Past Events: 2004
January
Friday & Saturday, January 16-17th, 2004:
MIDDLE EAST WORKSHOP
Title: Where Does Economic History Fit in Contemporary Middle East Studies? A Cross-Disciplinary Conversation
Speakers: Ellis Goldberg, University of Washington, Seattle; Roger Owen, Harvard University; Abdel Aziz Ezzel Arab, American University in Cairo
Location: TBA
February 5th-April 4th, 2004:
Exhibit: ANTIQUE RUGS FROM THE TURKMEN TRIBES: Masterpieces from Philadelphia Collections.
Location: Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Hall
Thursday & Friday, February 5-6th, 2004
MIDDLE EAST CENTER WORKSHOP
Title: "Working on the World Oil Frontier: The Geography of Business and Labor in the African, Latin American, and Middle Eastern Petroleum Industries"
Location: Stiteler Hall Undergraduate lounge
Thursday, Februrary 12th, 2004; 4:45PM
MIDDLE EAST SEMINAR SERIES
Title: "Empire through Diasporic Eyes: The US, bin Ladin, Indian Ocean Precedents"
Presenter: Engseng Ho, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology and Academy Scholar, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies.
Discussant: Mahdavi Kale, Associate Professor, History Department, Bryn Mawr College
Location: 202 South 36th Street, seminar room 200
February 11-15, 2004:Various Times
MIDDLE EAST CULTURAL SERIES
Title: Middle East Film Festival
Location: Hopkinson Hall, International House (3701 Chestnut Street)
Co-Sponsors: International House
more information on International House's website
Tuesday, February 17, 2004, 3PM
Speaker: Orly Castel-Bloom
Location: Class of 1949 Auditorium, Houston Hall
Co-Sponsors: Jewish Studies Program Kutchin Seminar Series, Women's Studies Program
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004 - 4:00PM
CLASSICAL ISLAM SPEAKER SERIES
Title: "A Valid Marriage Contract and the Status of the Bride"
Speaker: Professor Susan Spectorsky, Queens College
Discussant: Professor Joseph Lowry, University of Pennsylvania
Location: Meyerson Hall (210 South 34th Street), Room B2
Thursday, March 18th, 2004; 4:45PM
MIDDLE EAST SEMINAR SERIES
Title: Exporting Democracy to the Arab World
Presenter: Sheila Carapico, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Richmond
Discussant: Jason Brownlee, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Politics, Princeton and Assistant Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin, starting September 2004
Location: 202 South 36th Street, seminar room 200
Friday, March 19, 2004 - 9:30am-1pm
Undergraduate Research Conference: "Contemporary Issues in Africa, Asia and the Middle East"
Location: Class of '55 (Room 241), Van Pelt Library (Photo ID required for entry)
Co-Sponsors: African Studies Center, Center for East Asian Studies, Middle East Center and South Asia Center
Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 7PM
Evening of Oud and Arabic Poetry Reading with Professor Shouki Kassis (Drexel University), Carlos Gomez (Excelano Project)
Location: Crest Room, Arch Building, 3601 Locust Walk
Co-Sponsors: Penn Arab Student Society and Middle East Center
Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 6PM
MIDDLE EAST PUBLIC LECTURE
Title: "The Persistence of the Palestinian Question"
Speaker: Professor Joseph Massad, Columbia University
Co-Sponsors: Penn Arab Student Society and Middle East Center
Location: Room 340 (3rd Floor), Huntsman Hall
Tuesday, March 30th, 2004 - 5PM
Title: "Shirley Kaufman Poetry Reading"
Location: 3805 Locust Walk, Kelly Writers House
Co-Sponsors: the Creative Writing Program, the Jewish Studies Program Kutchin Seminar Series, the Women's Studies Program, and the Kelly Writers House.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004: 6:30-8:30PM
MEDIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST SERIES
Title of Lecture: "The Arab Media and Democracy"
Speaker: Mr. Abderrahim Foukara, Al-Jazeera correspondent
Location: Room C201/202, Graduate Center, CUNY
Cosponsors: U Penn Middle East Center, Center for Near Eastern Studies of UCLA, CUNY Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center at CUNY
Saturday, April 2, 2004 - 6PM
Celebration of Persian New Year: Nowruz
Location: Hamilton Court High Rise Rooftop Lounge
Co-Sponsors: Penn Persian Society, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Thursday, April 1st, 2004; 4:45PM
MIDDLE EAST SEMINAR SERIES
Title: "From Exile to Ethnic: Iranian-Americans in the 21st Century"
Presenter: Persis Karim, Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature, San Jose State University
Location: 202 South 36th Street, seminar room 200
Wednesday, April 7th, 2004: 5PM
MIDDLE EAST PUBLIC TALK
Speaker: Ahdaf Soueif
Location: Logan Hall, Terrace Room
Friday, April 9th, 2004: 9:15 AM - 5:15 PM
Saturday, April 10th, 2004: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Social Politics in the Middle East
A Symposium in honor of the late historian, Mine Ener
Location: Irvine Auditorium, room G16
information about speakers and schedule
Thursday, April 15th, 2004; 4:45PM
MIDDLE EAST SEMINAR SERIES
Title: "A MELTING POT IN THE ARAB WORLD? New Ideas about Citizenship and National Identity in Jordan"
Presenter: Stephanie Nanes, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Government, Franklin and Marshall College
Location: 202 South 36th Street, seminar room 200
Thursday September 9, 2004 - 7PM and Monday, September 13, 2004 - 7PM
Middle East Culture and Civilization Series
"Neighbors" - Israeli-Palestinian theater performance on an intimate encounter between an Arab Musician and a Jewish actor in Galilee as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival
Location: International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
Co-sponsored by the Multicultural Youth Exchange and the Middle East Center
$15 General Admission - available 1 hour before show at Ihouse box office or in advance at Fringe Box Office (620 Chestnut Street).
