The Center of Arts and Humanities at the American University of Beirut is organizing an international conference which will bring together leading researchers who have contributed to the field of Middle Eastern Studies with particular reference to the Druze. The conference will focus on the political, social and cultural evolution and/ or political role of the Druze over the past millennium. This two-day conference which will be held at the American University of Beirut in October 30 & 31 2018 will also feature a number of activities covering art, food and culture allowing the public to become more familiar with these socio-cultural tools which help the Druze community to maintain a distinct identity while simultaneously being part and parcel of their societies..
While this conference essentially focuses on the Druze, it will certainly incorporate the stories of many of the groups which inhabited the same regions and which through conflict and often accommodation and cooperation came to define the rich history of the Druze and of the region as a whole.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1887838578179767/
Affective Atmospheres: Site-specific sound, neighborhood music and the social formation
When: November 29th and 30th, 2018 - All Day
Where: Building 37, AUB
The seminar invites scholarly and artistic contributions that make thought-provoking connections between sound and the society. The aim is to consider the idea of social formation that comprises an ever-evolving atmosphere of a place. Sonic atmosphere (aka ambience or ambient sound) indicates the essential background sounds, which are present in a site, place, area or location. It is therefore crucial to understand how the emergent and contingent sonic atmosphere of a site is constituted with multiple influences, including but not limited to neighboring and socially diffused music and site-specific sounds that are part of the everyday ambience, which is historically transformative. Likewise, social music (LaBelle 2001), as well as sounds and music diffused in urban or rural environments (e.g. Azaan) generate site-specific associations such as ones emanating from and reflected within a specific street, area or a room. These elements are necessary for critical listening and investigation not only to understand the atmospheric elements they may suggest, but also to speculate their historical constituents, as well as their contribution to or influences from the processes of social formation. Often such an inclusive idea of atmosphere proliferates a sense of plurality and multiplicity embedded in the public and social life of a site engaging the sociality in a more effective means. In this seminar, the various everyday iterations and social aspects of site-specific music and sound will be examined to locate how they engage with the contingent collectivity and fluid historicity of the site within a spirit of inclusion, contributing to the studies of sound, ambiances and social life.
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Marcel Cobussen, ACPA, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
Professor Cathy Lane, CRiSAP, University of the Arts, London
Professor David Toop, CRiSAP, University of the Arts, London
Ashish Avikunthak, Harrington School of Communication, University of Rhode Island
Open call for scholarly and artistic contributions
Affective Atmospheres_Programme.pdf
Live Sound and Music Performance
When: November 29th and 30th, 2018 - 20:30
Where: Beirut Art Center
This live performance is in collaboratio with The Irtijal festival, Lebanon.
Potential performances by:
Cathy Lane, CRiSAP, University of the Arts, London
Budhaditya Chattopadhyay, Center for Arts and Humanities, American University of Beirut
Jad Saliba, Sonology, The Royal Conservatory, The Hague
Lasse-Marc Riek, Gruenrekorder, Frankfurt am Main
Maria Papadomanolaki, University of Brighton
William Joshua Hudelson , FAAS (Music), American University of Beirut.
David Toop, CRiSAP, University of the Arts, London
Zena El Khalil ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Office Hours / Drop In:
Meet Zena for a chat about art, activism, the A to Z of being a career artist,
production tips, community engagement, healing modalities and more.
October 1 - 12; daily 2-4 pm
October 22-26; daily 2-4 pm
November 12-16; daily 2-4 pm
December 3-7; daily 2-4 pm
Location: CAH (Bldg. 37 4th floor room 402)
Public Lecture:
November 12 @ 2pm; “Can Art Change the World?”
Location: CAH (Bdg. 37 3rd floor- conference room)
Collective Pubic Art work:
“Define Peace: The Word in Art.” What is the future we wish to step in to?
Join for color based meditation, learn about the power of thought and
collectively crowd source peace.
Available during office hours. Location: CAH Building and (Observatory square)
Panel Discussion: The Druze. Celebrating 1,000 Years of Diversity
October 31 @ 4pm in College Hall B1