DOCSLIB.ORG

A Film by Yun Suh

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Film by Yun Suh A film by Yun Suh USA 2009/ Color/ 66 minutes World Premiere at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival Press and Distribution Contact: Yun Suh 001 (510) 295-7588 [email protected] www.cityofborders.com (check for media coverage) “When I read in the bible that I could be killed for being gay, I understood what it was like to be Palestinian.” – Israeli bar patron. SYNOPSIS In the heart of Jerusalem – defying generations of segregation, violence and prejudice – stands an unusual symbol of unity: a gay bar called Shushan. City of Borders goes inside this vibrant underground sanctuary on the East/West border of the Holy City, where people of opposing nationalities, religious affiliations and sexual orientations gather under one roof, to find acceptance and create a community among people typically viewed as each other’s “enemy.” Set against the construction of the separation wall between Israel and the Palestinian territories and the struggle for a gay pride parade in Jerusalem, City of Borders explores this resilient community’s daily fight for dignity and their right to existence. In observing the lives and struggles of the regulars at Shushan, City of Borders highlights the bond forged when people from warring worlds embrace what everyone shares in common—the right to be accepted and belong—rather than be defined by the differences that tear them apart. STORY City of Borders follows the intersecting lives of five bar regulars as they face extraordinary risks and intolerance. Each participant’s storyline chronicles a bittersweet balance between survival against the need to honor his or her true self as well as his or her limitations in transcending barriers between people. “Everyone comes from their own ghetto and meets at Shushan,” says the bar owner Sa’ar Netanel, a secular Israeli and Jerusalem’s first openly gay city council member. Shushan, Jerusalem’s only gay bar, was born out of his struggle for gay visibility and ethnic diversity. His outspokenness has earned Sa’ar the respect and gratitude of the gay community as well as numerous death threats. For devout Muslim Palestinian, Boody, going to Shushan means endangering his life in an illegal nighttime border crossing from the West Bank to Jerusalem. He creeps under razor wire; scales cement walls and dodges Israeli soldiers. At home in Ramallah, he risks being shot or arrested for his pursuit of self-expression. He suffers from “Red Death, to die slowly.” Former Israeli soldier and “club kid,” Adam Russo, dances shirtless on stage, displaying visible scars on his chest and arms. In 2005, he was stabbed by an Orthodox Jew while marching at the head of Jerusalem’s gay pride parade. Being a victim of a hate crime has ignited his political purpose – to fight for equal rights. 2 On the dance floor, a Palestinian Israeli, Samira Saraya, kisses her Jewish Israeli lesbian lover, Ravit Geva. Their union breaks two of Middle Eastern society’s biggest taboos: same-sex relations and intimacy between Jews and Arabs. Ironically, these barriers have drawn them closer together, but isolated them from their families. Their relationship complicates over the issue of starting a family of their own. Outside of the bar, Jewish, Muslim and Christian fundamentalists, in a rare show of solidarity, strive to eliminate all demonstrations of gay identity through the reversal of anti-discrimination laws, riots and death threats. City of Borders concludes by showing what each participant has gained from being a member of the Shushan community and the effects of this singular bar upon their lives, inspiring each to move beyond its walls to create a different place of belonging for him or herself. Exhausted from 16 years of fighting against a very conservative local government, Sa’ar compromises his utopian ideals and closes Shushan after four years. But he takes comfort in knowing that he has forever changed Jerusalem to become more tolerant. Seeking release from a life of harassment, shame and persecution, Boody escapes from Ramallah to the United States, but at the cost of losing a part of himself and everything he knows. Cautioned by attacks against himself and Sa’ar for being visible, Adam forgoes his political aspirations, deciding to live a more private life with his partner, whom he met at Shushan. Together, they build a home in the settlement where Adam was raised and plan for a civil union recognized by Israel. Samira and Ravit test their four-year long relationship by Ravit’s desire to conceive a child. Ravit dreamed of raising her children as Jewish and eventually sending them to the Israeli army. Samira, secular and deeply connected to her Palestinian roots, never wanted children. The unlikely lovers choose to respect each other’s differences and create space in their relationship for their conflicting beliefs to coexist, leaving Samira with the option to participate in the child’s life at her own will. 3 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT The concept for “City of