Resources To Understand What’s Happening in Lebanon Right Now
The violence and atrocities that the Israeli occupation’s army is inflicting on Lebanon are not new. Today’s events sit within a long and bloody history that traces its roots far beyond October 7. Western media selectively forgets and deliberately omits the key historical context that situates today’s violence within the broader Zionist agenda. In the face of what we’re enduring in Lebanon, we have been seeking out resources — fiction and non-fiction — that help us trace this long history and contextualize today’s violence. We reached out to our community to find the best books and films out there and have added some of our own. This is intended as a growing list, so please share your suggestions with us too.
Daftar Digest
We select the best from the Arab world each month, and put it in your inbox.
Browse Daftar Digest Archive →Curated Recommendations
Every time a guest joins us on one of our podcast series, they leave us with breadcrumbs to further explore some of the topics that they covered in the episode. Browse through some of the best recommendations for films, books, and music from the Arab world.
Staff Pick: Podcast Episode
We did a deep dive into this upcoming episode of our This Is Not a Watermelon podcast with the author of "An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before and After 1948," professor Sonja Mejcher-Atassi.
From Daftar Journal:
Tsawwar
Tsawwar is a visual series enclosed monthly in our Daftar Digest and explores the stories behind a photograph taken in the region or by an Arab photographer.
“Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World” at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
A recap of a panel about Islamic Arts that our founder and executive director, Mikey Muhanna, hosted at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Featuring panelists Fakhera Al Kindi, eL Seed and Suheyla Takesh delving into Islamic arts – traditional and contemporary – and much more.
Finding Palestine in Michigan: On Painter Samia Halaby
Rachel Winter writes about her experience unearthing the story of iconic artist Samia Halaby in Michigan. Image credit: Shanti Knight.
Founder of Modern Iraqi Art: Jewad Selim
A look at the life and art of Jewad Selim — an Iraqi painter and sculptor who was considered one of the founders of modern art in Iraq. Image via The National News.
Curating an Artist's (and Parent's) Biography
This blog dives further into the lives and artwork of Amine El Bacha, Paul Guiragossian and Saloua Raouda Choucair. Three leading artists of Lebanon’s art world, they were the focus of a Moving Biographies podcast episode entitled “Curating an artist’s (and parent’s) biography” — which featured a conversation between Mahita El Bacha Urieta, Manuella Guiragossian and Hala Schoukair — daughters of each artist respectively.
Four Women Artists from the Arab World
Introducing four key women artists from the Arab World as featured in the Moving Biographies podcast series “On Women By Women in Art”.
Arab Modern Art Books and Artists You’ll Want to Know About
Highlights from our conversation with Dr Ridha Moumni and Sultan Al-Qassemi about “Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Foundation” on all the best artists and art books that you’ll want to know about.
Memories for Khaleeji Music
This mixtape is a collaboration with music creator and producer DJ Bonita (Farah A Bishara) who writes: "The short timespan between 2005 and 2008 holds tons of memories for Khaleeji music…”
Lesson Plans for Teachers
Grab Some Merch
Get the latest merchandise and support our work.