Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb In brief Guest speakers - Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb (PhD students, IMES, University of Edinburgh) Chair - Ebtihal Mahadeen (University of Edinburgh) Titles - Islamic Twitter in Salman’s Saudi Arabia (Adam Ferron) and Exhibiting Artists from MENA in Western Museums (Farah Taleb) Abstracts Islamic Twitter in Salman’s Saudi Arabia by Adam Ferron Authoritarian regimes have become more adept at using digital information technology to surveil, repress, and manipulate domestic and foreign populations. This presentation will explore the Saudi state’s attempts to influence one of its most popular social media platforms - the Saudi Twittersphere. Focusing on a historically influential community of Islamic scholars on Twitter (i.e., Islamic Twitter), this presentation will highlight how the Saudi state have attempted to curate religious authority and religious discourse on Twitter to support the current direction of the Saudi regime. Exhibiting Artists from MENA in Western Museums by Farah Taleb In the last two decades, exhibitions of art from the Middle East in western museums had increased significantly. This growth was partly due to the growth of contemporary art scenes in the region and the rise of global contemporary art. But it was also linked to political and social events, especially following 9/11 and the rise of discourses surrounding cultural divergences and clash of civilisations. Art and exhibitions were seen as a way to build bridges between cultures. However, given the colonial history of western museums, and the role they played in perpetuating stereotypes about the Middle East in general, and its women in particular, this objective is challenging. This study aims to provide a deeper look into some of the exhibitions through postcolonial and feminist lens, discussing the narratives and interpretations provided by museums and curators and focusing on the implications of certain inclusions and exclusions of artists and themes. About the seminar series Each semester, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) welcomes a fantastic range of guest speakers, PhD students and colleagues from across the University to present an evening seminar on their research. This semester, topics range from Islamic Twitter in Saudi Arabia and penal measures in the contemporary MENA region, to Shi’a polemics and women under the Umayyad caliphate. All seminars will be followed by a Q&A and wine reception. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required for this seminar. If you have any questions, please contact the organiser Ebtihal Mahadeen. Email Ebtihal Mahadeen Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present. Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Nov 21 2022 17.15 - 19.00 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb Join us in person for a seminar with presentations by PhD students Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb (University of Edinburgh) on their current research, including the Saudi Twittersphere and art exhibitions from the Middle East in western museums. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square EH8 9LH Edinburgh
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb In brief Guest speakers - Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb (PhD students, IMES, University of Edinburgh) Chair - Ebtihal Mahadeen (University of Edinburgh) Titles - Islamic Twitter in Salman’s Saudi Arabia (Adam Ferron) and Exhibiting Artists from MENA in Western Museums (Farah Taleb) Abstracts Islamic Twitter in Salman’s Saudi Arabia by Adam Ferron Authoritarian regimes have become more adept at using digital information technology to surveil, repress, and manipulate domestic and foreign populations. This presentation will explore the Saudi state’s attempts to influence one of its most popular social media platforms - the Saudi Twittersphere. Focusing on a historically influential community of Islamic scholars on Twitter (i.e., Islamic Twitter), this presentation will highlight how the Saudi state have attempted to curate religious authority and religious discourse on Twitter to support the current direction of the Saudi regime. Exhibiting Artists from MENA in Western Museums by Farah Taleb In the last two decades, exhibitions of art from the Middle East in western museums had increased significantly. This growth was partly due to the growth of contemporary art scenes in the region and the rise of global contemporary art. But it was also linked to political and social events, especially following 9/11 and the rise of discourses surrounding cultural divergences and clash of civilisations. Art and exhibitions were seen as a way to build bridges between cultures. However, given the colonial history of western museums, and the role they played in perpetuating stereotypes about the Middle East in general, and its women in particular, this objective is challenging. This study aims to provide a deeper look into some of the exhibitions through postcolonial and feminist lens, discussing the narratives and interpretations provided by museums and curators and focusing on the implications of certain inclusions and exclusions of artists and themes. About the seminar series Each semester, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) welcomes a fantastic range of guest speakers, PhD students and colleagues from across the University to present an evening seminar on their research. This semester, topics range from Islamic Twitter in Saudi Arabia and penal measures in the contemporary MENA region, to Shi’a polemics and women under the Umayyad caliphate. All seminars will be followed by a Q&A and wine reception. How to join Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required for this seminar. If you have any questions, please contact the organiser Ebtihal Mahadeen. Email Ebtihal Mahadeen Are you interested in studying with us? We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present. Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Nov 21 2022 17.15 - 19.00 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb Join us in person for a seminar with presentations by PhD students Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb (University of Edinburgh) on their current research, including the Saudi Twittersphere and art exhibitions from the Middle East in western museums. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square EH8 9LH Edinburgh
Nov 21 2022 17.15 - 19.00 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Seminar Series: Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb Join us in person for a seminar with presentations by PhD students Adam Ferron and Farah Taleb (University of Edinburgh) on their current research, including the Saudi Twittersphere and art exhibitions from the Middle East in western museums.
