The Revolution that Wasn’t (Yet): Reflections on Iran’s protests two months out
I still remember vividly the words of an informant who, when asking him about his vision of a freer Iran, responded adamantly, “we don’t need more freedom, what…
Tag: Iran
What Happened to the American Empire?
Has anything out of the ordinary happened to the US as an imperialist power since the ascent of Trump to office? While the continuities between Trump and his…
The Price of Eggs: Iran’s protests beyond democracy and capitalism
As the dust settles on Iran’s recent bout of protests, the surge of commentary, punditry, and analysis is likely to continue, no longer working to explain these apparently…
Ep. #4 “Killer Docs, Imaginary Landscapes, Political Lies, and Emotional Risk:” this month on TFS
In this month’s panel discussion, Jodie (1:14) tells us about documents with agency: “Ideas just get up and grow legs, and they run away with themselves.” (Trigger warning:…
Een reis door het paradoxale verleden van Iran
Door Kostas Brejaart In het hipste koffietentje van Teheran drink ik een dubbele espresso. Ik moet nog steeds wennen aan het feit dat ik in Teheran ben en…
On the Iraq border archaeological digs are a minefield – in every sense
At the ancient site of Charax Spasinou, military activity has left an indelible mark. Should it be viewed as modern damage – or as an important record of…
On the Iraq border archaeological digs are a minefield – in every sense
At the ancient site of Charax Spasinou, military activity has left an indelible mark. Should it be viewed as modern damage – or as an important record of…
Like a Skin
For those of us who have grown up in the ‘West’, we tend to think of religion as a customizable category. Some of us are born into a…
„Islam in der Krise“: Interview mit Buchautor Dr. Michael Blume
Schon früher hatte Dr. Michael Blume öffentlichkeitswirksam aufgezeigt, dass die Idee einer “Islamisierung des Abendlands” ein Mythos ist. Den Kern bildeten damals Argumente aus seinen Forschungen zu…
How to Make Extremism Mainstream and Fake a Debate about Islamophobia
Is there a genuine debate taking place about Islamophobia? When and why did the “concern” about Islamophobia reach the highest levels of government in North America and western…
Anthro in the news 10/10/16
Land rights are key in Colombia Indigenous people want land rights. Source: Bluedotpost.com The Washington Post published an op-ed by cultural anthropologist Omaira Bolaños, Latin America program dire…
Persian Muscle Men
Following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the sporting activities in the Zurkhaneh were declared inappropriate. Nowadays, however, they have become a symbol of Iranian national pride. Persia’s …
Women of Iran’s Past
The women of Iran – 120 years ago Antoin Sevruguin, the father of Iranian society photography, captured portraits of Iranian women in the early 20th century, from well-known…
Der Falter und der Islam – Leserbrief zum Gastkommentar von Bianca Tschaikner, Falter 1-2/16
Die Bemühungen des Falters, die aktuellen Entwicklungen und Vorfälle in der Flüchtlingsthematik sachlich und tabufrei zu diskutieren, sind zu würdigen. Jedoch ist es leider so, dass im Rahmen…
Ten Ways on How Not To Think About the Iran/Saudi Conflict
by Omid Safi (@ostadjaan), On Being columnist, January 7, 2016 In the last few days, virtually every news outlet has featured a series of stories on the rising…
anthro in the news 1/18/16
Source: Google Images/Creative Commons Autism that can kill Kim Shively, professor of cultural anthropology at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, published an article in the Morning Call (All…
Geopolitics in the Middle East: A new century dawns
Faisal party at Versailles Conference. Left to right: Rustum Haidar, Nuri as-Said, Prince Faisal (front), Captain Pisani (rear), T. E. Lawrence, Faisal’s attendant (name unknown), Captain Hassan Kha…
Contextualizing Exclusion: Lessons from Kambis
In my first blog installment I described one of my bus rides in Tehran in order to show that education, the transmission and acquisition of knowledge and sensibilities, is…
Jinn and Toxic
Rustam fighting a Jinn from a medieval Islamic manuscript Anyone who has read about Aladdin knows about the genie in a lamp. The English term “genie” stems from…
That buried secret of ours! non-fiction and fiction on memories of violence, death politics and the economy of silence in post-revolution Iran
Mahmoud Dowlatabadi is an acclaimed and respected writer in Iran. A post stamp has recently been produced in his honor. One of his latest novels, The Colonel, was…
Buses in South and North Teheran: Education and Schooling #Fieldnotes
The bus I was riding on my way to Tajrish (north Tehran) was beyond maximum capacity with its passengers. We were cramped and people stood and sat in…
Open Access to Middle East Journals and Newspapers
For anyone doing research on the Middle East for the past two centuries, there is an incredible archive online. Details below: Alphabetical List of Open Access Historical Newspapers…
The Perpetually Confused Conflicts in the Middle East–public lecture by William O. Beeman with discussion from Portland Oregon
The Perpetually Confused Conflicts in the Middle East Attached is a recording of a lecture given to the “Thirsters” civic group in Portland, Oregon on August 7, 2014…
Will There be a Sunni-Shi’a War in the Middle East? Not Likely–William O. Beeman, New America Media
Will There be a Sunni-Shi’a War in the Middle East? Not Likely New America Media, News Analysis, …