Borders” began in 2002 while I was producing a series of radio reports in Jerusalem and the West Bank on the clashes during the second Palestinian Intifada or uprising. I’m drawn to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because I intimately understand both sides of the war. Like the Israelis, I grew up in constant fear of my neighboring country, North Korea, coming to attack my small village and family in South Korea. I did not see North Koreans as humans but as demons determined to kill me if they had the chance. My childhood playtime often involved devising escape routes and places to hide in my home if North Koreans ever invaded. Like the Palestinians, I understand the horror and hardships of living under occupation through my parents who survived the Japanese colonization of Korea. Being on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, I witnessed the daily devastating impact of the Israeli occupation. Finding a bar where Israelis and Palestinians take great risks to meet and connect as human beings amid all the distrust, death and violence renewed my faith in our shared humanity. Sa’ar Netanel’s vision for his bar where people from different worlds can find common ground and be accepted, mirrors my purpose for making films. Therefore, I chose this story as the topic of my first feature- length film despite daunting barriers of budget, bombs, language and culture,. DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/WRITER/CINEMATOGRAPHER’S BIO Yun Suh’s love of visual storytelling sparked at age 8 when she immigrated to Connecticut from South Korea without knowing a word of English. Television and movies became her most important classroom where she learned the language and the American culture. But without role models, she didn’t think being a filmmaker was a career possibility. She studied to become a doctor to fulfill her mother’s dream and kept her passion for film hidden. Her life took a big turn when her mother died during her last year of college. Believing that her mother’s death was caused by her inability to fully express herself, Suh devoted her life to true communication and self-expression. After earning a biology degree from University of California, Berkeley, Suh landed jobs in radio and broadcast television news, where she worked the past eight years, and produced documentary shorts in her spare time. She has extensively covered news on the Middle East and has reported from Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip. Her nominations include Best Radio Documentary from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters for her one-hour long radio report, Sabra & Shatilla (2003), on the survivors of the 1982 massacre of Palestinians in Lebanese refugee camps. She has also received a local Emmy nomination for producing a news feature, Comfort Women (2001), a story of an illiterate Korean woman who uses her paintings to break her 50-year silence about being forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. In 2002, she earned the Support, Training and Access for New Directors (STAND) grant from the Film Arts Foundation to pursue her lifelong dream of being a filmmaker. 4 FILMMAKING TEAM Editor: Jean Kawahara won a 2002 National Emmy for editing the feature-length documentary, Of Civil Wrongs and Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story, which was also short-listed for the 2001 Academy Awards. Other credits include the award-winning documentary, Yank Tanks; the independent feature film, Nail Polish; and the Sundance selection shorts, Rappin’ Gap and Undertaker, which earned a National CableACE award. Jean has also received numerous awards for her commercial work, including a Golden Lion at the Cannes Film Festival and a Clio. Cinematographer/Co-Producer: Karin Thayer is an award-winning filmmaker and video journalist who has been producing, shooting and editing stories for 15 years worldwide, in locations from Brussels to Dubai. Her short films such as Seed (1997) have screened internationally, including at the Sundance Film Festival. Thayer’s recent clients include: Oxygen Media, the Discovery Channels, the History Channel, the Travel Channel and the BBC. She earned the 2005 Concentra European Video Journalism award for producing the BBC TV series, Addiction. Cinematographer: Robin McKenna has worked as a video journalist for CBC programs, including the feature-length documentary Minority Report and directed observational series for Life Network, Oxygen, and Living UK. She served as a cinematographer for numerous documentaries including The Take (American Film Institute Award for Best Documentary 2004) and The Great War Experience, which aired on CBC. Cinematographer: Amir Terkel is an Israeli filmmaker and news videographer with over 10 years of experience shooting in domestic and international news stations in Israel and the United States, including CNN and ABC in Jerusalem.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • New Registration Procedure- Should .Eliminate Long Lines Tufts
