Events
The Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies supports events that increase awareness of the history and cultures of the Middle East and Muslim civilizations, and values diverse perspectives that promote dialogue and understanding. Events listed here originate from a variety of campus units and community organizations. The listing of an event does not constitute endorsement of or agreement with the views presented therein.
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August 2019
Kaplan-Bruer Lecture: “How Biblical Poetry Works” with Jacqueline Vayntrub, Yale University
What makes the poetry of the Bible different from other ancient poetic traditions? Placed in its ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean context, Professor Vayntrub highlights the unique characteristics of biblical poetry and shows how novices and experts alike can appreciate the beauty and insights of these texts. Dr. Jacqueline Vayntrub is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale Divinity School and affiliated faculty in Judaic Studies at Yale University. She is the author of Beyond Orality: Biblical Poetry on its…
Find out more »Film Screening & Panel: The Value of Immigration
This panel follows the Center for European Studies' Welcoming Immigrants to America video competition from Spring 2019. Videos were submitted by UNC students, with their best arguments as to why the US should welcome refugees and immigrants. Winning films will be screened. The panel following will explore the value of immigration to society, both in the US and in Europe. Opening remarks will be given by Professor Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld, UNC Senior Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Global Programs. For more information,…
Find out more »September 2019
Public Book Talk: Elisha Waldman
Join author Elisha Waldman for a discussion of his book "This Narrow Space: A Pediatric Oncologist, His Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Patients, and a Hospital in Jerusalem." Dr. Waldman is currently the Chief of the Division of Palliative Care at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. He will talk about what it means to care for seriously ill children in the exceedingly complex context of Jerusalem and the Middle East, what lessons he's learned from that work, and how it carries over…
Find out more »Persian Art Center in Carolina: The Life and Poetry of Wise Sanai with Banomirim Tabibzadeh
Join the Persian Art Center in Carolina for a presentation on Sanai, a Persian poet who lived in Ghazni between the 11th century and the 12th century in ancient Iran. This is event is in Persian. The program will begin with a social from 4:00-4:30pm. There will be a welcome and introduction by Dr. Amir Rezvani, 4:30-4:45pm. From 4:45-6:30pm, there will be a presentation by Banomirim Tabibzadeh followed by discussion. From 6:30-8:00pm, there will be refreshments, poetry readings…
Find out more »Refugees Insights into Understanding the Global Refugee Crisis: A Conversation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi
Join a conversation between Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Susan Stigant (UNC ’05), Director for Africa Programs, US Institute of Peace, to gain a deeper understanding of why there are now more displaced people around the world than ever before. There will be moderated Q&A with the audience following Grandi and Stigant’s conversation. Filippo Grandi has been engaged in international cooperation for 33 years, primarily with the United Nations. He was born in Milan…
Find out more »Exhibition: She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World
During this critical time for Iran and the Arab world, as national and personal identities are being dismantled and rebuilt, contemporary photography reflects the complexities of unprecedented change. One of the most significant trends to emerge is the work of women photographers, whose remarkable and provocative images provide insights into new cultural landscapes, questioning tradition and challenging perceptions of Middle Eastern and Arab identity. “She Who Tells a Story” brings together the vital pioneering work of 12 leading artists,…
Find out more »Humanities in Class Webinar: “Understanding the Modern Middle East” with Akram Khater (North Carolina State University)
Far too often, the Middle East appears as doubly alien: out of place and out of time. A century of popular culture caricatures, at least two centuries of Orientalist representations, and decades of American military interventions, have all fed into the notion of the Middle East as turmoil-laden, sectarian and tribal pre-modern world. In this webinar, we will go beyond these stereotypes to look at the historical forces that shaped the region across the 20th century, and to understand the…
Find out more »K-12 Educator Open House featuring “She Who Tells a Story”
Explore the She Who Tells a Story exhibition and the Ackland’s collection during this special evening for educators! Engage with area educators and Museum staff in conversation about the art, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, and take a tour of the exhibition. Participants will leave with teaching ideas to use in the classroom or in the Museum. All grade levels and disciplines welcome! She Who Tells a Story brings together the vital pioneering work of 12 leading artists from Iran and the Arab…
Find out more »October 2019
Discussion: Through Her Lens: Modern Arab Women Telling Their Stories through Art and Literature
