Final Project Update

The dancer who I interviewed for my final project, James Graham, has made a dance and documentary about the Wall as well as a dance about the Dead Sea.

As I said in class I would post the link to the dead sea dance. It is titled Rift. It is pretty unlike The Wall.
http://blip.tv/file/3126272

The Wall, is a dance and documentary about the people's perspectives about the presence of the wall in Israel. I have integrated clips from this into my final project. The version that he has up is not yet complete. I think it present many issues that we have discussed in class. For example, interviews people who from both sides of the issues. I think it is worth viewing for yourself. In addition to the readings, his project really helped me gain a more clairvoyant understanding about the impact of the wall. It provides useful information through interviews and movement.
http://blip.tv/file/3684906

New and Old Walls of Jerusalem Response

I can imagine the reality of the wall described in this article clearly after hearing the student from Pyalara and from viewing James Graham's project about the wall. The Israelis argue that the Wall gives them protection, not really taking the time to understand what hardships Palestinians undergo because of its presence. To be honest, this makes me feel very frustrated with the situation. From what I have learned in making my final project and reading this article, I feel as though I empathize with the Palestinians' pain caused by the wall. It is crazy to me that one intended barrier can inflict so much suffering.

Pyalara

Upon reading the overview of Pyalara, I think that the organizations intentions are great! I think it's incredible that a youth organization can have such a powerful role in the government (creating a youth fund). I wonder if the rap artists, especially MC Tamer, from the Channels of Rage have any affiliation with this organization. It seems like a pretty well known and established Palestinian group and I wonder if its media projects had any role in enhancing MC Tamer's success rate.
I am curious to see what they mean and their mode of providing self-healing guidance.

I found the over of politics to be particularly helpful in understanding the strife of females. I did not know that young Palestinian women were so disadvantaged. This greatly increased my sympathies toward the Palestinian youth. I am glad that Pyalara exists for them. However, I wonder if Pyalara encourages any peace talks amongst the Palestinian youth. Reflecting back on Dr. Herrmann's lecture, I am interested to know if in regard to peace with Israel, this organization supports the Palestinian strategy of bargaining with the sense of being a victim.

Post of Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land and Poems

I found the Wounded Spirts in a promised land article relate very well to what Kasa Bayasin said about her vision of Jerusalem and reality. It also related very well to the wall article in saying the Wall doesn't hold anything from migrating, but serves as a witness to the flow of faiths and hatreds. I think that this was very well written and moving.

In a Sense of Freedom, the author profoundly states that he is not recognized as an individual but is viewed as a prototype to represent his family. Even yet, he still finds a great sense of belonging in Jerusalem. I think this conveys similar emotions as Kasa Bayasin.

Again, in A City of Stone, the author describes Jerusalem's magnetism.
It very interesting to read poems by authors living in Israel and speak with Kasa. Through these poems, I feel as though both sides express the same feelings. I wonder if these people have the Nosgalic view of Jerusalem, similiar to what Dr. Held was describing.

The Wall

I found the the article about the politics of the wall to be incredibly helpful. Before Dr. Herrmann's lecture, I was very unfamiliar with the impact of the wall and how its meaning and structured changed throughout Israel. It is interesting that this wall has so much impact in the politics of identity. I never realized that the wall was not simply a divide, but it serves to oppress Palastinians. Much of this reading a an expansion on some of the topics Dr. Herrmann described in class.

Talk with Hebrew University

I found the idea Dr. Held's statement "conflict is life" to be extremely insightful to discern the difference between our living Jerusalem class and living in Jerusalem. I appreciated her comment that Jerusalmites worry about traffic jams during holidays much like we in the U.S. do.
Further, I like that Dr. Held brought up the difference between Authentic and Nostalgic Jerusalem, and stated that people should not indulge in a nostalgic view.
I found it interesting that the two students that decided to stay after were Arab, being that everyone else was leaving early becuase it is a Jewish holiday which they celebrated. I am little confused because I thought that Dr. Held stated that there was only one Arab student in the class, but the two students we talked to were also Arab? I think I have some fact wrong.
From talking with the students, I realize the dynamic of this class and ow different it must be for the two other University students. We are all looking at Jerusalem from a different perspective and trying to engage in meaningful dialogue and further our understanding.