For more information, please contact
215-413-1318
Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 1PM
Middle East Culture and Civilization Series
Iranian Animation Festival
Location: International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
Co-Sponsored by International House and the Middle East Center
Free Admission
For more information, please contact:
215-387-5125
Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 7:00 pm
Town Hall Meeting
“Perceptions of Power and Security: Media in the US and the Middle East" with Richard Ben Cramer, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist; David Chambers, Director of Programs at the Middle East Institute; and Claude Salhani, International Editor at United Press International
Location: Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, 3417 Spruce Street
Supported by the Middle East Center
For more information, please contact: Danielle Dougherty, dougherd@sas.upenn.edu
Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - noon
Middle East Seminar Series
"Inside the Looking Glass: a Historical View of US-Iranian Relations, 1893-1979"
Presenter: Professor Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, Department of History, Upenn
Discussant: Professor Robert Vitalis, Department of Political Science
Location: Asch Center Seminar Room, 3rd floor, 3818-33 Chestnut Street (St. Leonard's Court)
Space limited. For more information, please contact:
215-898-6335
Wednesday, October 6th, 2004 - 7PM
Middle East Public Lecture Series
"The Battle for Saudi Arabia: the Royal Family, Islamic Fundamentalism, and U.S. Foreign Policy"
Semester Keynote Speaker: As'ad Abu Khalil, Center for Middle East Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of Bin Laden, Islam and America's New "War on Terrorism"
Location: Logan Hall, Terrace Room, 249 S. 36th St.
Sponsored by the Middle East Center
For more information, please contact:
215-898-6335
Friday, October 8, 2004 - 7PM
Middle East Cultural Event
Celebrating Islam: A Night of Islamic Art and Culture
Part of The Muslim Student Association's Islam Awareness Week
Location: Rooftop Lounge, Hamilton College House (3901 Locust Walk)
Co-Sponsored by The Muslim Student Association
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 7PM
Middle East Public Lecture Series
The Intersection of Gender Equality and Human Rights in Israel
Speakers: Safa Abu-Rabia, lecturer at Ben Gurion University and Bedouin Women's Rights Activist and Hannah Safran, Professor of Women's Studies at University of Haifa and co-founder of Women for a Just Peace
Location: Stiteler Hall B-21, 202 S. 37th Street
Co-Sponsored by the Middle East Center and the Women's Studies Program
For more information, please contact:
215-898-6335
Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - noon
Middle East Seminar Series
Tourism, Terrorism and Security: The Fragility of Global Travel Spaces in the Middle East
Presenter: Waleed Hazbun, Political Science Department, Johns Hopkins University
Discussant: Alexander Kitroeff, Professor of History, Haverford College
Location: Asch Center Seminar Room, 3rd Floor, 3818-33 Chestnut Street (St. Leonard's Court)
Sponsored by the Middle East Center
Space limited. For more information, please contact:
215-898-6335
Thursday, October 14, 2004 - 7:15 PM
Public Lecture
Can Islam and Democracy Coexist?
Part of The Muslim Student Association's Islam Awareness Week
Presenter: Azizah Al-Hibry, Professor of Law at the University of Richmond and Executive Director of Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights
Location: Terrace Room, Logan Hall (249 S. 36th St.)
