"Iran Through the Lens of History"
Bedross Der Matossian
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Lecture and movie series deals with contemporary issues pertaining to Iranian politics, cinema, society and culture. The lectures will be delivered by Prof. Hamid Dabashi, a world renowned expert of Iranian history and Iranian cinema. The movie series that depict the multi-faceted aspect of Iranian cinema present the works of the most important Iranian directors.
Contact: Bedross Der Matossian, E51-178, x3-9621, bedross@mit.edu
"Obama's Iranian Problem"
Hamid Dabashi, Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies Columbia University, Middle East and Asian Languages and Cul
The presidency of Barack Obama will probably face one of its most daunting foreign policy tests with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its nuclear project. What are the terms and conditions of this fateful encounter between a widely celebrated and globally popular American president and a beleaguered Islamic republic?
Tue Jan 6, 04:30-06:30pm, Room 2-105
"Gabbeh"
Bedross Der Matossian
In this poetic film by Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, an elderly couple is involved in the ritual of cleaning their gabbeh, a beautiful intricately designed rug. Suddenly, a woman resembling one of the figures on the carpet emerges from the gabbeh. She recounts the history of her nomadic clan and the story of her love for a man outside her tribe. This magical musing on love and art won numerous film festival awards.
Wed Jan 7, 06:30-09:30pm, Room 3-270
"Prelude to Kiarostami's Meditative Camera"
Hamid Dabashi, Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies Columbia University, Middle East and Asian Languages and Cul
Over the last half century Abbas Kiarostami has worked through a deeply meditative camera he has taught to probe the inner anxieties of a world otherwise covered by the placid paucity of entirely vacated signs--how does this camera work, and what does it reveal?
Thu Jan 8, 06-08:00pm, Room 3-270
"The Wind Will Carry Us" (Abbas Kiarostami, 2002)
Bedross Der Matossian
This film's abstract, symbolic plot follows a man named Behzad and two colleagues as they travel from Tehran, Iran, to the tiny village of Siah Dareh, located on a dry, barren mountainside. There they observe the harsh life and everyday activities of the villagers. Technology -- or the lack thereof -- figures prominently in this film, which is considered director Abbas Kiarostami's most socially critical work.
Tue Jan 13, 06:30-09:30pm, Room 4-231
"Turtles Can Fly" (Bahman Ghobadi, 2004)
Bedross Der Matossian
Residents of an Iraqi Kurdistan village await the violent arrival of the invading U.S Army. A young boy named Satellite (Soran Ebrahim) helps clear minefields and installs equipment that brings in news from the outside world. Meanwhile, three orphans wander aimlessly, the victims of tragic happenstance. As Saddam is removed from power, these innocent children confront the harsh reality that awaits them.
Tue Jan 20, 06:30-09:30pm, Room 2-105
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NOUR in Concert
Bedross Der Matossian
Fri Jan 23, 07:30-11:00pm, Killian Hall-14W-111
Single session event
Features the NY based musical group NOUR. NOURishing itself from Middle Eastern polyglot folk traditions, NOUR means pomegranate in Armenian, divine light in Arabic. Songs in Armenian, Kurdish, Turkish, Ladino, Arabic, Hebrew, Assyrian and Greek. Pomegranate is the heavenly fruit of the old world symbolizing fertility, abundance, and sanctity. In line with its pomegranate nature, NOUR is rich in anti-oxidants and enhances its audience's cardio-vascular health. EX ORIENTE LUX concert illuminates the New World with the divine light that NOUR brought from the Old one.
Ayda Erbal - lead vocals, daf, dumbek, percussions
Ozan Aksoy - vocals, saz, kaval, ney, percussions
Bedross Der Matossian - keyboards, shvi, duduk, percussions, vocals
Z. Umut Turem- oud, vocals
Mustafa Avci - vocals, saz
Gabrielle Clark - violin
Contact: Bedross Der Matossian, E51-178, 253-9621, bedross@mit.edu
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The Distaff Arts: Medieval Clothing Technology
Anne McCants, Margo Collett, Miranda Knutson
Mon Jan 12 thru Thu Jan 15, 10am-04:00pm, E51-095
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 05-Jan-2009
Limited to 15 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
This course explores a wide range of medieval textile and clothing production technologies, offering students hands on experience in their use. We will work with a raw fleece; card and spin the wool; use simple looms to weave a belt; dye a variety of fabrics; and design/construct a single garment - either a cloak or tunic. All materials provided - students must commit to all 4 days of class.
This course will question typical characterization of medieval textile work as unskilled, as well as consider distinctions usually made between activities labeled as crafts versus those labeled as art.
Contact: Anne E. C. McCants, E51-293, 258-6669, amccants@mit.edu
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