MI week 8
Tuesday (8a)
Language performance and Shia Islam
Due today
All read:
- Schimmel, Islam: An Introduction; pp. 91-100 (on Shia and related sects)
- Encyclopedia Iranica entry for “Ashura”: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/asura
Browse: the Niamatullahi sufi order website: http://nimatullahi.org/ This Shia Sufi order was widespread among Iranian elites before the revolution in 1979. Today centers exist outside Iran throughout the world.
Watch these film segments (if you have time watch the entire film - http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49675 (start)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49676 (3:17)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49679 (11:07)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49681 (17:38)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49684 (24:42)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49685 (28:50)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49694 (58)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49693 (55:12)
- http://digital.films.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8750&xtid=37298&loid=49695 (1:00:00)
Locate one youtube (or other online media) video relevant to Islamic language performance in Shia Islam.
Locate one contemporary news item about Sufism or Ashura in Iran to share with the class, such as the following:
Write: One page: on the whole, what is the difference between Sunni and Shia branches of Islam? What are the various Shia branches and how do they differ? In what countries are they found? What are some of the genres of language performance — connected with Sufi groups or particular festivals — that are distinctive to Shia Islam? What sort of language performance did you find on youtube? What contemporary news item? (Include links to both). Submit under 8a.
Class
- Islamicate and Sufi musics, continued.
- Shia practices. Film, "Mystic Iran".
Thursday (7b)
Ashura'