Categories : Academic items
Shii News – Academic Items
1. The second course of Contemporary Iranian Studies, March 4-14, 2020.
The program provides an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary platform for the study of modern Iranian culture, politics, and society. It seeks to deliver an academically and professionally enriching experience and offer a unique program for those who wish an intimate, insider’s look at modern Iran.
The Iranian Studies Intensive Course is a well-balanced mixture of 1) academic lectures by outstanding professors, 2) handpicked social programs, and 3) cultural tours guided by experts of the filed. The academic lectures give you plenty of opportunities to better understand contemporary Iran. The social programs give you the chance to take part in reflective events and activities to taste real-life experiences in Iran. And the guided tours of Iran let you truly immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere that Iran has to offer.
The main purpose is to allow those interested from abroad to explore Iran, to be directly in touch with their subject of interest, to learn about Iran from a multidisciplinary academic approach and to gain first-hand experience of living in Iran.
Cities: Qom, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tehran
Structure: On-site & On-campus lectures, Social programs, Cultural tours
Academic Themes: Religion, Art, Culture, Politics in Contemporary Iran
Language: English
Partial Scholarships: Available
Visa Sponsorship: Available (without label and/or stamp on your passport)
More Details: iranianstudies@urd.ac.ir
2. The Bibliotheca Arabica project is pleased to announce an international workshop on Marginal Commentaries in Arabic Manuscripts (2-3 December 2019), which brings together experts from different fields in order to compare the use, significance, and impact of scholia in Arabic manuscripts from different genres, regions, and periods.
Unlike in many other academic disciplines, glosses and scholia are a comparatively unexplored field of research in Arabic and Islamic Studies. However, the practice of annotating a text in the margins of a manuscript or between the lines was a widespread cultural practice that fulfilled a variety of functions. Apart from guiding the reader and providing translations of texts within a multilingual context, such annotations were meant to explain and interpret the main text, or even to explain other annotations in the margins. It was here that commentaries were produced, transmitted, and used for teaching and studying purposes. As such, these marginal commentaries constitute an imprint of intellectual history and a rich source that illuminates how knowledge production worked.
The workshop aims at exploring the potential inherent in analysing scribal and textual practices as seen in marginal commentaries in Arabic manuscripts. These scribal and textual practices will be discussed with respect to a number of variables, such as different genres, geographical regions, and times in history. The presentations range from geographical, natural scientific, philological, philosophical, and historical texts to various Islamic religious writings. The workshop covers a broad range of manuscript traditions from West Africa, al-Andalus and the Middle East to India, dating from the 7th to the 18th century.
The workshop is organised by Stefanie Brinkmann, research fellow at the Bibliotheca Arabica project at the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig, Germany. It will take place on 2-3 December 2019 at the Saxon Academy in Leipzig. Presentations will be in English.
On the project, see: www.saw-leipzig.de/bibliotheca-arabica
Programme: https://www.saw-leipzig.de/de/projekte/bibliotheca-arabica/files/programme-marginal-commen…
3. The Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures at the University of Virginia invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Iranian Literature, Cinema, and Culture with an expected start date of August 2020.
The successful candidate will join a community comprising faculty teaching and doing research on Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Persian, Urdu, and Sanskrit from linguistic, literary, cultural studies, historical, and social scientific perspectives. The teaching load is four courses per year (a 2-2 load). Candidates should be prepared to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in classical and modern Persian literature, as well as introductory courses on Iranian cinema or culture.
Applicants must have: an active program of research in Persian Literature, Cinema, or related field; a commitment to excellence in teaching; native or near-native fluency in Persian and English; and a Ph.D. in hand by August 2020.