Reflection From Dr. Herrmann's lecture

I found Dr. Herrmann's lecture to be very elucidating. I really liked his use of maps when describing the conflict. I have a stronger grasp as to where the issues regarding land actually are after his explanation. Further, I found his explanation of why a two-state solution will not work to be helpful in understanding Jerusalem's role in the conflict. I appreciated his insightful commented about how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is analogous to the Pakistan-Indian conflict; I never related the two before. I wanted to ask him what he thinks about Alan Dersho9witz and Norman Finklestein. I would like to know if he is supportive of Finklestein.

Response to Channels of Rage

This video was very helpful in elucidating the existing tensions between Isrealis and Palestinians. It helped me realize that the conflict literally infiltrates very aspect of the people's lives. It is ironic that they sing about how the system is corrupt, but really there is fighting amongst the rappers subliminal and MC Tamer as well. I had not yet thought about the impact of the language barrier until watching the video.

Final Project

I will be doing a media project as final project. I will be focusing on the Gaga dance movement in Israel created by Ohad Naharin. The Gaga movement has become very popular is Israel and can be for dancers and non-dancers. In some ways Israelis are becoming more interested in the Gaga movement as a response to the constant conflict and intensity in their lives. As all Israelis are required to join the army, they constantly bear the conflict, and the Gaga movement creates a space for people where they can simply just be in themselves. I am working with James Graham, a student graduating Masters in Performing Arts, who has done research in Jerusalem, Palestine, and Tel Aviv. He has interviewed artists living in the area about how living in a society with conflict has shaped their art. In addition, he has choreographed a piece with Gaga influence and I will be incorporating footage of this piece.

Response to week 7 readings

The promised gas masks- The depiction of the Isreali soldiers reminds me of the way Isreali soldiers were treating the Palestinians and Jews living in Palestinian land in Talia's documentary. The Isreali soldiers were depicts a senseless figures of authority who do not have an understanding of the situation. I remember the Israeli soldier in Talia's documentary stating that he thought he would be the hero of the Palestinian woman's life, yet instead, she spat on him. I particularly like the analogy created between chaos and delineation to Palestinian liveliness.
A dog's life- This story explores the crossroads between a racism and sexism. In the beginning it seems as though the narrator must pick her poison. This story depicts how something as little as getting one's dog vaccinated can become a huge ordeal due to rules, regulations, and bureaucracy. This story raises the question what is the conflict really about and how much does it interfere with daily life. I can't believe it's easier for a dog to get a passport than a human and think it's absurd.
The a Mother of All Cities- I feel as though this is offers a feminist approach and interesting way of viewing Jerusalem. After reading Armstrong, I agree very much with Rokem that whoever is in charge of Jerusalem can only be in charge temporary and they will relegate their reign after sometime.

Review links to Channels of Rage

Salim Tamari

I think that Salim Tamari's approach to tracing modernity requires a lot of insightful thinking. He traced one person's life to help provide a detailed reflection of the changing social context in Jerusalem. I hope my understanding of Wasif is correct: he is an orthodox Christian who was deeply immersed in Muslim culture? Initially I thought they were all Muslims from the way their names were written. I wonder if Wasif's readings of the Qur'an and Bible had any spiritual impact on him or if they only helped him expand artistically. Even Jawhariyyeh's eulogy is a reflection of the change in attitude between the Christains and Jews. Did the Christian's side with the Muslims around 1948 war? I wonder if, as a Christian, Wasif was better able to maneuver into both Muslim and Jewish cultural spheres. Again, we revisit Zalitimo, the Palestinian bread from the first article and movie.
I like that Salim clarifies that "Nativist" is a retrospective term. Was it innovative for Tawfig Canaan's time to examine peasant culture and assume it serves as a window to ancient Palestinian culture?