Arts and Culture in the Mideast

“Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here”: San Francisco Poet Builds Bridge to Baghdad with Books

"Cairo writes, Lebanon prints and Baghdad reads." ~ Arab proverb

When the Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258, it was said that the Tigris River first ran red with blood from those murdered and then black from the ink of their books. Baghdad has been the literary epicenter of the Arab world since the Mesopotamians invented cuneiform, the first form of writing, in the 4th century B.C.

And no place has pulsated with a stronger literary heartbeat than Baghdad's historic Al-Mutanabbi Street, the bookseller quarter--a crooked, winding thoroughfare running from Al Rasheed Street to the Tigris River, and once described as Baghdad’s “third lung”. For at least 800 years, Iraqis have bought and sold books, sipped tea, smoked nargila and argued about politics and literature on Al Mutanabbi Street, named after the revered Iraqi poet, Abu at-Tayyib Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Mutanabbi. It was the place where you could find translations of Shakespeare interspersed with Shi’a religious texts, Agatha Christi mysteries, ancient Greek poetry, comic books, American magazines and Osama bin Laden cassettes. Iraqis from all faiths and social classes —writers, students, intellectuals and even lovers --have sought refuge on Al Mutanabbi Street throughout the country’s turbulent history.

A Halal “Hangover”: Lena Khan’s “Tiger Hunter” and Re-framing Muslim-American Narratives

Katie Couric suggested we need a Muslim Cosby Show. We say a Muslim Seinfeld. Like other minorities in the past 50 years, normalizing Muslims in mainstream media comes not from pointing out cultural differences, but from finding empathy- even humor- in the eccentricities and neurosis that every society shares, and the shared experiences of being seen as an American who happens to belong to a particular culture or faith. Hollywood likes labels- it thrives on defining its characters within stock categories. But film’s most enduring personalities are those who defy boundaries, who stay in our heads because we can’t cleanly classify them.

“The negative perception of Muslims is fueled in part by the media,” remarks director and UCLA grad Lena Khan. “Whereas we see every other group normalized by film and television, we [Muslims] are still missing. In this film, we are telling an entertaining story that happens to have a Muslim character.”

Read On: Five Books to Watch Out for in 2013

From hard-hitting political commentary to deeply resonating fiction, there is something for everyone in 2013. Middle Eastern and South Asian writers and historians are tackling everything from politics to romance this year, and we’re taking note. Here are our top five books to watch out for in 2013:

No Hatred, No Cry: Short Film Admissions Screenwriter on Violence, Forgiveness and Mideast Peace

“You can’t want hell for other people without being in hell yourself.” If there were an Academy Award for one-liner delivery, John Viscount’s award-winning 2011 short film Admissions should have clinched it. With 21 minutes, four actors and a single set, Viscount lays out a modern-day parable where the stakes are high to find the wisdom required to learn true forgiveness in a world where “the ones who find it hardest to love need love the most.”

Styling in Palestyle: Couture with a Social Agenda

High-end fashion brand Palestyle is known in global fashion circles for its statement handbags that are embellished with Arabic calligraphy. But aside from its flare, it is the company’s focus on social awareness and ethics that sets it apart from other fashion labels. Founded in 2009, by Zeina Abou Chabaan with the help of her brother, Ahmad, the Dubai-based brand is committed to empowering Palestinian women in refugee camps in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon.

The Triumph of Israel’s Radical Right: A Book Review

We live in dangerous times. A troika of storms threatens to sink modern civilization: the failing economy, the war on terror and climate change all hang over us like a thick black fog. Politics have become more extreme; the specter of the radical right clouds the illumination of reason. It is into this political maelstrom that Ami Pedahzur sets his excellent new book, The Triumph of Israel’s Radical Right (Oxford University Press, 2012).

Pedahzur’s book fits perfectly into a new wave of scholarship about Israel, Jews and the Middle East. It is well-timed in its attempt to explain and account for the critical and precipitous place that Israel occupies in international relations.

The Style Maverick: Muslim Fashion Blogger Samantha Elauf

In the tumultuous world of fashion, only the people who have the audacity to push limits and constantly take risks are the ones who stand out and stay ahead of the rest. Samantha Elauf, 22-year-old fashion blogger from Oklahoma, is one such unapologetic champion of fashion. But what’s unique about her is her fashion-forward approach to embracing her religious driven values of modesty. For Elauf, there is almost no fashion trend that can’t be “hijabified.”

Elauf started working for Forever21 as a sales associate in 2008, and was eventually promoted to a visual merchandiser. She has been doing visuals for the company for three years now, and is known for her “make it work” attitude. Such a determination is also echoed in her personal style and openness to the boldest of fashion trends. From tutus to bustier tops, she has adapted the most daring trends to fit her modest dressing code. “I tend to make anything that I must have in my wardrobe hijabified,” she says.

Muslim Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur Complements Style with Relief

Suraya Mahumed is a modern-day superwoman. She is a mother of two, runs her own clothing line, and is a strong activist for human rights around the world. Although her brand, Nahda Designs, is only a year old, she is already putting it to good use by hosting charity fashion shows in collaboration with other modest clothing brands to raise funds for various nonprofit organizations. The second annual Relief on the Runway took place in Tustin, California on November 11, and this year Mahumed chose Syria as the relief of choice- a cause that speaks to her on the deepest level of empathy and compassion.

“I watched a video that changed my life. A Syrian girl whose mother was shot...her face haunted me for days,” a misty-eyed Mahumed told the group of fashionistas, philanthropists, activists, students, and artists who had gathered to support her cause. “As a mother of two I couldn’t bear to see that. I couldn’t erase that image from my mind.”