Priority will be given to applications received by January 30, 2020. Review of applications will begin in early February and continue until the position is filled…
for details and to apply, see here:
https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs/job/Charlottesville-VA/Iranian-Literature–Cinema–and-Culture-Assistant-Professor-Tenure-Track_R0011705
4. Riza ‘Abbasi and the Embedded Image: Three Paintings
Michael Chagnon, PhD (Curator, Aga Khan Museum)
Venue: Room 318, the Jackman Humanities Building, 170 St. George St., University of Toronto
Date and Time: Nov. 28th, 2019. 6:00pm (refreshments included)
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/iamcc-michael-chagnonriza-abbasi-and-the-embedded-image-3-paintings-tickets-82862434773
In the study of Perso-Islamic painting, the name Riza ‘Abbasi (fl. 1590-1635) has become a byword for transformations in image-making during the Safavid dynastic era, particularly the ascendency of single-sheet painting and drawing as the preeminent vehicle for pictorial expression during the Isfahan phase of Safavid rule. Riza is renowned for his figural studies, executed in a modulated calligraphic line, enhanced by subtle washes or luxurious pigments, and depicting generic types as well as specific individuals identified in captions. Several of his compositions feature ancillary objects such as textiles and vessels, which are themselves adorned with figural imagery. These secondary, “embedded” figures often appear as active participants in the image rather than mere decoration, directing their gestures and gazes toward the main subjects. In the limited scholarly attention given to such figures, hypothetical narrative pretexts for such puzzling activity have been posited. Focusing on three paintings, this paper argues instead that Riza’s embedded figures function as metatexual commentaries on the ambiguous role of figuration in early modern Perso-Islamic thought. When examined through this lens, such works help connect period proto-theoretical texts on image-making to its contemporary visual expression.
The Islamic Art and Material Culture Collaborative (IAMCC) is a new collaborative research network based in Toronto that brings together the capacities and resources of the University of Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Aga Khan Museum. The aim of the IAMCC is to foster innovative and interdisciplinary research on Islamic art and material culture, support a joint student internship program, host monthly talks and research seminars and present a high-profile annual visiting lecture.
5. The Berlin-based Forum Transregionale Studien invites researchers to apply for up to 5 postdoctoral fellowships for the academic year 2020/21 in the research program Europe in the Middle East—The Middle East in Europe (EUME).
Location: Berlin / Closing Date: 4 January, 2020
Application cover sheet (DOC) or (PDF)
EUME seeks to rethink key concepts and premises that link and divide Europe and the Middle East. The program draws on the international expertise of a growing network of scholars in and outside of Germany and is embedded in university and extra-university research institutions in and outside of Berlin. EUME supports historical-critical philology, rigorous engagement with the literatures of the Middle East and their histories, the social history and life of cities and the study of Middle Eastern political and philosophical thought as central fields of research not only for area or cultural studies, but also for European intellectual history and other academic disciplines. The program explores modernity as a historical space and conceptual frame. EUME is interested in questions relating to ongoing transformation processes in Europe and the Middle East, in re-imaginations of the past and present that contribute to free, pluralistic and just societies.
The program puts forward three programmatic ideas:
1) supporting research that demonstrates the rich and complex historical legacies and entanglements between Europe and the Middle East; 2) re-examining genealogical notions of mythical ‘beginnings’, ‘origins’, and ‘purity’ in relation to culture and society; and 3) rethinking key concepts of a shared modernity and future in light of contemporary cultural, social, and political divisions and entanglements that supersede identity discourses as well as national, cultural or regional canons and epistemologies that were established in the nineteenth century.
Europe in the Middle East—The Middle East in Europe supports and rests upon interconnected research fields and themes:
Travelling Traditions: Comparative Perspectives on Near Eastern Literatures
directed by Friederike Pannewick (Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies/Department for Arabic Studies, Philipps-Universität Marburg) and Samah Selim (Rutgers University) reassesses literary entanglements and processes of translation and canonization between Europe and the Middle East.
Cities Compared: Urban Change in the Mediterranean and Adjacent Regions
directed by Ulrike Freitag and Nora Lafi (both Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin) contributes to the debate on plurality, migration, citizenship and civil society from the historical experience of conviviality and socio-cultural, ethnic, and religious differences in the cities around the Mediterranean.
Tradition and the Critique of Modernity: Secularism, Fundamentalism and Religion from Middle Eastern Perspectives
directed by Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva) tries to rethink key concepts of modernity in the context of experiences, interpretations, and critiques from the Middle East in order to contribute to a more inclusive language of culture, politics and community.
Politics of Change, Archaeologies of the Present, and Processes of Change in the Middle East
are research themes that emerged during the last years and are represented by the work of several EUME Fellows and members of the Collegium (e.g. Cilja Harders, Friederike Pannewick, Rachid Ouaissa).
These research fields and themes mark the framework for the fellowship program that constitutes EUME. Since 1997, more than 280 scholars from and of the Middle East have been EUME Fellows, who, by their scholarly projects, engagement, and their questions relating to the order of knowledge, society and politics, shape the academic program of EUME.
