For Teachers: Welcome Back!

Ah, the beginning of the new school year. I know you all are just getting back and settled; but I am curious about how you've been planning for Pages this year. Have any of you made any curriculum connections so far? Or maybe, everyone is still just trying to get their classrooms organized? Well, I hope to hear from you. Let me know what you're thinking now that you've had some time after the orientation to think through your materials and strategize.

Of note:

I will need a writing sample from each of your students. I sent details about this in an email. Please feel free to share any ideas about what you'll have your students write about. Just click on comments below and share.

Until next time,

Dionne

Pages 2008-09

Pages Program Overview 2008-09

Performing Arts experience
Siren, by composer Ray Lee
February 26 – 27, 2009
Guest Artist: Dionne Custer

Students will experience a unique light and sound installation by British composer and performing artist Ray Lee. They will learn about and interact with some of the artist’s concepts of imagery, metaphor, sound, technology, light, movement, and space.


Performing Arts experience
William Forsythe Synchronous Objects by choreographer William Forsythe
April 1- 3, 2009
Guest Artist: Barbara Thatcher

Students will have the opportunity to experience the interactive web project Synchronous Objects created by American choreographer, William Forsythe, Ohio State’s Department of Dance, and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD). Synchronous Objects analyzes one choreographic work so that its choreography can serve as a template for various creative problem-solving exercises that can be applied to other practices and fields. Innovative and media-driven, the exhibition allows for students to participate in a limited interactive experience with the work. They will learn about and interact with the artist’s concepts of movement, technology, choreography, and installation.


Visual arts experience
Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms
November 11 – January 27, 2008
Guest Artist: Kelli Trinoskey

Students will tour the exhibition, Other Voices, Other Rooms, an exhibition that stages Warhol’s media arts work in the forefront. Students will participate in discussion and writing in the galleries during and after the tour. Students will explore many of Warhol’s conceptual interests including: his fascination with fame and celebrity, the concept of time, space, color, beauty, and repetition.


Media Arts experience
American Blackout by director Ian Inaba
October 6, 2008
Guest Artist: Mimi Chenfeld

Students will view the film American Blackout, which will serve as the source material for writing and discussion. The documentary film examines civic activism and participation, disenfranchisement in the voting process, civil rights, and political process. Part of the film was shot here in Columbus, Ohio during the November 2004 national election. Following the film, students will be joined by a non-partisan panel to discuss the voice of the average citizen in voting, enacting legislation, and the political process.

For Students:

What do you take away from your experience with Pages this year? (You can comment on anything from the writing, the art, the blog, the resources, etc.) Just click on the green "comments" link below. You can write as much as you wish. Thank you!

Dionne
Wexner Center for the Arts

They Call Me Muslim, a film by Diana Ferrero

They Call Me Muslim
http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c698.shtml

We've come to the third and final experience in our year of the Pages program. During this final experience we will screen the documentary film, They Call Me Muslim, a look at the practice of wearing hijab as told through two very different perspectives. Following the film, we will be joined by educators from the Office of International Affairs Education Outreach to hold an open discussion and panel to explore a range of issues addressed in the film. We will move through this experience thinking through issues of identity and follow-up with writings ranging from personal essay to poetry.

Please explore this website for resources related to this experience.


Web Links related to They Call Me Muslim

The Veil
A brief exploration of the complex topic of hijab and face-veiling in Islam
http://www.islamfortoday.com/veil.htm

Why do Muslim women wear the hijab?
Eighteen year old Canadian Muslimah Sumayyah Hussein explains. (Followed by discussion points for young people.)
http://www.islamfortoday.com/hijabcanada4.htm

Understanding Turbans
Pictures and explanations of various types of headwear..
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/lifestyles/links/turbans_27.html

Veiled in Controversy
New concerns of girls and women about wearing distinctively Muslim garments.
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/printar.jsp?p=0&ar=271&pi=current


For Teachers
Lesson Plans – religion & culture – Suppression or Liberation, Islam, Hijab & Modern Society
PBS Wide Angle lesson plans for grades 9-12.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/printable/classroom_2religion5_print.html

Who Are the Arab Americans?
Downloadable lesson plan at Teaching Tolerance website
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=155


Media Connections

PBS Special Looks at Life for Young Muslims in America
Transcript and links to video & audio versions of article.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/social_issues/jan-june07/crossroads_04-13.html

Understanding the Veil in Islam
Link to audio article, approximately eight minute segment.
Good for a classroom with computer access. A little more in-depth than the previous article.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6402349







And as always, you are welcome to comment on any of the posts by clicking on the highlighted "comments" link.

What the Qur'an says about hijab

This summer teachers asked for specifc text from the Qur'an that addresses the practice of hijab. Please see below:

Weblinks to Articles about Qur'anic References to Hijab

Qur'anic Verses about Hijab
Three important quotes
http://www.soundvision.com/cgi-bin/print.asp?url=/Info/news/hijab/hjb.quran.asp

Hijab
Longer article about hijab, including quotes from Quaran, explanations, and a chart of laws and clothing customs by country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab

Seven Conditions For Women’s Dress in Islam
The requirements of Islamic modesty in dress and their Quaranic background.
http://www.islamfortoday.com/7conditions.htm

Women Dress Code In Islam
Three Rules for women dress code in Islam (Submission)
http://www.submission.org/teenagers/dress-teens.html

Is Hijab Compulsory?
Quran is insistent on the full participation of women in society and religious practices.
http://www.islamfortoday.com/syed06.htm

The Virtues of Hijab
Quotes and Explanations.
http://www.islamworld.net/hijabvirtue.html

Persepolis (In theatres now)

Directors: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Cast: Chiara Mastroianni

"Persepolis" is the poignant story of a young girl coming-of-age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It is through the eyes of precocious and outspoken nine-year-old Marjane that we see a people's hopes dashed as fundamentalists take power - forcing the veil on women and imprisoning thousands. Clever and fearless, she outsmarts the "social guardians" and discovers punk, ABBA and Iron Maiden. Yet when her uncle is senselessly executed and as bombs fall around Tehran in the Iran/Iraq war the daily fear that permeates life in Iran is palpable...
http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/persepolis/

Audio Interview with graphic illustration
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/20071225_PERSEPOLIS_FEATURE/#section1

Official Movie Website for Persepolis at: http://www.sonyclassics.com/persepolis/

Marjane Satrapi's Blog : http://www.marjane-satrapi.com/news/3.shtml