EssaysSaving Faces: The Real Story of Representational Art in IslamMany people still believe that there is no representational art in Islam. In fact, there is a rich tradition of representational art, although it is usually seen in secular, rather than religious, contexts. Representational art is especially prominent in Islamic book paintings, called miniatures. The Birth of Islamic Art: the UmayyadsRobert Hillenbrand, Professor of Islamic Art at the University of Edinburgh, provides a thorough discussion of the artistic production of the first Islamic dynasty, the Umayyads, within both a historical and a geographical context. Arab Pop on the World StageThis essay by Louis Werner begins with a very brief discussion of the development of “World Music” as a genre, then moves on the survey the success of music from the Arab World within in. Women in Raï MusicThe article focuses on the origins of Raï in Western Algeria, and on women as performers. The first part of the articles focuses on the social position of women as singers in a relatively conservative social environment; the second part analyzes the lyrics in some detail, documenting the focus on taboo and transgressive topics. DramaThis chapter by Roger Allen surveys the development of Egyptian drama from a literary perspective, i.e. the texts as published from their origins in Egypt and Egyptian theater in the world, but the essay touches on all of the countries of the Arab world in so far as the confines of such a short survey allow. For more on theater as performance and its role in Arab society, consult the article by Debbie Folaron. Contemporary Architecture in the Arab States: IraqIn this essay Udo Kultermann discusses architecture projects in modern-day Iraq. Islamic Art in Context: The Historical BackgroundIn this chapter, Robert Irwin investigates the world into which Islam emerged, with particular attention to the Byzantine and Sassanian empires. Through an examination of the existing cultures, the adoption and adaptation of various artistic motifs and literary forms can be understood. Soundscapes of Islam: The Call to Prayer and Qur'an RecitationSound is an intrinsic part of all our lives, an important component of what we consider "home." The soundtracks of our lives, if you will, are made up of the sounds that normally surround us in our home environment and those that we chose to add to it, like music. Middle East Book Award Winners and Google Earth ToursMEOC's Middle East Book Awards recognize outstanding picture books, youth literature and nonfiction on the Middle East suitable for use in the K-12 classroom. Life Stories of Female EntertainersKarin Van Nieuwkerk describes four clusters of related female entertainers from Egypt. In the first section, she introduces Umm Muhammad, the oldest female performer of Muhammad 'Ali Street, and Ibtisam, who belongs to the present generation. These life histories illustrate the developments in the profession during the last fifty years. A Global Guide to Islamic ArtWhile some types of Islamic art, such as Qur'an manuscripts, mosque lamps or carved wooden minbars (pulpits), are directly concerned with the faith and practice of Islam, the majority of objects considered to be Islamic art are called so simply because they were made in societies where Islam was the dominant religion. ActivitiesCreate a "Me"-niature PaintingStudents will create their own painting after learning about and reflecting on traditional Persian Miniature paintings created in the 13th -16th century. This lesson is designed for 9th grade Art and World History students.Persian Miniature Paintings Visual TourTake students on an interactive visual tour through two 16th-century Persian paintings that beautifully illustrate urban and rural life in a Muslim context.Mosque Lamp ActivityThis lesson inspires students to create a mosque lamp modeled on those that for centuries lit the interior of mosques, using inexpensive candle holders and air-dry glass paint. Students will learn about the Arabic script and decorate the lamp with an Arabic proverb. They will also learn about the symbolism of light in a multicultural context.ResourcesCulture ResourcesHere is a list of useful websites, books and movies.Image GalleryMultimediaInterview with Margaret Larkin on PoetryIn this interview Margaret Larkin, professor of Near Eastern Studies at the University of California in Berkeley, talks about the history of Arabic Literature through its major phases, from the pre-Islamic era through the Abbasid and Umayyad periods to the Modern period. (30.96 MB)Khaled Al-Saa'i, a Calligrapher at WorkThis clip represents the convergence of three of the most important art forms in the Arab world. Syrian calligrapher Khaled Al-Saa'i writes a verse by the Jordanian poet Taher Riadh while accompanied by Khaled Jaramani, lute virtuoso. (3.13 MB)Marcel Khalife in ConcertMarcel Khalife is a cultural icon throughout the Arab World. Perhaps no other contemporary artist has so changed the face of Arab music. |
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Arab Culture & Civilization
Explore this exemplary library of articles and resources on Arab societies and culture. This site was originally created by the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE).