FELLOWSHIPS
The fellowships are intended primarily for scholars in the humanities and social sciences who want to carry out their research projects in connection with the Berlin program. Applicants should be at the postdoctoral level and should have obtained their doctorate within the last seven years. Fellows gain the opportunity to pursue research projects of their own choice within the framework of one of the above-mentioned research fields and in relation to the overall program Europe in the Middle East – the Middle East in Europe. Successful applicants will be fellows of EUME at the Forum Transregionale Studien, and associate members of one of the university or non-university research institutes listed below or connected to the Forum Transregionale Studien.
The fellowships start on 1 October 2020 and will end on 31 July 2021. Postdoctoral fellows will receive a monthly stipend of 2,500 € plus supplements depending on their personal situation. Organisational support regarding visa, insurance, housing, etc. will be provided. Fellows are obliged to work in Berlin and to help shape the seminars and working discussions related to their research field. Scholars are also invited to apply with own funding. The working language of EUME is English.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
An application should consist of
– the application cover sheet (please download above on this site);
– a curriculum vitae (including a list of publications);
– a project description (no longer than 5 pages), stating what the scholar will work on in Berlin if granted a fellowship; and
– the names of two university faculty members who can serve as referees (no letters of recommendation required).
The application should be submitted by e-mail as one PDF file in English and should be received by January 4, 2020, sent to: eume(at)trafo-berlin.de
Europe in the Middle East – the Middle East in Europe (EUME)
Attn: Georges Khalil
c/o Forum Transregionale Studien
Wallotstraße 14
14193 Berlin
In case of questions, please consult the FAQ or write an email to eume(at)trafo-berlin.de.
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
Europe in the Middle East—The Middle East in Europe (EUME) has been initiated in 2006 as a joint research program of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. It builds upon the previous work of the Working Group Modernity and Islam (1996-2006). Since 2011 EUME is continued at the Forum Transregionale Studien.
In scholarly terms EUME is directed by a Collegium that currently consists of Ulrike Freitag (Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin), Cilja Harders (Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin), Kader Konuk (Institut für Turkistik, Universität Duisburg-Essen), Nora Lafi (Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin), Rachid Ouaissa (Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Philipps-Universität Marburg), Friederike Pannewick (Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Philipps-Universität Marburg), Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva), Samah Selim (Rutgers University), and Stefan Weber (Museum for Islamic Art, Berlin).
The Berlin-based Forum Transregionale Studien (Forum) is a research platform that promotes the internationalization of research in the humanities and social sciences. The Forum provides scope for collaboration among researchers with different regional and disciplinary perspectives and appoints researchers from all over the world as Fellows. In cooperation with universities and research institutions in Berlin and outside, it carries out research projects that examine other regions of the world and their relationship to Germany and Europe systematically and with new questions. The Forum currently supports the following research programs and initiatives: Europe in the Middle East – the Middle East in Europe (EUME), Prisma Ukraïna: Research Network Eastern Europe, Re:Constitution: Exchange and Analysis on Democracy and the Rule of Law in Europe. Zukunftsphilologie: Revisiting the Canons of Textual Scholarship and 4A Lab: Art Histories, Archaeologies, Anthropologies, Aesthetics are programs that are closely connected to the Forum.
The Forum is a founding member of the Academy in Exile and of the consortium of MECAM: Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb to be established in Tunis in 2020.
For more information on the Forum Transregionale Studien, please visit
www.forum-transregionale-studien.de
For further information on EUME and for detailed information on the research fields, please visit www.eume-berlin.de
For information on the research institutions participating in EUME, please visit:
Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies, Freie Universität Berlin
Center for Middle Eastern and North African Politics, Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin
https://www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/polwiss/
Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient
Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies, Freie Universität Berlin
www.geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de/en/friedrichschlegel
Institute of Islamic Studies, Freie Universität Berlin
www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/en/e/islamwiss
Museum for Islamic Art
Seminar for Semitic and Arabic Studies, Freie Universität Berlin
www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/en/e/semiarab
Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Philipps-Universität Marburg
Institut für Turkistik, Universität Duisburg-Essen
6. Postdoctoral Fellowship, Silsila: Center for Material Histories, New York University.
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship at Silsila: Center for Material Histories, New York University. The Center fosters interdisciplinary scholarship on material histories of the pre- and early modern Islamicate world, broadly conceived. It supports research on transcultural and transregional phenomena that contributes to a reimagining of current disciplinary boundaries, chronologies, and epistemic paradigms.
