Response to the Readings(Week 8 Pt. 2)

Old and New Walls in Jerusalem

Throughout the reading I could only think of one thing, how wrong that the wall is. As discussed in the reading the wall in inhumane and is used to separate things of unequal qualities. I can only think that this is very similar to the ways Jews were quartered off during WWII and put into ghettos. This is the same concept they are sectioning off the city and forcing Arabs to move into the sections for “safety” reasons. I don't see how the Jewish Israeli government can do this while thinking they are don't good. One would think they would recognize such inhumane actions because of the events that their ancestors faced which led to the founding of the Israeli state.

Above:A photo of Palestinians near the wall in Israel

Below: A photo of Jews near the wall that created the Warsaw Ghetto

Response to the Readings (Week 8)

I found the articles for this week very off the wall. I know they relate to the broad topic of Jerusalem but I don't see how they tie into what we are reviewing at this moment. I especially enjoyed the reading about architecture because the article relates to what I am learning in my Intro. to Architecture class. I enjoyed the statement, "Architecture can reflect and represent the cultural aspiration of a community." This quote is very powerful and it relates to architecture as a whole and not only in Jerusalem.

Response to the Readings(Week 7)

Jerusalem: Not the Mother of All Cities

I found that the essay was presented in a very unique way. I liked how Hasan-Rokem used the metaphor of marriage when referencing Jerusalem. I found it very intriguing to look at the conflict through the eyes of a woman. I enjoyed the section where Hasan-Rokem stated that Jerusalem was a city with needs. I think that with all of the conflict people have forgotten that people actually inhabit the city and conduct daily activities there.

Sharon and My Mother-in-Law

The stories presented by Suad Amiry were very interesting. They were both informational and entertaining. I liked that the reading was rather easy and allowed the reader to gather a lot of information relating to daily life. It was interesting to see the views of Palestinians and the ways in which they were discriminated against. I found it ironic that Emily was the friend but also the oppressor. The stories not only provided a detailed account but they revealed the injustices that the Palestinians faced in daily life. I found it quit funny that animals were given more rights than people in chapter 7 of the readings. I feel these sections of the novel present the oppression of the Palestinians in a playful way to avoid hostility and to bring light to the situation in a non-confrontational manner. Because of that aspect I enjoyed the readings.

Outline for Final Project

Introduction- Overview of “Art” (a collage of some sort)
Music- Discuss how modern contemporary music has been influenced by the conflict. I plan on having samples of music and video clips. I hope to show and discuss music form Oren Lavie, Yael Naim, Achinoam Nini, and Mira Awad.
Dance- I am interviewing an OSU graduate student who lived in Israel and danced for an Israeli dance company I am also planning on focusing on the Batsheva Dance Company.
Some Questions:
-What was your experience like in Israel as a dancer?
-Could you see a direct correlation between the battle over land and the development of the arts in general?
-What specific aspects have helped to shaped the modern dance world?
-Do you feel that dance has become a way to make political statements, create awareness?
Theatre- I would like to discuss the plays "Seven Other Children" and “Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza". I am also planning on talking about the filming of the movie Jesus Christ Superstar.
Painting-I would like to talk about Mohammed Ali, and "guerrilla" artist Banksy. They are both graffiti muralists.

Tamari Readings

I found the readings to be very interesting because rather than focusing on the conflicts that were taking place at the time they focused on how events were shaped as a result of the conflicts. I found the article about music especially interesting because of my passion for the arts. They are many aspects that I enjoyed abut eth readings because they were so different. However, I have many questions. I would like to know why Tamari used different styles of writing and why he made some of his choices on diction. It really bothered me that he referred to religions as cults. I feel that the word cult has such a negative connotation and I wonder why he used that term.

Final Project

For my final project I am going to focus on how the arts have been shaped by conflict and also how they have developed through the conflict. I am going to do research on music, dance, painting, and other various types of art. I have set up an interview with an American dancer who is also focusing on a similar topic. If anyone knows of anything that could possibly be of use let me know.

Channels of Rage: A Response to the Documentary

Channels of Rage is a film that tells the story of three Israeli rappers as the try to make it in the music industry and raise awareness to the problems between Israel and Palestine. The award winning documentary was very interesting and well shot. The cinematography of the film was amazing. I feel the movie provided its audience with an accurate portrayal of the lives of Israeli rappers and the struggles they face. The film was intriguing in the way in which it displayed the power of music. The documentary showed how music is used to make political statements.

