Fabienne Le Houérou, Le silence de l’araignée, Paris, L’Harmattan, septembre 2009, 201 p.
The book, written in French, is based on the interviews (in Arabic) of Furawis Refugees in Cairo. Taken from the anthropological film, “Nile Hotel, Voices from Darfur” (CNRS Images, Wapiti productions, 2007, 54 minutes, Sudan, Egypt- English/Arabic), the book suggests that contrary to what the media has presented about the conflict, Darfur is not to be defined as a genocide. Rather, the war crimes are the results of centuries of marginalisation of Darfur and the product of Sudan policies.
Visible on : www.imagmundi.com
The theme for the 2009-2010 Asch seminars is Visual Culture and Conflict. To kick off the new series, Associate Director and Documentary Photographer Jonathan Hyman will be speaking on Monday, September 14th, on public expressions in response to the 9/11 tragedy. Hyman’s 9/11 photographs have been exhibited at Ground Zero, at the National Constitution Center, and featured in Time Magazine. He has lectured extensively in the U.S. and Europe.
Please join us on Monday, September 14th for Hyman’s lecture, followed by a reception to celebrate the new year. Click here for poster and link to directions.
Israel's "separation wall" in the West Bank. Photo by Marc Ross.
Asch affiliate Moshe Ma’oz, and his daughter, Asch visiting scholar Ifat Ma’oz, both have articles in this week’s edition of Common Ground News Service - Middle East. Click the links below to read the entire articles.
Solving the Palestinian refugee problem: Is the ball in Israel’s court?
by Moshe Ma’oz
Professor Moshe Ma’oz examines the issue of the right of return for the Palestinian refugees and argues that agreement on the refugee issue is much easier to achieve than most people in Israel might think. The issue is key to a permanent solution, but is the Netanyahu government likely to make the necessary concessions?
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 23 July 2009)
The psychological-cognitive barriers to peace
by Ifat Ma’oz
Ifat Ma’oz, an expert in the field of media psychology, discusses the representation of the other in the Israeli-Arab conflict. One of the biggest barriers to reconciliation, she argues, is the cognitive bias which paints the other side as inferior and evil. In this article, Ma’oz explains the phenomenon and its impact on peace negotiations, and offers a way to counteract entrenched negative perceptions.
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 23 July 2009)
by Eranda Jayawickreme
There are good reasons to celebrate the Sri Lankan government’s final victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels last week. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were one of the most brutal and repressive terrorist organizations in the world, with a crypto-fascist ideology focused on the personality cult of their now-slain leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran. The LTTE pioneered the use of the suicide bomber, killed two heads of state and tens of thousands of civilians, and pressed child soldiers into their ranks. During the final days of the Sri Lankan Army’s assault this past month, the Tigers shot Tamil civilians trapped as human shields if they attempted to flee. Their demise has given Sri Lanka its best chance of ending a long-standing ethnic conflict that has troubled the island nation for more than 25 years.
However, the Sri Lankan government’s triumphant celebrations and promises of a peaceful future mask deep differences about the consequences of the war’s end for the different communities that call Sri Lanka home. . .
READ MORE . . .
Eranda Jayawickreme is a doctoral candidate in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Contact him at jayawick@sas.upenn.edu
Photographer Melanie Blanding is Asch's first featured artist. Learn more by clicking on one of her images at right.
Asch’s newest project is up and running! Under the direction of Associate Director for Conflict and Visual Culture Initiatives Jonathan Hyman, the Asch network is expanding to include photographers, fine artists and filmmakers exploring the interaction between conflict and visual expression. We look forward to new kinds of collaboration and cross-pollination as a result of this new venture.
To visit our online galleries, click on any of the images in the sidebar. A description of each artist’s work and contact information is displayed along with the images. For more information on the CVC project, or to recommend an artist for the online galleries, please contact jhyman@brynmawr.edu.
Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict
