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Good reads (and plans) for the summer
From July 26, 2018 until September 03, 2018
For the third year in a row, Casa Árabe is suggesting a series of summer
reads with Arab authors and themes, as well as other plans for
attending events outside of Spain.
With this list, the institution is giving a preview of some of the new titles to be presented at Casa Árabe during the last quarter of 2018, as well as bringing back some of the most successful during the first half of the year, as well as providing information on activities which complement the subjects we deal with in our schedule of events.
Coming up soon at Casa Árabe, we will be offering the following:
- September 19: “Mother of Milk and Honey,” by Najat El Hachmi
- October 2: “History of Arab Thought on Aesthetics: Al-Andalus and classical Arab aesthetics,” by José Miguel Puerta Vílchez
- October 10: Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic written in Tangier
- November 5: Homage to poet Nizar Qabbani
In the month of October, we will be paid a visit by the expert on comparative religion, Karen Armstrong. To become familiar with her ideas, you can read some of the many books which the author has written, including “In Defense of God: The meaning of religion,” “Fields of Blood: Religion and the history of violence,” A History of God: 4,000 years of searching in Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” “Islam,” and “The Origins of Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”
In October, we will also be organizing a seminar on “Tangiers in Spanish literature” (you can now register to take part in this seminar). In case this topic is of great interest to you, this is our recommended bibliography (in Spanish).
For those interested in Islamophobia, last July we hosted a seminar titled “From historical Islamophobia to Islamophobia 2.0.” By following this link, you can read a summary of the presentation with a bibliography.
And in case you missed any of the literary presentations given during the first half of the year at Casa Árabe, here are some reminders:
- “The Ashes of the Caliphate,” by journalist Mikel Ayestarán
- “Everyone Writes About Love but You,” by Iraqi poet Abdulhadi Sadoun
- “Tangier, Second Homeland,” by Rocío Rojas-Marcos
- “Prodigies, an Anthology of Arab Poetry,” coordinated by Pedro Martínez Montávez and illustrated by Rachid Koraïchi
- “Syria, the Impossible Revolution,” by Syrian opposition member Yassin Al-Haj Saleh
- “Beirut’s Ferris Wheel,” by Tomás Alcoverro
- “Why Islam?: My life as a woman, a European and a Muslim,” by Amanda Figueras
- “The Incense Burner” and “Seagulls’ Flight,” by Moroccan author Omar Berrada
- “Daesh: The future of the Jihadist threat,” by Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde
- “From the Euphrates: Image as destiny,” by visual artist Hanoos Hanoos
In addition to these summer reads, here at Casa Árabe, we would like to recommend the following exhibitions that can be seen in other European capitals:
Jameel Prize 5 Victoria & Albert Museum, London (until November 25)
Fifth edition of the prestigious contemporary art and design award, in fields as diverse as fashion, multimedia installations and painting, inspired by Islamic art. The initiative, promoted by Art Jameel and the Victoria & Albert Museum of London, presents works by the eight finalist artists at an exhibition.
What Do You Mean, Here We Are? Mosaic Rooms, London (until September 15)
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this London gallery, a retrospective exhibition is being shown, dedicated to the famous Townhouse Gallery in Cairo (Egypt).Founded in 1998, Townhouse came about as one of the first spaces for independent art in the city and has forged an unusual, very stimulating path for the art scene in the region. The exhibition presents the work of 18 artists who have had shows at the Townhouse Gallery throughout its history.
Last of all, in terms of the music and art festivals that can be seen on these dates in certain Arab countries, we propose these:
Byblos International Music Festival, Lebanon (from August 1 to 24)
Unlike other classical music festivals, the Byblos Festival is one of the Middle East’s summer events with the greatest tradition. Its schedules have included the most important of Arab and international bands.
International Festival of Baalbek, Lebanon (until August 18)
Beiteddine Arts Festival, Lebanon (until August 11)
These are two mythical summer festivals created decades ago in the Lebanese cities of Baalbek, famous for its Roman ruins, and Beiteddine. This year’s schedule includes an homage to Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum and concerts by figures of the stature of Georges Khabbaz and Ziad Rahbanni.