    VHE FIRST in the 20's. CAMPUS NEWS." Tufts Students .Get an ICV Reception at Logan Airport Several Tufts students was still moving at an were aboard the World Air- alarming speed. "It felt ways DC-10 jetliner that as though we landed, bounc- skidded off Logan Airport's ed, and then crashed. "The runway 15 into the icy lights went out and every- waters of Boston Harbor Sat- one was thrown forward. If urday night. World Airways Flynn said that initially Flight 30 arriving at Logan. the stewardesses instructed from Los Angeles via Newark everyone to assume a 'crash skidded off the icy runway position but then asked at about 7:45pm. The off- everyone to take off their icial cause of the accident shoes and put on life pre- is as yet undetermined but servers. "In general, people the National Transportation seemed pretty calm. I think Safety Board began their I was around the tenth per- .- investigation yesterday. son out. I didn't want to The new registration process will eliminate unpleasant Catherine Flynn, J 84, go in the water but someone lkes such as the ones pictured above. was on board the ill-fated pushed me." Flynn was ashore flight 30 on her way back before rescue personnel to Tufts from her home in arrived and began walking New Registration Procedure- Pasadena, California. "1 down the runway until she was talking with my friend was given a ride in a snow Should .Eliminate Long- Lines (Mora Rothenberg 5'84) and plow to the airport fire by ANTHONY EVERETT there was no clue that any- station.
    [Show full text]
  • 12 Yehudith Blvd. Tel Aviv 67016 Israel / Tel: 972 3 562 8180, Fax: 972 3 562 5992
    12 YEHUDITH BLVD. TEL AVIV 67016 ISRAEL / TEL: 972 3 562 8180, FAX: 972 3 562 5992 Ministry [email protected] / WWW.FILMFUND.ORG.IL of Culture and Sport ISRAEL FILM COUNCIL THE ISRAEL FILM FUND TAKES AN ACTIVE ROLE IN AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT The responsibility of the Public film funding organizations to Last year, in cooperation with the Ministry For Senior "Audience Development" has sprung up from a real need Citizens, the Fund managed to promote and legislate a to connect with the local audience and create a faithful, law which gives senior citizens a 50% discount on tickets engaged and supportive audience to local cinema. The goal for Israeli films in the cinemas. In addition the ministry of of this long term process is to deepen people's connection senior citizens fully compensates the producer, exhibitor and experience of watching films together in the cinema and distributor and covers the 50% discount that is given theatres and by this their appreciation of art and culture. at the cinemas. Recognizing the need to have a solid audience for Israeli Reaching out and developing a local audience includes Films the Israel Film fund has put special emphasis into tapping into “niche” audiences. This promoted the senior audience development and the development of Israeli Film citizens outreach and also opening up to "genre" films culture. As a film funding agency it is within the Fund's role which have mostly a large young audience. Last year and responsibility to be committed to support Israeli films the Fund initiated special production support schemes for not only via financial and creative support but also via "genre films" – such as horror, thrillers, sci-fi, comedies and audience development.
    [Show full text]
  • PROMISES Lesson Plan Understanding History, Religion, and Politics in Jerusalem and Beyond
    PROMISES Lesson Plan Understanding History, Religion, and Politics in Jerusalem and Beyond Grade Level: 7-12 Subjects: History, Language Arts, Behavioral/Social Studies, Sociology Estimated Time of Completion: 3-5 class periods, plus homework preparation Overview: The city of Jerusalem has been the center of controversy for centuries. Current differences involve the struggle between Israel and Palestine for control of the city and the areas known as the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Rather than explore the conflict politically, PROMISES introduces viewers to seven Israeli and Palestinian children ranging in age between 9 and 13 who live with this conflict daily, and who have formed definite opinions about the roles of its participants. Living within 20 minutes of each other, “each growing up in very separate worlds,” these children had never met until filmmaker B.Z. Goldberg brought some of them together for a day. Through the course of the film, we learn that these disparate neighbors share common ideas, opinions, and biases shaped by cultural, religious, and historical influences. Typically, one side blames the other, but unlike adults, these children suggest that a resolution could be possible. After hearing about each other from B.Z., and motivated by curiosity, some of the children prevail upon him to arrange a meeting between the two sides. Voicing their ideas with a candid innocence underscored by the harsh realities of their young lives, these children offer hope that one day this conflict can be peacefully resolved. Through research, class discussion, and writing, students will be able to learn how the controversy came about.
