Thursday October 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM: Film Discussion; Suleyman the Magnificent
Join the Kingston Community Library for the introductory event in Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today, a series of presentations, film and book discussions guided by leading experts in Middle Eastern Studies. Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern History at the University of New Hampshire will lead a film discussion on Suleyman the Magnificent. Suleyman was the longest reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Learn how his life epitomizes the continued connected histories between Christians and Muslims. Known for his part in expanding the Ottoman Empire into Europe, Suleyman is also known for breaking with Ottoman traditions and marrying a Christian girl from his harem. Don’t miss this fascinating program!
Thursday November 7, 2013 at 7:00 PM: Keynote Speaker
Join the Kingston Community Library for “Connected Histories in the Middle East and Beyond”, an engaging and timely presentation by John Voll, professor of Islamic History and Associate Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. Crusades and jihads are frequently the center of discussions about the connected histories of Muslims and Christians. People remember the drama of terrorist attacks and medieval wars. However, wars and conflicts are not the whole story. Muslims and Christians have many connected histories where they have worked together to create significant positive contributions to world history, and the connected histories are important in defining the identities of Western and Middle Eastern societies.
Thursday November 21, 2013 at 7:00 PM: Book Talk
The first of our free five-part discussion series called Let’s Talk About It is part of a larger multipart program series called Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today that will take place Thursday November 21, 2013 at 7:00 PM. The evening’s discussion will be on When Asia Was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks Who Created the “Riches of the East” by Stewart Gordon.
Professor Ethel Sara Wolper, Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern History at the University of New Hampshire will lead each of the talks, providing background and current information on the topics covered in the books. All of the books to be discussed in this series are part of the Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the ALA Public Programs Office, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kingston residents can pick up books at the front desk of the library one month before the discussion. Others may be able to borrow copies from their local libraries through interlibrary loan. Limit 20.
Thursday December 5, 2013 at 7:00 PM: Film discussion, Koran by Heart
Koran by Heart follows two young boys and one girl as they travel to Egypt’s International Holy Koran Competition, the most prestigious Koran reciting competition in the Muslim World. Professor Mary Catherine Bateson will provide fascinating insight on this topic.
Bateson is a writer and cultural anthropologist. She retired as a Clarence J. Robinson Professor in Anthropology and English at George Mason University, and is now Professor Emerita. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College.
Thursday January 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM: film discussion; Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World
Join us for an epic journey across nine countries and over 1,400 years of history. Professors Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair will lead this film discussion touching on themes such as the Word, Space, Ornament, Color and Water, as well as the stories behind many great masterworks of Islamic Art and Architecture.
Professors Bloom and Blair received their doctorates in Islamic Art from Harvard University. They shared the Hamad bin Khalifa Endowed Chair of Islamic Art at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Norma Jean Calderwood University Chair of Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College. Together, they have written many books on the subject of Islamic Art.
Thursday February 20, 2014 at 7:00 PM: Book Talk
The second of our free five-part discussion series called Let’s Talk About It is part of a larger multipart program series called Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today that will take place Thursday February 20, 2014 at 7:00 PM. The evening’s discussion will be on The House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance by Jim Al-Khalili.
Professor Ethel Sara Wolper, Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern History at the University of New Hampshire will lead each of the talks, providing background and current information on the topics covered in the books. All of the books to be discussed in this series are part of the Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the ALA Public Programs Office, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kingston residents can pick up books at the front desk of the library one month before the discussion. Others may be able to borrow copies from their local libraries through interlibrary loan. Limit 20.
Thursday March 13, 2014 at 7:00 PM: Student Presentation, Islam in the Media
Susan Douglass, from the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University will speak with students at the Sanborn Regional High School about Islam in the media. Terms such as jihad, and hejab are blasted across our news media on nearly a daily basis, becoming household words with no context. Douglass will provide students with approaches to these difficult topics, access to primary and secondary sources, and activities to help students engage critically with these issues.
Thursday March 13, 2014: Islam in the Media Public Presentation
Susan Douglass, from the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University will explore how we are exposed to Islam in the media. Terms such as jihad, and hejab are blasted across our news media on nearly a daily basis, becoming household words with no context. Douglass will provide approaches to these difficult topics, access to primary and secondary sources, and activities to help individuals engage critically with these issues.
Friday March 14, 2014: Teacher Development Day
Susan Douglass, from the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University will offer a full day of Professional Development for teachers at the Sanborn Regional High School. Teachers from throughout the Seacoast region are invited to attend this learning opportunity.
Thursday March 20, 2014 at 7:00 PM : Book Talk
The third of our free five-part discussion series called Let’s Talk About It is part of a larger multipart program series called Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today that will take place Thursday March 20, 2014 at 7:00 PM. The evening’s discussion will be on The Ornament of the World by Maria Rosa Menocal.
Professor Ethel Sara Wolper, Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern History at the University of New Hampshire will lead each of the talks, providing background and current information on the topics covered in the books. All of the books to be discussed in this series are part of the Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the ALA Public Programs Office, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kingston residents can pick up books at the front desk of the library one month before the discussion. Others may be able to borrow copies from their local libraries through interlibrary loan. Limit 20.
Wednesday April 09, 2014: Concluding Speaker- Bridging Cultures: Islam and Christianity Today
Professor Ali Asani will lead us through a thoughtful and engaging wrap up presentation, addressing topics covered over the entire Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today program. He will highlight religions as more than just the words of their sacred texts; as living and breathing dynamic creations that evolve from cultural and social norms, the time in which they exist, and the many different people who practice them.
Professor Asani is the Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program at Harvard, and serves as Chair of the Near Eastern Language and Civilizations Department (NELC). He holds a joint appointment in NELC and on the Committee for the Study of Religion. He also serves on the faculty of the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies. In addition he has published numerous books and articles.
Thursday April 17, 2014 at 7:00 PM: Book Talk
The fourth of our free five- discussion series called Let’s Talk About It is part of a larger multipart program series called Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today that will take place Thursday April 17, 2014 at 7:00 PM. The evening’s discussion will be on Leo Africanus by Amin Maalouf, translated by Peter Sluglett.
Professor Ethel Sara Wolper, Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern History at the University of New Hampshire will lead each of the talks, providing background and current information on the topics covered in the books. All of the books to be discussed in this series are part of the Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the ALA Public Programs Office, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kingston residents can pick up books at the front desk of the library one month before the discussion. Others may be able to borrow copies from their local libraries through interlibrary loan. Limit 20.
Thursday May 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM : Book Talk
The final of our free five-part expert discussion series called Let’s Talk About It is part of a larger multipart program series called Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Middle East & What it Means Today that will take place Thursday May 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM. The evening’s discussion will be on In an Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh.
Professor Ethel Sara Wolper, Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern History at the University of New Hampshire will lead each of the talks, providing background and current information on the topics covered in the books. All of the books to be discussed in this series are part of the Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the ALA Public Programs Office, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kingston residents can pick up books at the front desk of the library one month before the discussion. Others may be able to borrow copies from their local libraries through interlibrary loan. Limit 20.
