Culture

British Museum | (Safavid Era Painting) | – – School/style: Persian School/Style term details Culture/period: Safavid dynasty term details Date: 1650-1700 (circa) Production place: Made in: Iran “Four men worshipping at a fire altar and idol shrine; detached folio from an illustrated manuscript. At left, two Zoroastrian men hold their hands out in prayer toward […]

African-Americans

Would Trump let Oscar Winner Mahershala Ali back into the Country?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Mahershala Ali, 43, last night won an Oscar for best supporting actor, in Moonlight . The film treats themes of sexual repression, gayness, and the plague of drug dealing and addiction. Moonlight, of course, also won Best Picture, after a historic error in which the winner […]

Culture

Iran’s Oscar-Winning Director Hopes Anti-Fascist Movement Grows

contributors

TeleSur | – – “We believe there is no best country, best gender, best religion or best color,” the directors of the five Oscar foreign films nominees wrote in a joint statement. Thousands of people braved London’s winter drizzle on Sunday for a screening of the Oscar-nominated movie that has become a rallying point for […]

art and photography

Photo of the Day: Gaza (the Old Town), 1862

contributors

The New York Public Library | Francis Frith | – – The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Gaza (the Old Town)” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 26, 2017. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-5c4b-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 Title: Gaza (the Old Town) Names: Frith, Francis (Photographer) Collection: […]

censorship

Oscar Nominee Asghar Farhadi between US Muslim Ban and Ayatollahs’ Censorship

contributors

By Kevin Hagopian | (The Conversation) | – – Politics loom over this year’s Oscars, with many bracing for what the winners will – or won’t – say when they ascend the stage before millions of television viewers on Feb. 26. One nominee, however, has already made a statement. Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi’s “The Salesman” […]

art and photography

Garden Party, 1640: Iranian Lady entertains European Gentleman

contributors

Metropolitian Museum of Art | Isfahan Tile | – – “At the center of this scene, a lady leans on a bolster pillow and languidly holds out a filled cup. Making somewhat immodest eye contact with the viewer, she displays burn marks, associated with mystics and lovers, on her lower arms. A male figure in […]

art and photography

Image of the Day: Gemini Constellation, As Seen in the Heavens, Iran,1630

contributors

New York Public Library | Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library. “Gemini, as seen in the heavens. Mirror image of f. 91?” Tarjumah-i suwar al-kawâkib (Translation of “Images of the Planets”). Iran, c. 1630, possibly Mashhad. New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8d2bcb1e-42d4-7f14-e040-e00a180641da

art and photography

Iranian Drummer Woman, 1842

contributors

British Museum | – – “Portrait of a young woman; single-page painting mounted on album folio. A woman beats a drum slung over her shoulder. She wears an orange blouse, a green skirt and a grey flowered jacket. A mauve veil is suspended from a head band adorned with a feather and a jewelled ornament. […]

Comic Books

Why America needs the Muslim Ms. Marvel now more than Ever!

contributors

By Katie M. Logan | (The Conversation) | – – During the first few weeks of the Trump administration, we’ve seen increased pressure on Muslim and immigrant communities in the United States. In the face of these threats, which Marvel superhero might be best equipped to defend the people, ideals and institutions under attack? Some […]