march 11, 2014: taught a class on “religion in media and pop culture” today along with andrew harrison. i focused on islam and its (mis)representation in mainstream media. the high school students in my class were bright and engaged. they understood stereotyping and labels. they could unpack the illustration of a burka-clad woman screaming “help” by linking it to the justification for western intervention. they understood patriarchy and its universality. i left them with one advice: balance ur worldview with alternative media. watch democracy now, the real news, etc. once again i come away inspired by how open-minded and smart american teenagers are. more here.
Category: local
the muslims i know at suny brockport
i went to a screening of “the muslims i know” at suny brockport in order to lead a discussion afterwards and i met this wonderful young man, a graduate student in the dance department. he asked me whether the kinds of discussions about islam and muslims that we see on-screen, r also happening within the muslim community itself, whether there was a lot of soul-searching and introspection. i told him there was. since we have to constantly explain ourselves to others, we are forced to look inwards and self-question. he said: “i would like to apologize to u for having to do that and i would like to thank u for standing up and becoming a spokesperson for ur community when u shouldn’t have to.”
wow. that totally blew me away. it struck me how words spoken at one end of a room can tumble and glide and find their way to the other end, and in doing so can bridge incredible distances in the human experience. with a few simple words, we can slice through much distracting fracas and posturing and connect directly to someone else.
he came to talk to me at the end of the discussion and i extended my hand. he said “i don’t believe in handshakes” and gave me a big hug. if only all human interactions were that simple – imbued with warmth and compassion, dictated by mutual respect and acknowledgment. what a lovely gift.
Spring 2014 Let’s Talk About It – Muslim Journeys: Bridging Cultures
screening of my film THE MUSLIMS I KNOW at the drake library, suny brockport, feb 28 at noon. i will be there to discuss. it’s free and open to the public. more here.
post-screening discussion about “these birds walk”
february 11, 2014: discussed omar mullick and bassam tariq’s “these birds walk” with linda moroney and the audience at the little theatre, in rochester. the film documents the struggles of wayward street children and the samaritans looking out for them. it’s an ethereal and inspirational story of resilience.
One Take Documentary Discussion from The Little Theatre on Vimeo.
these birds walk
hope everyone can make it to the little theatre today at 7 pm to see “these birds walk.” it’s made by two filmmakers who’re originally from pakistan and it truly speaks to the spirit of the place and its people in a v direct, non-manipulative and beautiful way. the film focuses on runaway boys in an edhi home in karachi. i will be there for a post-screening discussion with linda moroney. hope to see u there!
“Omar is a young runaway boy in Karachi, Pakistan, whose life hangs on one critical question: what is home going to mean for him? Is it going to be in the urban streets where he has made his life, an unstructured home for runaways, or the difficult rural family life he has been trying to flee? And might Omar find an answer in the hardened young man Asad, himself a former street kid and now an ambulance driver for the humanitarian Edhi Foundation who helps the children at Omar’s orphanage return to their homes, often in dangerous territory and at great personal risk? A glancing, non-hagiographic examination of the work being done by humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi.”
THESE BIRDS WALK – Official Theatrical Trailer (HD) from Oscilloscope Laboratories on Vimeo.
rochester city school kids attend my art exhibition
feb 6, 2014: met and talked about my art and film work with students and faculty from the world of inquiry high school, in the city of rochester. what wonderful kids and teachers!
philip seymour hoffman dies at 46
philip seymour hoffman: incredible actor, unforgettable performances. from rochester so we’ve always been v proud of his work. whether he was capote or had a tiny supporting role in a film, his performance always stood out. it would remain etched in one’s memory. i know his mom marilyn, a retired family court judge, who juries the rochester teen film festival every year with me and other filmmakers/educators. such a tragedy.
Frederick Douglass – From Slave to Abolitionist
Frederick Douglass, the Lion of Anacostia.
we have this treasure in rochester – it’s called “let’s have tea”. it’s a life-size bronze sculpture of susan b. anthony and frederick douglass conversing over tea. it was created by sculptor pepsy kettavong who was born in laos and now lives in rochester. it’s located in a park, outside susan b. anthony’s house.
Islamophobia and Racism | Rochester Indymedia
a couple of weeks ago, i mentioned my talk at a local church about islamophobia and racism. someone objected to (mostly black and brown) muslims co-opting the term “racism” when islam isn’t really a race but a religion. i promised to post my lecture in order to clarify the connections between islamophobia and racism. it was just published by rochester indymedia. here it is.
opening reception at colacino gallery
with my gorgeous friend maysaa, at the opening reception of “this heirloom,” jan 24, 2013.
Artist’s Talk: This Heirloom by Mara Ahmed
my talk at the colacino gallery for the opening of my art exhibition “this heirloom” on january 24, 2014. check it out!
islamophobia: the new racism
last week i wrote a short paper on “islomophobia: the new racism” in which i tried to break down islamophobia in order to highlight overlaps with racism and antisemitism. i presented it this past sunday at a church where it was well-received and triggered a lively discussion. the only dissenter was an older man: tall, immaculately dressed, he started with his bio (including an ivy league education) and then proceeded to describe “this so-called” islamophobia (if, in fact, it existed) as part of a routine pattern of demonization in american history. nothing to worry about. we are sure to move on to something else pretty soon. he also defended the media, which i had gone after quite aggressively, by saying that the NYT, the washington post and the wall street journal were “equal atrocity reporters” (whether the atrocity happened here or in the middle east). finally, he described how all the doctors and engineers he knew seemed to be muslims and therefore the muslim community had hardly anything to complain about. hmm. there is a certain mindset which i find immoveable, ponderous, arrogant and self-satisfied. the kind of mindset which can convince itself that we live in a post-racial world. it’s v establishment, privileged, out of touch. and perhaps an ivy league education is the problem.
art installed!
january 9, 2014: installed!!! thank u to the brilliant jim quinn for helping me get it just right. opening reception on jan 24th with artist’s talk at 6.30pm, colacino gallery, naz. so happy!
multi-media art exhibition at colacino gallery – jan 15 to feb 7, 2014
opening reception and artist’s talk on jan 24th. hope to see u there!
Nazareth College’s Colacino Gallery to showcase film-inspired collages of Mara Ahmed in a multi-media exhibit
check out the press release for my upcoming multi-media art exhibition, jan 15 to feb 7, with an opening reception and artist’s talk on jan 24th. hope u can make it! more details here.