Second in a series of reposts from the always insightful History is Made at Night blog. This entry deals with one of my abiding interests as a scholar, how boundaries of race are maintained, negotiated and challenged in popular culture. It also highlights the power of a “fictional” writing approach to capture the truth of a [...]
Short Takes:”Gadhafi, Dancing and the Communism of Movement” (from History is Made at Night)
First in a series of reposts from the always insightful History is Made at Night blog: Gadhafi, Dancing and the Communism of Movement ‘A moderate revolution is a contradiction in terms, though a moderate putsch, coup or pronunciamento is not. However limited the ostensible aims of the revolution, the light of the New Jerusalem must [...]
Musical Subversion: “Glee” version of Dr Dre’s “Bitches Ain’t Shit”
Reposted from Sociological Images FINDING GLEE IN DR. DRE’S BITCHES AIN’T SHIT Sociologist Michael Kimmel passed along a fantastic and entertaining example of resistance. In the video below, a Columbia University a cappella group sings Dr. Dre’s Bitches Ain’t Shit. The appropriation of the song works on so many levels: the all-white, all-female group, the [...]
Thawra — Another Taqwacore installment from Tales from Bradistan
Another installment in the excellent series on Taqwacore from my sadiqi at Tales from Bradistan. MONDAY, 26 JULY 2010 Al Thawra I am the revolution and you are the revolution In your spirit you have the power In your heart lies the secret From your lips spills the truth That the wine of power is in [...]
The Kominas — Another Taqwacore installment from Tales from Bradistan
I’ll have some original material up next week but until then here’s another installment in the excellent series on Taqwacore from my sadiqi at Tales from Bradistan. 15 July 2010 The Kominas In Preston After being brought over to the UK to perform at a special night at London’s prestigiousMeltdown Festival, taqwacore bands from the USA The [...]
Still More on Taqwacore from Tales from Bradistan
Here is the trailer from the film “Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam”. Below is more from the excellent series on Taqwacore in the excellent Tales from Bradistan blog– check it out! Taqwacore Taqwa - (Arabic: التقوى at-taqwá) is the Islamic concept of “God-consciousness” Core - (from Hardcore) is a subgenre of punk rock that’s generally faster, thicker, and [...]
Taqwacore — Islamic hardcore — “Sharia Law in the USA”
I’ve been meaning to educate myself and write something on Taqwacore but instead I’m going to repost a series starting today (July 2, 2010) on Tales from Bradistan (below). If you’re unfamiliar with Taqwacore, it is a sub-genre of punk music based on Michael Muhammad Knight‘s 2003 novel, The Taqwacores. Knight depicted a fictional Islamic [...]
Pop music as “lustful pleasure-seeking in Iran” (@History is made at night)
Reposted from History is made at night: Lustful pleasure-seeking in Iran Iranian police detained 80 young men and women for “lustful pleasure-seeking” activities at an illegal concert, Tehran’s chief prosecutor has been quoted. The socially conservative Islamic republic launched a crackdown two years ago on “indecent western-inspired movements”, such as rappers and Satanists, as part [...]
Spinning tunes for the sisterhood lands award for Australian women’s DJ collective
Guest Post by Dana Flannery When a Lady Fingers DJ spins a record, expect just about anything – from a mellow Reggae tune to South Asian beats, to swing and Soul. The Lady Fingers DJ Collective of Melbourne, Australia is all about music, diversity and sisterhood. Their message of equality through cross-cultural unity has just [...]
Somali Rap and Radio (@ History is made at night)
Reposted from History is made at night From Waayaha Cusub (from Reuters Nairobi, 9 April 2010): For centuries, Somalis used poetry and songs to pass protest messages to powerful rulers they were too afraid to confront directly. Now, some young Somalis are using rap to speak out against Islamists who they say are using religion [...]
