MI week 6

Tuesday (6a)

Sufism

Due today

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL OVERDUE WORK! I went to grade your assignments last weekend but found that I have received less than half of submissions thus far. Oct 6 is amnesty due day on late penalties. Please submit all overdue work by today, via eClass. After today I'll start to deduct points for lateness. (On time assignments before today will receive extra credit.)

A Reminder: in Reading Reports: you should do two things: (a) show me that you've actually done the reading - what is it about, what is its scope, what are the main points? Then (b) critique. Position it within a broader context. Why is it written (or filmed...) the way it is? Who is writing, for whom, when, and why? How is it biased by these contextual factors? Can you address any such biases?

New assignment:

• Read Sufism: an introduction to the mystical tradition of Islam. Skim chapters 1 and 2; read chapters 6 and 7 more carefully. Write your answer to the question: "What is Sufism?" (one page or less), and submit on eClass (6a). We'll discuss further in class.
• Watch the following video: I am a Sufi, I am a Muslim (if you have trouble accessing via this link, go to the Films on Demand database in the Library's database page and search for the title)

Class

• Today, We'll discuss your assignments from last Tuesday and Thursday:

1. Examples of classical sources (e.g. Qur'an, Hadith, and other early texts) supporting or rejecting sama` and music; be prepared to present them.
2. Examples of contemporary sources supporting or rejecting sama` and music; be prepared to present them.

Thursday (6b)

Class

1. Introduce your proposed research projects if you haven't already done so.
2. Sufism and Islamicate (non-religious) music: a two way street.

Examples:

• • Mevlevi Ayin and Ottoman art music
  • Iranian classical music and Sufi poetry
  • Syrian muwashshah and the munshidin
  • Egyptian tarab music, Shaykh Yasin
  • Popular Sufi (Qawwali, Akwashirawa, Inshad): Sufi music outside its usual contexts