band “Lenses” as a singer, songwriter and guit

Nov 29 Podcast of 'Arabology' Available

The 9th episode of the 3rd Season of Arabology (aired Nov 29) was hosted by DJ Ramzi who played a variety of Arabic songs (see playlist below) while commenting about them in English. To Download:  http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/64708 To Listen:  http://www.radio4all.net/files/author30@gmail.com/4294-1-Arabology_S3E9.mp3 Playlist for Arabology Thursday, 29 Nov 2012 3pm - 5pm DJ: Ramzi S. Artist/ Track/ Album/ Label 1. Samsa/ Qalbi Ma Kayelli Khir/ Alem Jdid (New World)/ Skander Guetari 2. Maraka, Aziz/ Amman/ Master Copy/ Cd Baby 3. Aburedwan, Ramzi / Bahar (Sea)/ Reflections Of Palestine/ Riverboat Records 4. Laroussi, Djamel/ Kifach Hilti/ Arabic Beat/ Putumayo World Music 5. Ajram, Nancy/ Ady El Beida/ Super Nancy/ Emi 6. Mashrou Leila/ Wajih (Themightyrouge Remix)/ unreleased/ Mashrou Leila 7. Wael Kfoury/ Ma'oole Tishti Fee Abb/ Dj Nader - Hizzy Hips In The Mix/ Level Up 8. El Hamdaoui, Jalal/ Sidi H'bibi/ Arabic Beat/ Putumayo World Music 9. Faudel/