At the end of January, many students rushed to attend extra-credit events in order to raise their grades at the end of the semester. This semester, try attending some extra-credit events at the beginning of the semester–it’ll save some stress in June, when you’re more likely to be pressed for time with work on projects, papers, and exams.
Due to the one-time nature of these events, I am unable to screen them ahead of time for content.
All information is from the website of the PSU Middle Eastern Studies Center unless otherwise stated.
As there is a larger-than-usual number of events this month, I am highlighting just a few here; students can check the website of the PSU Middle Eastern Studies Center for more options.
A discussion of Tunisia’s first post-transition election following the ratification of its constitution by the constituent assembly, featuring Lindsay Benstead, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Portland State University; Mohamed Daoud, Professor of Applied Linguistics, Institut Spérieur des Langues de Tunis, Tunisia, and Fulbright Fellow, Department of Applied Linguistics, Portland State University; and Keith Walters, Professor of Applied Linguistics, Portland State University.
This event is free & open to the public.
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 7:00pm
Where: Smith Memorial Student Union, room 296, 1825 SW Broadway
Film Screening: Microphone (Egypt)
From the website of the 23rd Cascade Festival of African Films:
The multi-award-winning Microphone takes the pulse of contemporary Egypt better than any other recent film. The poignant story follows Khaled as he returns to Alexandria after years abroad to find that he may be too late to rekindle an old love or fix a damaged relationship with his aging father. He roams his home city, stumbling upon a new and vital youth culture. A sharply edited, enthusiastic narrative, Microphone is a document of, and love letter to, the vibrant, underground arts scene in Alexandria. Through a poetic, political lens, we are taken through the back streets of a city where hip-hop, graffiti, rock ‘n’ roll, and skateboarding vie for prominence, while young artists struggle to find recognition in an ambivalent society.
This film screening is free.
When: Friday, February 15th 2013, 7:00pm
Where: The Hollywood Theater, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland OR 97212
Film Screening: Pegasus (Morocco)
From the website of the 23rd Cascade Festival of African Films:
Pegasus is a visually striking psychological thriller. Zineb is an emotionally exhausted psychiatrist assigned to treat a young pregnant woman named Rihana, who was found on the streets in a traumatized state muttering unintelligibly about the “Lord of the Horse.” As Rihana slowly opens up to Zineb—through evocative flashbacks—Zineb’s own troubled mind is awakened, and the two women’s realities merge into a feverish dream of fear and denial. Film source: Global Films Initiative.
When: Friday, February 22nd 2013, 7:30pm
Where: Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building, Room 104 (Portland Community College Cascade Campus, 705 N Killingsworth St, Portland OR 97217)
Movie: Rouge Patrole (Tunisia)
From the website of the 23rd Cascade Festival of African Films:
Rouge Parole documents the Tunisian protests of 2010-2011 that ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and launched the Arab Spring. The film offers an inspiring portrait of the country and people of Tunisia, their revolution and its immediate aftermath, covering key events such as the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi (the “spark” of the revolution), Ben Ali’s final speech before fleeing the country, and interim president Mohamed Ghannouchi’s resignation. Above all, it captures the pent-up anger, fervor, energy, hopes and fears of the Tunisian people, young and old, as they pour into the streets to demand their freedom and, when secured, to debate and grapple with the hard realities of turning their country into a democracy.
When: Thursday, February 14th 2013, 7:30pm
Where: Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building, Room 104 (Portland Community College Cascade Campus, 705 N Killingsworth St, Portland OR 97217)
Film Screening: The Life Of Frank Iny: A Granddaughter’s Journey & Searching for Baghdad; A Daughter’s Journey
The Life Of Frank Iny: A Granddaughter’s Journey tells the story of a man whose search for religious freedom took him from Baghdad to India, Belgium, Berlin, Israel and New York.
Searching for Baghdad; A Daughter’s Journey; Iraqi Jews can trace their history to 586BCE. At their peak, they numbered 300,000. Now, with their community destroyed, the producer searches out their descendants in the Far East, including India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar. What she finds is more than just history of her people.
When: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Where: Congregation Ahavat Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Boulevard Portland