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute actively to Center seminars and events, to liaise with other university departments and Centers, to assist with program planning in collaboration with the director, and to work with an administrative aide to help organize, advertise and host events. They will also be expected to teach one course per semester, either a survey or an advanced course in their subject area. The appointment will run from September 1st 2020 to August 31st 2021 with the possibility of a one-year renewal, pending budgetary and administrative approval.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a PhD in hand, relevant language skills, and proven research interests in the art, architecture or material culture of Islamicate societies before 1500. Candidates must have completed their Ph.D. no earlier than September 1, 2015. Review of applications will begin on November 25th and continue until the position is filled.
Application Instructions
Please apply online through Interfolio: apply.interfolio.com/70001 with a cover letter to the search committee that describes your research and teaching interests, a resume or curriculum vitae, the names of three references and a statement on your approach to diversity and inclusion. Diversity is an important part of the NYU mission and we ask that you address how diversity and inclusion factor into past and present teaching, research, and/or community engagement, as well as how you would bring issues of diversity to bear on teaching and programming at NYU. For more information, please see here.
For questions regarding the application, contact Shavanna Calder, sc1886@nyu.edu.
The Faculty of Arts and Science at NYU is at the heart of a leading research university that spans the globe. We seek scholars of the highest caliber who embody the diversity of the United States as well as the global society in which we live. We strongly encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other individuals who are under-represented in the profession, across color, creed, race, ethnic and national origin, physical ability, gender and sexual identity, or any other legally protected basis. NYU affirms the value of differing perspectives on the world as we strive to build the strongest possible university with the widest reach. To learn more about the FAS commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, please read here: http://as.nyu.edu/departments/facultydiversity.html.
EOE/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.
7. Date change for application due date for Assistant or Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
The original notice on this post was sent out on 29 October, 2019.
And, the submission date was referenced as ‘To apply, please send your documents via email by December 1, 2019 to: careers@dohainstitute.edu.qa.’
That date has now been changed to February 1, 2020.
8. The Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages (ANEL) at Brigham Young University seeks to hire a full-time, non-tenure track visiting Arabic faculty member to begin teaching in Fall 2020. Ph.D. preferred, MA required in Arabic language teaching, Arabic literature or linguistics, Middle Eastern Studies, or Second Language Acquisition (degree must be in hand by the start date). The deadline for applications is 5 December 2019.
We seek candidates with significant training in foreign language teaching and learning; a minimum of near-native fluency in Arabic; at least 3 years of experience in teaching various levels of Arabic, but especially advanced-level students at the postsecondary level using a proficiency-based, communicative methodology. Desired qualifications include previous experience working with students in the context of intensive language programs; teacher training and materials development; and experience with using an integrated curriculum that reflects the sociolinguistic realities of the Arab world. The teaching load is three or four courses in any level of Arabic each semester, depending on the needs of the department.
Please list the individual contact information for each of your three recommenders on the faculty application. At some point during the selection process they may be contacted to submit their letters of reference electronically.
Please attach your updated Curriculum Vitae, cover letter, and teaching philosophy to the faculty application using this link. Thanks for your time and attention.
9. Open Access Book: Among Digitized Manuscripts. Philology, Codicology, Paleography in a Digital World
https://brill.com/view/title/56196
- November 23, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1.International Conference: “Historicity and Islamicity: Perceptions of Early Islamic History in Contemporary Muslim Thought”, Institute for the Study of Islamic Culture and Religion, Goethe University in Frankfurt a.M., 12-14 December 2019
Our conference attempts to shed light on the contemporary Muslim perceptions and perspectives on the early history of Islam. It will first address the mechanisms of construction of ‘early Islamic history’ and its use in the processes of identity building among Muslims and, in a next stept, the critical and revisionist approaches to history developed by Muslim scholars.
Organizers: Prof. Dr. Armina Omerika, Dr. Soumaya Louhichi-Güzel.
See program at https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/82093441/ContentPage_82093441
2. Research Fellow, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Hamburg
Qualifications: excellent university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Political Science, Sociology, Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, or related social sciences / area studies; familiarity with academic research on radicalisation, political Islam and jihadism; proficiency in English and Modern Standard Arabic; good working knowledge of German; etc.