    [Show full text]
  • ILLUMINATOR Spring 2021
    Spring 2021 issue Published in May 2021 Commentary Navigating Out of Narrow Straits by Eva Cohen Ritual Leader and Rabbinic Student When I wrote my last column, we were in the midst Zoom Seder, I described how the Sefat Emet and of a bad time. other texts in rabbinic tradition connect Mitzraim COVID cases in Minnesota were surging to their (Egypt) with metzarim, narrow straits. Passover highest level during the pandemic, and the Electoral narrates a journey out of oppression and narrowness College vote had not yet quashed serious efforts to in Egypt into openness. I talked about how, over the overturn the presidential election results. The week before the holiday, I watched my one-year-old daylight was dwindling, and the weather was cold. daughter learn to squeeze between dining room chairs, making her own journey out of narrowness Life feels much more hopeful now. into openness. We have all been on a version of that The vaccinated future that beckoned like a fever- journey over the last five months, moving out of dream five months ago is becoming solid reality. As narrow spaces into a widening world of possibility. I write this, 56% of Minnesotans sixteen and older We are getting unstuck. have received at least one COVID vaccine dose. Presidential transfer of power really happened. The Rabbi Sherwin Wine, Humanistic Judaism’s Biden administration is committing the US to founder, expressed his philosophy of life in the halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Derek following words, “Life without problems is a Chauvin’s conviction offers hope and a spur onward Utopian fantasy.
    [Show full text]
  • Instructor's Name
    Dr. Terry Hidichuk The United Centre for Theological Studies (204) 786-9247 [email protected] Dr. Dean Peachey Global College (204)988-7106 [email protected] GTHEO 7362 730 Theological Reflections in Context: Religion, Rights and Relationships in Israel and the West Bank Location: Room 3M60 Dates: On-campus classes - Thursday, 6:00-9:00 pm – Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5, 12 Field portion - February 15-27 On-campus classes - 6:00-9:00 pm – March 12, 19, 26 Course Description: This course explores contemporary conflict and justice issues in Israeli-Palestinian relations, with particular attention to the perspectives and contributions of the three Abrahamic faith traditions, along with secular narratives. The course will meet once a week on campus, and include two weeks in Israel and the West Bank. This field portion will include guest lectures from various individuals and groups, visits to sites of historical, political and theological significance. Learning Outcomes: 1: Students will be able to articulate an understanding of the conflict in Israel and the West Bank from a variety of perspectives. 2: Students will be able to think critically about and respond to scholars and authors who have researched and written about rights, religion and relationship in the region. 3: Through the process of compassionate listening, students will learn how to listen without judgment and in ways that invite disagreement. 4: (outcomes to be determined during the first class in discussion with students) 5: (outcomes to be determined during the first class in discussion with students) Required Textbooks: (TENTATIVE) Chacour, E.
