Film Screening and Discussion: "Wham! Bam! Islam!" (2011)
October 16, 2012Synopsis: Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa is a Kuwaiti psychologist, graduate of Columbia Business School, and father of four young boys. In 2003, he had the idea to create a comic book series with roots in Islam. Al-Mutawa came up with the concept of The 99: a team of superheroes, each one exemplifying one of the 99 attributes of God. The 99 would exemplify the Islamic virtues of compassion, understanding, and tolerance. Within the Muslim world, Al-Mutawa hoped that these new role models would counter the growing tide of political and religious extremism. Following the tumultuous journey of THE 99 from concept to reality, from acclaim to censure, from the edge of bankruptcy to a multi-million dollar animation series, Al-Mutawa dodges cultural minefields and confronts the harsh realities of the global marketplace in pursuit of his vision to bring new heroes to children around the world.
Click here to view the Wham! Bam! Islam! trailer.
This event is organized by the Middle Eastern Studies Program and the Middle East Subcommittee of the International Education Committee.
SPRING 2013 EVENTS:
Guest Lecture: Hugh Wilford’s The Game-Players — The Early Years of the CIA in the Middle East
Hugh Wilford (CSULB, History) specializes in U.S. Intellectual History, History of the American Left, and the CIA. Wilford is the author of numerous books and articles. He will speak about his forthcoming book The Game-Players: The Early Years of the CIA in the Middle East.
Sponsors: Middle Eastern Studies Program, Middle East Subcommittee of the International Education Committee, Departments of History and Political Science, and Programs in International Studies and American Studies.
Film and Discussion: A Separation (2012)
Director Asghar Farhadi’s film A Separation explores the life of an Iranian middle-class couple who separates. It portrays the conflicts that arise when the husband hires a caretaker for his elderly father who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
This film has won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and many other international film awards.
This event is organized by the Middle Eastern Studies Program and the Middle East Subcommittee of the International Education Committee.