Screening of applications will begin on 18 November 2019. Information: https://www.giga-hamburg.de/sites/default/files/md_pdf/GIGA-19-11_Call_ResearchFellowIMES.pdf
3. Ph.D. Research Grant at the Orient-Institut in Istanbul for 2020
Field research in Istanbul for Ph.D. students not living in Turkey will be supported. Grants are available for one of the research areas of the Institute: – Musicological research on the Ottoman Empire and Turkey; – Narrative sources on Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire; – Historic and contemporary forms of religious expression in Anatolia since the 11th century; – Sociolinguistics; – Human, medicine, and society; – Manuscript cultures of the Ottoman Empire and Iran. The research grant consists of a monthly stipend of € 1,100 for six months. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Deadline for applications: 5 January 2020. Information: https://www.oiist.org/en/stipendien/
4. Spring School of the Innovative Training Network “Mediating Islam in the Digital Age” (MIDA) and the European Network for Islamic Studies (ENIS) on “Contesting Authority: Knowledge, Power and Expressions of Selfhood”, Catania, Italy, 2-8 March 2020
PhD candidates and advanced MA students are invited to participate. How have technological revolutions informed the performance of selfhood (including gender), the modes of engagement with society, and the political consequences of shifting boundaries between public and private spheres? The school addresses the construction and transformation of religious authority and religious knowledge production, and concomitant questions of legitimacy, power and discipline, under changing circumstances.
Deadline for applications: 25 December 2019.
Information: https://www.ehess.fr/fr/appels-%C3%A9tudiants/midaenis-spring-school-2020
5. Monographs for Series “Routledge Studies in Islam and Human Rights”
We invite scholarly monographs that examine the rich and complex intellectual and institutional legacy of Islam relevant to human rights and social (in)justice since the formative period of Islam (7th century CE). The Series welcomes works dealing specifically with the topic of human rights theories as well as discoveries that connect human rights to social issues, institutions, themes, ideas, and events.
Information: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Studies-in-Islam-and-Human-Rights/book-series/RIHR
6. New Book Series “Gulf Studies” by Gulf Studies Center (GSC), Qatar University, in Collaboration with “Springer Nature”
The series takes an interdisciplinary approach to documenting the changes taking place in the Gulf societies, and the evolving relationship between the Gulf and the other regions. The series is dedicated to advancing a non-Western perspective for studying societies in the Gulf, and their interactions with the rest of the world.
7. The ERC-funded research group Novel Saints. Studies in Ancient Fiction and Hagiography at the Ghent University (Belgium) is currently advertising a postdoctoral researcher post (two years full-time) for a specialist in late antique and medieval hagiography (in Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, Georgian, Greek, Latin, Slavonic and/or Syriac) to work as a database coordinator.
All information can be found on our website: https://www.novelsaints.ugent.be/news/vacancy-postdoctoral-researcher. The application deadline is 20th December 2019.
Please share with any interested parties. The information can also be shared on social media (facebook and twitter both @NovelSaints).
- November 19, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1.A testament to diversity: Kurdish manuscript collections at the British Library
2. Associate Lecturer (Education Focused) in Iranian and Middle Eastern History c. 1700-1950 at the School of History, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Deadline: 5 December 2019
Applications are invited for an Associate Lectureship (Education Focused) in Iranian and Middle Eastern History focused on the period 1700-1950, available from 6 January 2020 for a period of two years. The ideal candidate will be a specialist on the 18th and/or ‘long’ 19th c. This post is intended as a temporary teaching replacement for Professor Ali Ansari who will be on leave during this time.
The successful candidate will be required to teach at least one of the following Honours (third/fourth year) courses: Persia in the 18th Century – 1722-1834 (The Age of the Warlords) and/or Modern Iran from 1834-1941: Enlightenment, Nationalism & Revolution. They will also be expected to contribute substantially to lectures and tutorials of the group-taught sub-honours (second year) module MH2002 Introduction to Middle Eastern and Islamic History. The successful candidate may also be required to contribute to the teaching of other sub-honours modules (e.g. MO1008 Themes in Late Modern History, c.1776 – 1989; MO2008 Scotland, Britain and Empire, c. 1500 – 2000), and the MLitts in Middle Eastern and Iranian Studies.
The successful candidate will join a distinguished cluster of scholars working on aspects of Middle Eastern history. You must have excellent command of Persian and ideally also another Middle Eastern language (e.g. Arabic, Turkish) and be able to contribute to the activities of the Institute of Iranian Studies (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~iranian/).
You should have completed a PhD in a relevant field and show substantial promise of research excellence. Experience of teaching at university level is also desirable, combined with an ability to bring imagination to tutorials, seminars and lectures. Although undergraduate teaching is based on sources in English translation, the successful candidate will have an excellent command of Persian, and may be required to offer some MLitt level teaching of primary sources in this language, depending on student demand.