    [Show full text]
  • Tjff 2015 Programme.Pdf
    DRAMAS OVERDRIVE AD COMEDIES DOCUMENTARIES BIOGRAPHIES ARCHIVAL FILMS ARCHIVAL SHORT FILMS SHORT 2 Al Waxman Series Rod Serling Series Free Ticketed Programmes CONTENTS DRAMAS 18 COMEDIES 24 DOCUMENTARIES 27 BIOGRAPHIES 32 ARCHIVAL Films 36 SHORT Films 40 4 Schedule 14 Rod Serling: the Boy, the Man, 46 Patron Circle 6 Tickets the Writer, the Father 47 Friends and Fans 7 Artistic Director’s Welcome 15 Al Waxman: A Jewish Everyman 48 Special Thanks 8 Co-Chairs’ Message 15 We Remember: Artists and Icons 48 Nosh Donors 9 Programme Director’s Note We Have Loved and Recently Lost 48 Volunteers 10 Programmers’ Notes 15 Free Ticketed Events 50 Sponsors 12 David A. Stein Memorial Award 16 Family Friendly Screenings 52 Co-Presenters 12 The Micki Moore Award 17 Opening / Closing Night Films 53 Advertisers 13 FilmMatters 18 Dramas 73 TJFF Board Members, Advisory 13 Hillel/TJFF Toronto Jewish 24 Comedies Council and Staff Film Festival Fellowship 27 Documentaries 74 Films By Language 13 ASL Translators @ TJFF 32 Biographies 75 Films By Theme / Topic 14 Rod Serling: The Mensch of The 36 Archival Films 78 Film Index Twilight Zone 40 Short Films APRIL 30 – MAY 10 2015 TJFF.COM 23RD ANNUAL TORONTO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 3 • Indicates film has an additional screening. SCHEDULE Please Note: Running times do not include guest speakers where applicable. Thursday April 30 Monday May 4 8:00 PM VC 105 miN Dancing Arabs 1:00 PM ITH 110 miN Nichols and May: Take Two w/ Bess Friday May 1 Myerson: Portrait of an Activist, w/ It Takes a Shtetl: Leonard Nimoy's Boston
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Report 2018 2019
    THE LEONARD DAVIS INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ACADEMIC REPORT 20182019 2 ACADEMIC REPORT 2018–2019 CONTENTS About the Davis Institute 4 Governing Bodies and Staff 5 From the Director 6 PEOPLE 8 Director 8 Post-Doctoral Fellows 8 Post-Doctoral Fellow: The Sophie Davis Forum on Gender, Conflict Resolution and Peace 9 Davis Graduate School (TELEM IR) 9 M.A Students 9 PhD Students 10 Graduate 11 Short Term Research Fellows 11 PROJECTS 12 Davis Graduate School of International Relations (DGSIR) 12 The Sophie Davis Forum on Gender, Conflict Resolution and Peace 13 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Model UN society 14 Research Groups 14 ACTIVITIES 19 Conferences and Workshops Organized or Co-Sponsored by the Institute 19 Prizes 23 Lectures & Colloquia 24 Social 23 PUBLICATIONS 26 3 ABOUT THE DAVIS INSTITUTE The Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations was established in 1972 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, thanks to the generosity of Leonard and Sophie Davis. It is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Institute provides an independent platform for the research, teaching, and discussion of international relations in general and Israeli diplomacy and foreign policy in particular. In an age of globalization, the Institute endeavors to broaden the Israeli public’s horizons by acquainting it with the reality of Israeli foreign policy. Three main aims guide the Institute: • To promote research of international relations from a broad interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on knowledge from a range of academic fields; • To acquaint the general public with key issues in international politics and Israeli foreign policy and encourage discussion of them; • To make the knowledge and expertise of the Institute’s scholars regarding matters of security and foreign affairs available and accessible to the relevant elements in Israeli government institutions.
