"The Qur'an"

I watched Channel 4’s documentary on the Qur’an this week – imaginatively entitled “The Qur’an” - and its daily companion pieces, “The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World”.

“The Qur’an” was a fascinating programme about something of which I knew very little (it might be fairer to say nothing); at two hours long (though I cut out the ads – so it probably came in at 105 minutes or so) it really didn’t feel like it was too long, and it was full of interesting debate – I felt it presented both sides of the story, and it explained how there were several interpretations of the Qur’an, just as there are any text, giving rise to many versions of Islam, some of which contradict each other. (How many Christian sects are there with contradictory beliefs? Just look at the Anglican Church and its current schisms.)

It was full of beautiful images – I would gladly travel to Iran just to see the glorious Iman Mosque (more pictures here) - and startling facts – the billions of dollars of oil money spent by Saudi Arabia on promoting Wahabism through the printing and distribution of the Qur’an (including their own, somewhat inflammatory, warlike interpretation of some passages).

The Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. Source: Folded Bird, on flickr

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"The Qur'an"

I watched Channel 4’s documentary on the Qur’an this week – imaginatively entitled “The Qur’an” - and its daily companion pieces, “The Seven Wonders of the Muslim World”.

“The Qur’an” was a fascinating programme about something of which I knew very little (it might be fairer to say nothing); at two hours long (though I cut out the ads – so it probably came in at 105 minutes or so) it really didn’t feel like it was too long, and it was full of interesting debate – I felt it presented both sides of the story, and it explained how there were several interpretations of the Qur’an, just as there are any text, giving rise to many versions of Islam, some of which contradict each other. (How many Christian sects are there with contradictory beliefs? Just look at the Anglican Church and its current schisms.)

It was full of beautiful images – I would gladly travel to Iran just to see the glorious Iman Mosque (more pictures here) - and startling facts – the billions of dollars of oil money spent by Saudi Arabia on promoting Wahabism through the printing and distribution of the Qur’an (including their own, somewhat inflammatory, warlike interpretation of some passages).

The Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. Source: Folded Bird, on flickr

( Read more... )

Festival art: "Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945"

I have now been to see the festival exhibition at the Dean Gallery, “Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945" twice.

It is quite an interesting exhibition: it does exactly what it says on the tin: it looks at photography in central Europe between the wars. This also means that it doesn’t necessarily work as an exhibition: despite the curators’ attempts to provide cohesion and themes, it doesn’t necessarily hang together very well. There is just too much to cover: a large geographical area in political turmoil, an art form newly available to the masses, and economic changes ranging from depression to boom. Inevitably, it is a very bitty exhibition. Many of the images were new to me, as were most of the photographers.

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Festival art: "Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945"

I have now been to see the festival exhibition at the Dean Gallery, “Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945" twice.

It is quite an interesting exhibition: it does exactly what it says on the tin: it looks at photography in central Europe between the wars. This also means that it doesn’t necessarily work as an exhibition: despite the curators’ attempts to provide cohesion and themes, it doesn’t necessarily hang together very well. There is just too much to cover: a large geographical area in political turmoil, an art form newly available to the masses, and economic changes ranging from depression to boom. Inevitably, it is a very bitty exhibition. Many of the images were new to me, as were most of the photographers.

( Read more... )