Arts and Culture in the Mideast

Poetic Ammo Against Syria’s “War of Narratives”

Was that the heart of Syria that came beating into a small hushed room in West LA’s Levantine Center on July 15? I felt it throbbing inside of me, ushered in by the ringing words of Dr. Mohja Kahf, a Syrian American poetess from Arkansas, who read her work in a benefit performance as part of an initiative to raise funds for a brave new project, The Syrian Freedom Waves, a radio station that will broadcast from a ship in International Waters off the shores of Syria, attempt to penetrate the media censorship and counteract the propaganda and lies churned out by the Syrian State media.

A Sound in the Noise: Beirut Art Fair On View

With the abundance of art fairs on the global stage and tour-de-force art festivals such as the Sharja Biennale, Art Basel(s), Venice Biennale and Art Dubai, it seems there is only standing room for anyone new on the scene, and evermore difficult for that newcomer break through the noise. One fair that has successfully done so is the Beirut Art Fair, that ran July 5th thru 8th at the Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center (BIEL). In its third generation, the Beirut Art Fair is poised to become a leading arts platform that features contemporary art from the Middle East, North African, and South Asian regions (MENASA).

Style, Translated: Summer’s Bottoms are in Full Bloom

We are excited to launch our coverage of Mideast related Style here at Aslan Media.  Just as Art and Music are undeniable markers of culture, world perspective, and individual experience, so, too, does Style function as an outward expression of internal life. It blends a variety of stories and visually builds bridges. We want to make this everyday carrier of self-expression and creativity an ongoing conversation for our readers. “Style, Translated,” is a weekly new feature that will take a look at international fashion trends and how Middle Eastern countries are translating these trends into their fashions.

From colored denim to printed pants, it’s bottoms up for 2012. On and off the runway and around the world, floral pants are quickly becoming the season’s hottest item, with designer collections such as Prabal Gurung, Richard Chai Love, Alexander Wang and others incorporating the trend in silhouettes ranging from cigarette pants to wide-leg trousers.

Green Muslims: Nurturing Faith and Nature

Environmentalism has taken root in many Muslim communities but it remains a marginal issue for discussion at the pulpit. Most imams in America, pressed about the importance of ecological themes in Islam, usually offer a polite nod: “Of course brother, Islam respects nature; God’s creation must be valued; Cleanliness is essential and part of our ritual.” Such vacuous platitudes are very common but when it comes to the serious task of educating our children about ecological ethics, there is rarely any attention given.

For a Leaderless Revolution, a Monument with No Curator: A Walk Through Imed Trabelsi’s Looted Villa

Want to understand what the Tunisian revolution meant, and where it came from? Put down the book you’re browsing and book a ticket for Tunis; then proceed directly to Hannibal Street. If that isn’t a possibility, here’s a photographic tour of an unparalleled monument to Revolution: a ruined (or better, reclaimed) villa, converted into a crowd-sourced art gallery of social protest.

The rage which fueled the 2011 Revolution for Dignity was not merely directed towards Ben Ali, the nation’s long-running dictator, but also towards his wife, Leila Trabelsi, and the mafia-style dealings of her family. The result: gross social inequality, particularly in the face of economic troubles. The Trabelsi family came to symbolize the abuses of the Ben Ali regime, and as the Revolution unfurled, demonstrators took over city streets— and also the vast property holdings of the corrupt regime.

Egyptian Media: The Old and the New

For Egyptians as for news consumers everywhere, it’s about more than just the stories.

It’s how we get the stories. During the 18-day uprising last year, you’ll hear the rote anecdotes of how most Egyptians were glued to their TV-screens and one screen in particular: Al Jazeera. In contrast to the lethargic and often absurd propaganda spewing from the state-owned media apparatus, channels such as Al Jazeera and Al-Arabiyah were among the few sources of reliable information for just what the fuss was all about with the young people on the streets.

Is Interest Really Banned in Islam?

For most Muslims, interest is taboo in Islam, thanks to the interpretation of the Quran’s position on it generally offered by Muslim scholars. However, a number of other Muslim scholars distinguish between riba forbidden in the Quran and interest used in modern finance, contending that while the former is clearly unethical and unacceptable, the latter is a legitimate charge.

An Afternoon With Bassem Youssef: The Egyptian Jon Stewart

A feeling of hushed expectancy and formality hung over the crowd until a slightly scruffy, curly headed guy dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans sprang lightly onto the stage. He rested his arm around the microphone stand as though it was his best friend’s shoulder and began, “Why do we do this event? We do this event to bring people together.” It was as if he had opened the door to his home and the entire audience was suddenly family.