Co-Sponsored by The Muslim Student Association
Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 8PM
Middle East Culture and Civilization Series
Latif Bolat Ensemble: Healing Sounds of Ancient Turkey.
Location: International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
Co-Sponsored by the Middle East Center and International House
$12 admission fee
For more information, please contact:
215-895-6569
Sunday, October 17- Wednesday, October 20, 2004: Various Times
International Conference on the Life and Work of Israeli Author Amos Oz
Location: Penn Humanities Forum, 3619 Locust Walk
Co-Sponsors: Middle East Center, Jewish Studies Program, University Research Foundation, The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation.
Thursday, October 21 - 3PM
Public Lecture Series
Human Rights in Tunisia
Speaker: Iben Rhaiem, Professor of American Studies, Universite de Sfax, Tunisia
Location: Room 314, Houston Hall
Co-sponsored by: African Studies Center, Cabrini College, and the French Institute
Thursday, October 28, 2004 - 3PM
Public Lecture Series
Bouteflika's Algeria in 2004: Problems and Prospects
Speaker: Robert Mortimer, Haverford College
Location: Logan 17, Logan Hall
Co-sponsored by the French Institute for Culture and Technology, the Middle East Center and the African Studies Center
For more information, please contact
215-573-3550
Thursday, October 21 - 5:30-7:00 PM (CANCELLED)
Middle East Culture and Civilization
Perspolis Recreated, a virtual documentary by Sunrise Films
Directed by Prize-winning Iranian Filmmaker Farzin Rezaeian
This spectacular production presents a virtual recreation of the Palace complex of the Persian Kings at their highland capital of Persepolis in the province of Fars in Southwestern Iran. Come see the columned hall in its original glory. Persian refreshments will be served during a reception with the Director following the fim.
Location: Room A-7, David Rittenhouse Labs (209 S. 33rd St.)
Co-sponsored by the Center for Ancient Studies and the Middle East Center
Friday, October 29, 2004 - 6:30-8:30 PM
Public Relations and the Media in the Aftermath of 9/11
Speaker: Mahdis Keshavarz, VP of New York-based Public Relations firm, Riptide Communications
Location: Room 9204/9205, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (365 Fifth Ave.)
Co sponsored by The Middle East Center, Middle East & Middle Eastern American Center (CUNY), and Center for Near Eastern Studies (UCLA)
For more information call
(212) 817-7570
, email MEMEAC@gc.cuny.edu, or visit http://web.gc.cuny.edu/memeac
Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - 7PM
The Peace Process: Background and its Aftermath
Speaker: Jonathan Spyer, Research Fellow, Center for Global Research in International Affairs, Herzliyah, Israel
Location: 2nd Floor Library, Steinhardt Hillel, 215 S. 39th St.
Sponsored by PennPAC & Supported by the Middle East Center
Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 7PM
Middle East Cultural Series
A Concert by Iraqi oud master Ahmed Mukhtar
Location: Central Philadelphia Friends Meetinghouse, 15th & Cherry Sts.
Admission is free, but donations accepted at the door
Co-sponsored by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust, the Middle East Center, and others
For more information, please contact Amanda at
215-214-7228
Friday, November 5, 2004 - 1:30-5:00 PM
GIC Arab World Trade Conference
Speakers include Richard Murphy, Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Peter Saba, General Counsel of Export-Import Bank of the US; Irvin Richter, Chairman and CEO of Hill International; Robert Ivosevich, Arab Banking Corporation and other experts. GIC Member, Paul Homsy, of Fogani Guibord & Homsy LLP will moderate the Banking and Trade panels
Location: Lauder Institute, 256 S. 37th Street
$25 registration for GIC members, $50 for non-members. Register online at http://www.interdependence.org or call the GIC at
215-898-9453
Sponsored by the Global Interdependence Center in collaboration with Penn Lauder CIBER and the Middle East Center
Thursday, November 11 - 6:30 PM
Israel's Withdrawal from Gaza and the Security Fence
Speaker: Arthur Lenk, Counselor, Department of International Law, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Location: Univ. of Pennsylvania Law School (3400 Chestnut St.), room P-100
Co-sponsored by The Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia, the Middle East Center, Penn Law School and others.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 6:45 PM
About Baghdad
UPenn premier of the award-winning documentary that follows Iraqi exile writer and poet, Sinan Antoon, on his sojourn to see what has become of his city after the downfall of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, and to explore what ordinary Iraqis think and feel about the post-war situation and complex relationship between the US and Iraq. Followed by a discussion with Bassam Haddad, co-director of About Baghdad.