However, I feel the movie also provided a different view. Rather than solely focusing on the music and its effect I feel the documentary reinforced stereotypical aspects of life associated with rappers. The film showed the artists partying, wearing baggy clothes, using vulgar language, and wearing flashy jewelry.

Although the film had a powerful message, I feel that the story portrayed is not a positive one. The original goals of the artists were to bring light to the situation, but the film ended in a manner that the made me feel as if the artists just increased the problems and hatred that are in Israel. In the process of becoming well know Shadow's and Subliminal's fans shouted discriminatory phrases and Tamer was arrested.

Can You Feel the Beat?

Music Organization

2b Vibes Music is a music production company that is committed to easing the minds of as many Israelis through music. 2b Vibes Music produces 20 annual film, dance, and music events in Israel. Last August it launched the inaugural Arab-Jewish Coexistence Festival that featured Joe Crocker. Earlier in 2007, the company launched the Jerusalem Rocks Festival, which included performances from the Black Eyed Peas, Arrested Development and The Commitments. 2b produces concerts in Mitzpe Ramon, Netanya, Jerusalem, Hadera, Arad, Tiberias, Sderot, Tel Aviv, and Beit Shean.

Hillel Wachs of 2b Vibes Music stated the goal of the company is to, “up the threshold level for producing an outstanding show.” 2b Vibes produces  shows at seven major university festivals in Israel annually and many other smaller campus events. The biggest impact 2b has had was booking Macy Gray for the Student Day Festival at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. When Gray performs she will become the first international artist to headline an Israeli university music festival. Previously, only top local acts have been featured at the event. Gray will not be the only artist to perform, Geva Alon and Michael Greilsammer, as well as other leading Israeli artists will be featured at the festival. 2b Vibes has been the production company for the event for the past three years. The show attracts an estimated 15,000 participants annually.

Links to Reviews of Channels of Rage http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925365.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2004-01/channels.htm

What would Rosa Do?

On Wednesday, April 20 a peaceful protest took place in the city of Jerusalem. The protesters were making a statement about segregation on Egged buses. The Company (Egged) introduced a Jewish bus route in the early 1990's. Since then the trend has spread and has resulted in a number of mehadrin bus lines in the city. The mehadrin bus lines have caused controversy because they call for the separation between women and men. Usually the women sit in the back and men in the front. These segregated lines travel between Orthodox neighborhoods inside and outside Jerusalem and connect neighborhoods with the Old City for those who want to reach the Western Wall without going through secular neighborhoods.

The outrage is coming from the public who oppose this separation because Egged is now attempting to mehadrinize many buses that run in secular neighborhoods. Because of this many residents feel that the separation is infringing on the citizens rights. Since the concept of mehadrin buses appeared there have been many conflicts as a result of the segregation.
one of the most well known cases is the story of Naomi Ragen, an Orthodox and feminist writer who refused to move to the back of a bus when asked. In a interview Ragen spoke about the situation by saying, "I call these buses the Taliban lines. You know, they can call it whatever they want, but that to me is what they are."

On the other side of the matter, those who support the decision to separate the buses argue that Jews should be able to "reach the Wall in purity", separated buses are cheaper, and run more often. They say that men are weak and give into temptation therefore human nature calls for the separation. The main supporters state, "it becomes impossible for us, the secular passengers dress in a way that is absolutely unbearable for us."

I feel that with all of the problems in modern society, an issue with segregated buses is the least of Jerusalem's problems. The reasons used to support the segregation of individuals based on sex are totally invalid arguments. The main basis is totally childish, somewhat humorous, and should not even be a concern in a matter such as this. If men having illicit thoughts on a bus is the main reason to segregate a bus then why don't they just segregate society? I feel that the matters here are just another political attempt to make Jerusalem an even more "Jewish" city.

Selling Your Own Properity = Treason

On Tuesday, a Palestinian court sentenced a man to death for selling land in the West Bank to Israelis. The court in Hebron sentenced the man 59 year old man, Anwat Breghit, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of treason and of selling Palestinian land to Israelis. The indictment says he sold property in the village of Beit Omar to Israelis from the Jewish settlement of Karmei Tzur. The sentence requires the approval of President in order to be carried out.

I feel that decisions such as these are the primary source to the continuation of the conflict. If the man rightfully owned the land he should be able to do with it as he pleased. If the government continues to make decisions that promote these beliefs the problems will persist and a soultion will never be achievable.