Clik here to view.
Heavenly Curtains
I drew my inspiration for my first creative piece from the Knappert reading from the fourth week, which recounted stories about Mohammad from the Swahili Islamic tradition. I was particularly struck by...
View ArticleClik here to view.
East meets Far East: adding another dimension to the arabesque
My second creative response was inspired by Necipoglu’s piece about the arabesque in Islamic art. I have always been interested by tessellations, of which Islamic tiles and designs are some of the most...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Minimalist Ta’ziyeh
My third response was inspired by the Ta’ziyeh of Iran. I was intrigued by the symbolism that pervades the passion plays, particularly that of structure and color. I particularly liked the idea that...
View ArticleGhazal 1: “I am but a mortal…”
I am but a mortal and you, my AphroditeI fear to forget my lowly place lest you smite me I am a book of scribbled pages and empty listsBut with the strength of your spirit you could rewrite me The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Conference of the Birds, a la haut couture
Imagine my surprise when, while poking around one of my favorite blogs, I saw something about a clothing line called Conference of the Birds. After a little bit of googling, it seems like it is indeed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Redrawing Persepolis
My last project was inspired by a crossover between two weeks, week 10 (which focused on Conference of the Birds) and week 12 (in which we read Persepolis). I loved the story of the Conference of the...
View Article“Translation:” Themes of the Portfolio
Much of the course focused on how Islam is defined. Who has the power to do so? How do these definitions change in different contexts? How do cultural beliefs and practices interact with the vast...
View Article