Location: Room F93, Jon M. Huntsman Hall (Locust Walk and 38th St.)
Co-sponsored by Penn Arab Student Society and the Middle East Center
Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - 6:30-9 PM
UNICEF Charity Dessert Banquet
Come to an all you can eat dessert banquet featuring some of Penn's best performing arts groups. All funds raised will assist UNICEF's efforts in Darfur
Location: Harrison College House, Rooftop Lounge
Tickets $5
Co Sponsored by the Middle East Center, Penn Arab Student Society, Penn for UNICEF, and others
Monday, November 29, 2004 - 5:15-6:30 PM
The Peregrinations of a Peripatetic Papyrologist
Speaker: Bezalel Porten, Professor Emeritus of Jewish History, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Location: Room B4, Meyerson Hall (210 S. 34th St)
Co sponsored by The Middle East Center, The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, and The Jewish Studies Program
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 10-11 AM
Elephantine and the Bible
Speaker: Bezalel Porten, Professor Emeritus of Jewish History, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Location: Room B5, Meyerson Hall (210 S. 34th St)
Co sponsored by The Middle East Center, The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, and The Jewish Studies Program
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 7-9 PM
Margin of Freedom: New Media Trends in the Middle East
Panelists: Enas Abdul Rezak Ahmida, weekly columnist for Al Jamahiria and chief editor for Al Amal; Malika Khellaf, staff member ofEl Massa; Aahdeya Ahmed Noor, feature editor for Bahrain Tribune and producer of two weekly programs on Bahrain Radio & Television; Tamadar Fateh, writer for the Syrian times and Tishreen; Eman Mohamed, writer for Al Mara'a Al Yaum and Al Rajoul Al Yaum; Fatima Yahdi, radio host on Moroccan radio; Nihal Saad, reporter for Nile TV International; Mohammed Qassem Al-Jermozi, writer for Al Thawara
Location: Room 9204/9205, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (365 Fifth Ave.)
Co sponsored by The Middle East Center, Middle East & Middle Eastern American Center (CUNY), and Center for Near Eastern Studies (UCLA)
For more information call
(212) 817-7570
, email MEMEAC@gc.cuny.edu, or visit http://web.gc.cuny.edu/memeac
Thursday, December 2, 2004 - 4:30PM
Public Lecture Series
"The French-American War over Iraq: a Historical Perspective"
Speaker: Irwin Wall, Professor Emeritus, University of California Riverside, Visiting Scholar, French Institute, New York University
Location: Golkin Room, Houston Hall
Co-sponsored by the French Institute for Culture and Technology and the Middle East Center
Friday, December 3, 2004 - 7-9 PM
Talk Mogadishu: Media Under Fire
A screening of the documentary about the first independent TV and Radio station established at the end of the 1990s in the war torn city. Screening to be followed by a discussion with the film's director and producer, Judy Jackson.
Admission: $8
Location: Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave.
Co-sponsored by The Middle East Center, East Africa Resource and Study Center, and Community Education Center
For more information visit http://www.eastafricacenter.org, email earsc@verizon.net or call
(215) 382-3191
Friday, December 3, 2004 & Saturday, December 4, 2004 - 8 PM (both nights)
Pyramids of Sand, Ya'lla Penn Middle East Dance Troupe's Fall Show
Come watch belly dancing with Arabic, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean influences in a mix of Classical, Modern, and Fusion dancing.
Admission: Students $5 pre-sale, $7 at the door; Non-Students $7 pre-sale, $10 at the door
Location: Houston Hall (3417 Spruce St.), Hall of Flags
For more information email tamilla@wharton.upenn.edu
Co-sponsored by The Middle East Center
Sunday, December 5, 2004 - 4-7PM
Middle East Culture and Civilization Series
Turkish-American Friendship Society Musical Evening - Solo Performance by Mutlu Onaral, Turkish guitar player and songwriter, dance music by Animus (Middle Eastern music).
Location: Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
Tickets are required: $10 for Penn Students, $15 for TASFUS members, $20 non-members
Co-sponsored by the Turkish-American Friendship Society, US, and the Middle East Center
For further information, please contact Wallis Urmenyhazi at
215-222-8927
.
Friday, December 10, 2004 - 2PM
Middle East Seminar Series
A Trust in the Family: Arab Kinship, English Law and the Transmission of Property in Colonial Singapore
Presenter: Michael Gilsenan, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at New York University
Location: Lea Library, 6th Floor of Van Pelt Library
Co-Sponsored by the Penn Economic History Forum and the Middle East Center