    [Show full text]
  • Filmtage Zürich 15 – 21 | 3 | 2018 Kino Houdini + Arthouse Uto
    FILMTAGE Zürich 15 – 21 | 3 | 2018 KINO HOUDINI + ARTHOUSE UTO www.yesh.ch Für die grosszügige Unterstützung danken wir folgenden Institutionen und Privatpersonen Hauptpartner Isaac Dreyfus-Bernheim Stiftung Partner Stadt Zürich Kultur, Filmförderung Kanton Zürich Fachstelle Kultur Kanton Zürich Bildungsdirektion Georges und Jenny Bloch Stiftung Werner und Gabriele Merzbacher-Stiftung -- Liebe Freundinnen und Freunde von Yesh! Evangelisch-reformierte Landeskirche des Kantons Zürich Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich Nun heisst es wieder Film ab bei Yesh! Bereits zum vierten Mal begrüssen wir Sie Stiftung für Kultur und Jugend der ICZ herzlich zu unseren Filmtagen Yesh! Neues aus der jüdischen Filmwelt. Otto und Regine Heim Stiftung Marianne und René Lang Stiftung Claudia und Sacha Lifschitz Das überwältigende Publikums- und Medieninteresse an unserem letztjährigen Modissa AG Anlass hat uns bestärkt und motiviert, Ihnen wieder ein abwechslungsreiches Pro- Claude Wiesner gramm zusammenzustellen. Es freut uns sehr, während sieben Tagen achtund- -- AKL, Augustin Keller Loge zwanzig künstlerisch wertvolle Filme vorzuführen, davon fünf Dokumentarfilme Renate und Hans Rudolf Benjamin und zwanzig Schweizer Premieren. Sie thematisieren das jüdische Sein und Wirken Johnny Braunschweig und setzen sich dabei kritisch mit kulturellen, gesellschaftlichen, politischen und Madeleine und Albert Erlanger-Wyler Stiftung historischen Fragen auseinander. Evi & Sigi Feigel Loge Max und Erika Gideon Stiftung Jüdische Liberale Gemeinde Or Chadasch Uns ist es sehr wichtig, mit unserem Programm differenziert und vielschichtig auf LernCenter, Zürich die verschiedenen Aspekte des Judentums hinzuweisen und auch Geschichten zu Adolf und Mary Mil-Stiftung erzählen, die einen beeindrucken, um Gefühle zu teilen, Gemeinsames zu erleben Gabrielle und Roman Rosenstein Howard und Michelle Rosen und sich auf der Leinwand wiederzuerkennen.
    [Show full text]
  • Justine Shapiro, Host Justine Shapiro Is an Academy Award-Nominated
    Justine Shapiro, Host Justine Shapiro is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and television host. Born in South Africa, Justine grew up in Berkeley, California and graduated Magna Cum Laude in History and Theater, with honors, from Tufts University. While studying documentary filmmaking in the San Francisco Bay Area, Justine was fortunate to land a job hosting a brand new travel show called GlobeTrekker. Now in it’s 20th year, the show is broadcast around the world and on PBS. As host of GlobeTrekker Justine has traveled to over 40 countries, interviewing hundreds of locals from all walks of life. In 1996, Justine and BZ Goldberg founded PROMISES FILMS. Their first project took them to Israel and Palestine where they filmed seven Palestinian and Israeli children over five years. In 2002, their film Promises was nominated for an Academy Award and won two Emmy Awards. Most recently PROMISES FILMS produced Our Summer In Tehran, which follows Justine and her six-year old son to Tehran as they spend the summer with three Iranian families. The film was broadcast on public television in spring 2011. Margaret “Meg” Watters, Ph.D., Remote Sensing and Visualization Specialist Meg Watters specializes in using 3D visualization to bring a new perspective to non-invasive modeling and analysis of archaeological sites. Her fundamental work has been mapping archaeological sites through geophysical survey methods that include magnetometry, resistance, conductivity and ground- penetrating radar surveys. Her current research involves integrating geophysical data with other types of spatial data in order to seamlessly combine 3D subsurface features, excavation data, and existing environment data.