Carolina Public Humanities is teaming up with the Ackland Art Museum to explore the ways in which Modern Arab Women are speaking out through art and literature. Celebrate female storytellers with Nadia Yaqub, professor of Asian Studies, in a lively discussion of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize-winning novel Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, the first female Omani novelist to be translated into English. Carolyn Allmendinger, Ackland’s Director of Academic Programming, will then guide us through their newest exhibition, She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran…
Find out more »Artist Talk: Photographer Rania Matar
Rania Matar is a Lebanese/Palestinian/American documentary, portrait and fine art photographer. She photographs the daily lives of girls and women in the Middle East and in the United States, including Syrian refugees. She will discuss her work in conjunction with the She Who Tells a Story exhibition. She Who Tells a Story brings together the vital pioneering work of 12 leading artists from Iran and the Arab world, ranging in genre from portraiture to documentary: Jananne Al-Ani, Boushra Almutawakel, Gohar Dashti, Rana El Nemr, Lalla Essaydi, Shadi Ghadirian, Tanya Habjouqa, Rula…
Find out more »Art Exhibition Event: Family and Friends Sunday at the Ackland Art Museum
Join us as we explore the Ackland’s traveling exhibition, She Who Tells a Story. She Who Tells a Storybrings together the vital pioneering work of 12 leading artists from Iran and the Arab world, ranging in genre from portraiture to documentary: Jananne Al-Ani, Boushra Almutawakel, Gohar Dashti, Rana El Nemr, Lalla Essaydi, Shadi Ghadirian, Tanya Habjouqa, Rula Halawani, Nermine Hammam, Rania Matar, Shirin Neshat, and Newsha Tavakolian. The exhibition features over 80 photographs, lent by the artists, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the collection of James Keith Brown and Eric Diefenbach. -Enjoy…
Find out more »November 2019
“Countering Hate: Overcoming Fear of Differences” series: Signature lecture by Ken Stern, director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate
Kenneth S. Stern, director of Bard College’s Center for the Study of Hate, is an author and attorney. For 25 years he was the American Jewish Committee’s expert on antisemitism. He was the lead drafter of the “Working Definition of Antisemitism,” later adopted by the U.S. State Department. He has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and testified before Congress. He was an invited presenter at the White House Conference on Hate Crimes and an official member of the U.S.…
Find out more »Photo Books Pop-Up: Rare and Special Photo Books from the Sloane Art Library Collection
Presented in connection with She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World. She Who Tells a Story brings together the vital pioneering work of 12 leading artists from Iran and the Arab world, ranging in genre from portraiture to documentary: Jananne Al-Ani, Boushra Almutawakel, Gohar Dashti, Rana El Nemr, Lalla Essaydi, Shadi Ghadirian, Tanya Habjouqa, Rula Halawani, Nermine Hammam, Rania Matar, Shirin Neshat, and Newsha Tavakolian. The exhibition features over 80 photographs, lent by the artists, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the collection of James Keith Brown…
Find out more »UNC World View Community College Symposium: Confronting Poverty Globally and Locally
Poverty is a worldwide threat. It has a direct impact on North Carolina where the poverty rate remains above historical averages (North Carolina Poverty Report, 2018). This symposium will explore topics and strategies that address poverty globally and locally. Through engaging interactive breakout sessions, plenary talks, and panel discussions, educators will learn about resources and build a network of colleagues who are passionate about this work. This program is designed for community college instructors of all disciplines, as well…
Find out more »UNC World View K-12 Global Education Symposium: The Sustainable Development Goals: Classroom Connections
In 2015 almost 200 governments adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to guide what must be done to improve the health and well-being of the world’s population. During UNC World View’s 2019 annual global education symposium educators will explore the 17 global goals and their importance. Educators will leave with strategies for integrating global content across curriculum and other global education resources. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Anthony Jackson, Vice President and Director, Center for Global Education at Asia Society Continuing Education Units offered. #WorldView2019…
Find out more »February 2020
Humanities in Class Webinar: “Bridging Past and Present: Afghanistan as the Crossroads of Eurasia” with Alka Patel (University of California-Irvine)
Dr. Alka Patel (PhD, Harvard 2000) is a leading scholar of the Islamic art and architectural history of South Asia dating to the 12th through 18th centuries. She is currently Professor of Art History at the University of California-Irvine, and was a NHC Fellow in 2018-2019. Presented by the National Humanities Center, Humanities in Class webinars are live, interactive professional development webinars on compelling topics by leading scholars for humanities educators and advocates of all levels. All webinars are free of charge. For more information…
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