An excellent book, I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to learn more about mainstream-yet-quiet Islamic culture. In case I haven't said it enough, I'll see you in June for a review of Kafka's "Metamorphosis".
it seems like it's not the present day, that's true but also it doesn't go back 50 years . the book is talking about the early 90's . you have done a good job talking about the book and it seems you personally liked it . i recommend to to you to watch the movie too . it's really a nice one . beautiful soundtracks, real locations, famous and smart actors and actresses and a very good director too . thank you for the videos .
Oh is it? It seemed fairly modern but I couldn't quite be sure - he gave no dates. Thanks!! I did like it a lot. It really, imo, rips the covers off mainstream Islamic culture, which us in the Western world tend to have little exposure to. Thanks! I didn't know they made a movie. Thanks for watching!! :)
you are right "it really rips the cover off the mainstream Islamic culture" it's talking about things happening behind the closed doors and in secret rooms. before this novel no one has the dare to talk about these things happening in the Egyptian and the Islamic society. the book has been published in 2002 and the movie has been made and released in 2006. the film has been made with a very large budget. i think it was the largest budget in the history of the Egyptian cinema. and here is a link to it's trailer, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owt73bme7s8
there is another book for him which i recommend it to you too, it's called "Chicago" . here is another link for a short interview with Ala AL Aswany the author, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oAST47yn24&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLBF2450F42A0C401C
Right, and it hits a good medium (a more realistic one) than what we're used to. In the Western world we tend to view and portray Muslim-centric cultures as either jihadist war-torn third-world barbaric countries or Muslims that aren't really observant Muslims (ex. don't wear modesty garments, eat pork, etc.). We don't really see the reality of most Islamic cultures, where Islam is less a part of everyday life and culture, and has been more of a foundation on which the society was built, and as such is very ingrained into every aspect of life without being totally obvious.
well, i fully understand what you said. it's really good that you have such that kind of point of view about Muslims and Islamic cultures while most of the people in the west don't look at it the way you do. in my opinion this is a kind of "political ignorance" from the western side because the west can't understand and contain the Islamic cultures. Unfortunately most of the Americans don't know much enough about their foreign policies and they are just getting what the media telling them which sometimes it's not saying or showing the truth. it makes me laugh sometimes while i'm watching a movie where there is an Arabic or Islamic character(looks ugly, long dark beard, torn and dirty clothes, carrying a pomp ) which mostly is a jihadist coming from a third world barbaric country and acting in stupid way to kill "innocent" people and at the end the hero comes and kills him in an easy and careless way. and to be honest sometimes it makes me angry because this is not the way these nations are. i think the cinema should not look at things from it's surface . it should go deeper into problems and show things the way they really are. i believe that Islamic nations have different and rich cultures in all fields specially in arts . it would be great if cultures can meet or mix and exchange their knowledge and arts . this is what would make the world better place . i think i went too far from the blog subject :D
Exactly, or it's an "open minded" view of a Muslim family that's not observant or practicing at all. Like families of Middle Eastern descent, not necessarily Muslim families. Which isn't really the point, we can't water Islam down to be palatable to Western cultures - we should work on gaining acceptance for real, every day Muslims - ones who aren't quite Orthodox, yes, but also ones who are - women who wear hijabs or jilbabs, pray, go to mosque and observe Muslim holidays.
That's okay! I like to encourage open discussion. :)
it seems like it's not the present day, that's true but also it doesn't go back 50 years . the book is talking about the early 90's . you have done a good job talking about the book and it seems you personally liked it . i recommend to to you to watch the movie too . it's really a nice one . beautiful soundtracks, real locations, famous and smart actors and actresses and a very good director too . thank you for the videos .
ReplyDeleteOh is it? It seemed fairly modern but I couldn't quite be sure - he gave no dates. Thanks!! I did like it a lot. It really, imo, rips the covers off mainstream Islamic culture, which us in the Western world tend to have little exposure to. Thanks! I didn't know they made a movie. Thanks for watching!! :)
ReplyDeleteyou are right "it really rips the cover off the mainstream Islamic culture" it's talking about things happening behind the closed doors and in secret rooms. before this novel no one has the dare to talk about these things happening in the Egyptian and the Islamic society. the book has been published in 2002 and the movie has been made and released in 2006. the film has been made with a very large budget. i think it was the largest budget in the history of the Egyptian cinema. and here is a link to it's trailer,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owt73bme7s8
there is another book for him which i recommend it to you too, it's called "Chicago" .
here is another link for a short interview with Ala AL Aswany the author,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oAST47yn24&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLBF2450F42A0C401C
you are welcome :)
Right, and it hits a good medium (a more realistic one) than what we're used to. In the Western world we tend to view and portray Muslim-centric cultures as either jihadist war-torn third-world barbaric countries or Muslims that aren't really observant Muslims (ex. don't wear modesty garments, eat pork, etc.). We don't really see the reality of most Islamic cultures, where Islam is less a part of everyday life and culture, and has been more of a foundation on which the society was built, and as such is very ingrained into every aspect of life without being totally obvious.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! I'll check both out.
well, i fully understand what you said. it's really good that you have such that kind of point of view about Muslims and Islamic cultures while most of the people in the west don't look at it the way you do. in my opinion this is a kind of "political ignorance" from the western side because the west can't understand and contain the Islamic cultures. Unfortunately most of the Americans don't know much enough about their foreign policies and they are just getting what the media telling them which sometimes it's not saying or showing the truth. it makes me laugh sometimes while i'm watching a movie where there is an Arabic or Islamic character(looks ugly, long dark beard, torn and dirty clothes, carrying a pomp ) which mostly is a jihadist coming from a third world barbaric country and acting in stupid way to kill "innocent" people and at the end the hero comes and kills him in an easy and careless way. and to be honest sometimes it makes me angry because this is not the way these nations are. i think the cinema should not look at things from it's surface . it should go deeper into problems and show things the way they really are. i believe that Islamic nations have different and rich cultures in all fields specially in arts . it would be great if cultures can meet or mix and exchange their knowledge and arts . this is what would make the world better place .
ReplyDeletei think i went too far from the blog subject :D
Exactly, or it's an "open minded" view of a Muslim family that's not observant or practicing at all. Like families of Middle Eastern descent, not necessarily Muslim families. Which isn't really the point, we can't water Islam down to be palatable to Western cultures - we should work on gaining acceptance for real, every day Muslims - ones who aren't quite Orthodox, yes, but also ones who are - women who wear hijabs or jilbabs, pray, go to mosque and observe Muslim holidays.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay! I like to encourage open discussion. :)