    [Show full text]
  • INTELLIGIBILITY, QUEERNESS, and PALESTINE by Colleen
    CINEMATIC OCCUPATION: INTELLIGIBILITY, QUEERNESS, AND PALESTINE by Colleen Jankovic Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Culture, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2004 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Pittsburgh 2012 i UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH DIETRICH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES This dissertation was presented by Colleen Jankovic It was defended on November 28, 2012 and approved by Mark Lynn Anderson, Associate Professor, Department of English Troy Boone, Associate Professor, Department of English Todd Reeser, Professor, Department of French and Italian Dissertation Advisor: Neepa Majumdar, Associate Professor, Department of English ii Copyright © by Colleen Jankovic 2012 iii CINEMATIC OCCUPATION: INTELLIGIBILITY, QUEERNESS, AND PALESTINE Colleen Jankovic, PhD University of Pittsburgh, 2012 This dissertation brings a visual culture and queer studies approach to the study of cinema’s role in discourses of belonging in Israel and Occupied Palestine. I argue that cinema and racialized discourses of gender, sexuality and ethno-nationalism play a key role in the denial of Palestinian belonging. I begin by arguing that ongoing Palestinian dispossession remains largely unrecognizable in the dominant North American and European imagination of Palestine in part due to what became a recognizable and inevitable narrative of Palestine as a Jewish national homeland. Revealing the extra-Zionist routes of early Jewish Agency propaganda films, for example, I detach them from reigning progress narratives in Israeli transnational film studies, and explore their implication in a broader visual culture that promoted exclusive Jewish national belonging in Historic Palestine.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History April 2012 Number 19
    Newsletter Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History April 2012 www.mnh.si.edu/arctic Number 19 NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR This coming year the ASC’s contribution to By William Fitzhugh research and education about Arctic change comes through sponsorship of the 18th Inuit Studies This was another record year for Arctic change Conference which will be held at the Smithsonian on with the summer sea-ice reaching a second historic 24-28 October 2012. The ISC is held every two years, low, equivalent to 2007, when I experienced it from the generally in Canada, although it has been in Alaska deck of the Russian ice-breaker Khlebnikov while on a and Paris, but never in the Lower 48. The conference Smithsonian “Arctic Seminar Cruise.” An observation, theme—“Learning From the Top of the World”— novel to me at the time, was the large amount of black has climate impacts as its over-arching topic and is soot on the ice around Wrangel Island. That year supported by sub-themes of social, cultural, and climate scientists began talking change; globalization; about the effect of black power, governance, and carbon from jet-planes and politics; heritage and other sources. Dark matter museums; education and was being concentrated on health; Inuit language and the surface of multi-year literature; Inuit art, film and sea ice, accelerating the media: visual anthropology melt. Today black carbon is of the north; and perceiving recognized as an atmospheric the past: towards a more cooling agent, blocking solar inclusive archaeology. radiation, as well as a sea-ice We expect several melting accelerant.
    [Show full text]
  • Going Out, Not Coming Out: Queer Affects, Secluded Publics, and Palestinian Hip-Hop
    doi: https://doi.org/10.26262/gramma.v25i0.6592 Going Out, Not Coming Out: Queer Affects, Secluded Publics, and Palestinian Hip-Hop Alex Karaman University of Arizona, USA Abstract In an effort to a draw attention to queer, Palestinian cultural practices that resist homonationalism and colonialism, this paper begins as a conversation between the fields of Palestine studies and scholarship on sexuality and passing in order to identify the important relationship between, on the one hand, aesthetics and movement in public spaces and, on the other hand, Palestinian social life and identity formation. The conversation then shifts to grounded theorizations of two key elements of queer hip-hop: “going out” as a resistant, queer, and Palestinian practice intimately tied to identity, space, and place; and “secluded publics,” built environments that materialize queer affects and eroticism through dance. Keywords: Palestine studies, hip-hop, queer theory, affect studies, cultural geography, secluded publics esearch on U.S.-based hip-hop has systematically engaged in lyrical analysis as a key approach to understanding why people participate in hip-hop cultural practices, an R approach which has correctly identified tensions between hip-hop and feminist and LGBTQ politics. 1 Miles away from the productive spaces of U.S. hip-hop, Palestinian queer activist and scholar Haneen Maikey describes a different set of constraints on women’s and LGBTQ self-representation, namely how “the unique social, historical, and political situation of Palestinians—the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza and decades of discrimination against Palestinians in Israel—has created real obstacles for advancing respect for sexual and gender diversity in Palestinian society, which has not had the same opportunities to grow and evolve as many other societies have” (600-601).
    [Show full text]