International Festival of Carthage, Tunisia (until August 17)
the 53rd edition of the festival will be taking place in three different spaces: the Ancient Theater of Carthage, the Museum of Carthage and the Carthage Acropolium. As for the morning sessions, they will be held at the Agora. These spaces will represent a natural geographic and cultural extension of the International Festival of Carthage.
Coming up soon at Casa Árabe, we will be offering the following:
- September 19: “Mother of Milk and Honey,” by Najat El Hachmi
- October 2: “History of Arab Thought on Aesthetics: Al-Andalus and classical Arab aesthetics,” by José Miguel Puerta Vílchez
- October 10: Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic written in Tangier
- November 5: Homage to poet Nizar Qabbani
In the month of October, we will be paid a visit by the expert on comparative religion, Karen Armstrong. To become familiar with her ideas, you can read some of the many books which the author has written, including “In Defense of God: The meaning of religion,” “Fields of Blood: Religion and the history of violence,” A History of God: 4,000 years of searching in Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” “Islam,” and “The Origins of Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”
In October, we will also be organizing a seminar on “Tangiers in Spanish literature” (you can now register to take part in this seminar). In case this topic is of great interest to you, this is our recommended bibliography (in Spanish).
For those interested in Islamophobia, last July we hosted a seminar titled “From historical Islamophobia to Islamophobia 2.0.” By following this link, you can read a summary of the presentation with a bibliography.
And in case you missed any of the literary presentations given during the first half of the year at Casa Árabe, here are some reminders:
- “The Ashes of the Caliphate,” by journalist Mikel Ayestarán
- “Everyone Writes About Love but You,” by Iraqi poet Abdulhadi Sadoun
- “Tangier, Second Homeland,” by Rocío Rojas-Marcos
- “Prodigies, an Anthology of Arab Poetry,” coordinated by Pedro Martínez Montávez and illustrated by Rachid Koraïchi
- “Syria, the Impossible Revolution,” by Syrian opposition member Yassin Al-Haj Saleh
- “Beirut’s Ferris Wheel,” by Tomás Alcoverro
- “Why Islam?: My life as a woman, a European and a Muslim,” by Amanda Figueras
- “The Incense Burner” and “Seagulls’ Flight,” by Moroccan author Omar Berrada
- “Daesh: The future of the Jihadist threat,” by Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde
- “From the Euphrates: Image as destiny,” by visual artist Hanoos Hanoos
In addition to these summer reads, here at Casa Árabe, we would like to recommend the following exhibitions that can be seen in other European capitals:
Jameel Prize 5 Victoria & Albert Museum, London (until November 25)
Fifth edition of the prestigious contemporary art and design award, in fields as diverse as fashion, multimedia installations and painting, inspired by Islamic art. The initiative, promoted by Art Jameel and the Victoria & Albert Museum of London, presents works by the eight finalist artists at an exhibition.
What Do You Mean, Here We Are? Mosaic Rooms, London (until September 15)
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this London gallery, a retrospective exhibition is being shown, dedicated to the famous Townhouse Gallery in Cairo (Egypt).Founded in 1998, Townhouse came about as one of the first spaces for independent art in the city and has forged an unusual, very stimulating path for the art scene in the region. The exhibition presents the work of 18 artists who have had shows at the Townhouse Gallery throughout its history.
Last of all, in terms of the music and art festivals that can be seen on these dates in certain Arab countries, we propose these:
Byblos International Music Festival, Lebanon (from August 1 to 24)
Unlike other classical music festivals, the Byblos Festival is one of the Middle East’s summer events with the greatest tradition. Its schedules have included the most important of Arab and international bands.
International Festival of Baalbek, Lebanon (until August 18)
Beiteddine Arts Festival, Lebanon (until August 11)
These are two mythical summer festivals created decades ago in the Lebanese cities of Baalbek, famous for its Roman ruins, and Beiteddine. This year’s schedule includes an homage to Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum and concerts by figures of the stature of Georges Khabbaz and Ziad Rahbanni.
International Festival of Carthage, Tunisia (until August 17)
the 53rd edition of the festival will be taking place in three different spaces: the Ancient Theater of Carthage, the Museum of Carthage and the Carthage Acropolium. As for the morning sessions, they will be held at the Agora. These spaces will represent a natural geographic and cultural extension of the International Festival of Carthage.