Further information and the online application form may be accessed through the following link:
To discuss this post informally, candidates may wish to contact the Chair of the Department of Middle East Studies, Dr Dimitri Kastritsis (dk19@st-andrews.ac.uk).
3. ARMACAD is offering full scholarships to qualified students in Iranian Studies and related fields to participate in Persian language summer course 2020 organized by ASPIRANTUM, Yerevan, Armenia.
The scholarship:
ARMACAD will offer up to 3 scholarships to those students who meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in learning Persian in Armenia.
For more details please visit: https://armacad.info/armacad–2019-10-03–full-scholarships-for-persian-language-courses-of-aspirantum
4. PhD position in Iranian Studies, Univ. of Oslo
For information about the PhD fellowship:
https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/178544/doctoral-research-fellowship-in-middle-eastern-and-islamic-studies
The deadline is 12th January.
5. New journal: Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World (MCMW)
Brill has entered into a partnership with The Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, (London, UK) and the Aga Khan Museum (Toronto, Canada) to publish a new peer-reviewed, academic journal called Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World (MCMW) in full open access. With the support of the University and the Museum, all author charges will be waived.
The Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World aims to be a new reference for field archaeologists, (art) historians, anthropologists, curators, and scholars and students of the archeology, (art) history, architecture, anthropology and ethnography of the Muslim world. This readership represents a new broader definition of material culture that includes not only artefacts, architectural structures and monuments, but also crafts. The journal aims to inform (other) disciplines and historiographies, for example by also including archaeological field surveys.
The journal also focuses on un(der)explored Muslim regions outside of the Middle East and North Africa: sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Ocean, Central Asia, India, South-East Asia and Europe.
The journal accepts submissions in English, French, German and Spanish and short reports in Arabic, Persian and Turkish with an English abstract.
Submissions should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief, Stéphane Pradines, at Stephane.Pradines@aku.edu.
Further info at:
- November 16, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1. Aquinas and ’the Arabs’ International Working Group
Related Events 2020
Link: shorturl.at/ftFJ7
or
https://academic.mu.edu/taylorr/Aquinas_and_the_Arabs/AAIWG_2020_Events.html
Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Conference websites & Calls For Papers / Panels:
2020:
Eighth Annual AAIWG On-Line International Live Video Graduate Student Workshop, Milwaukee, 20-21 March 2020:https://academic.mu.edu/taylorr/Aquinas_and_the_Arabs/Grad_Student_Workshops.html
AAIWG annual meeting London 11-13 June 2020: “ Philosophy in the Abrahamic Traditions: Structures of Being, World and Mind” : https://academic.mu.edu/taylorr/Aquinas_and_the_Arabs/Summer_2020_London_AAIWG.html (Deadline 15 December 2019)
Fifteenth Annual Marquette Summer Seminar in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy 22-24 June 2020: “Causes and Causality in Aristotle and the Aristotelian Tradition:
https://academic.mu.edu/taylorr/Midwest-Seminar/2020_Summer_Conference.html
Thirteenth Annual Summer Conference on Philosophy in the Abrahamic Traditions, Marquette University 17-19 June 2020: “Apophaticism in Maimonides and the Latin Tradition”:
https://academic.mu.edu/taylorr/The_Abrahamic_Traditions/2020_Summer_Conference_Milwaukee.html
2. The ICA Commission on the History of Cartography will hold its 8thInternational Symposium from 21 to 23 April 2020 in Istanbul, partnering with the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) – Istanbul Department.
The theme is ‘Mapping the Ottoman Realm: Travelers, Cartographers and Archaeologists’. The organizers invite the submission of abstracts for long (25 min) and short (10 min) oral presentations focusing on one of two main themes: “the cartography of the Ottoman countries in Europe, Asia and Africa” or “the mapping of archaeological sites, landscapes and excavations in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries”. More information about the symposium (including the abstract submission system) can be found here: https://history.icaci.org/istanbul-2020
3. Call for applicants
Interdisciplinary Masterclass on:
Ali ibn-Musa al-Reza’s Sacred Mortuary Complex:
Shiite Pilgrimage, Devotional Practices, and Religious Healing
18-24 April 2020- Mashhad, Iran
Conveners:
Majid Fouladiyan (Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran)
Pedram Khosronejad (Adjunct Professor, Religion and Society Research Cluster, Western Sydney University, Australia)
Ali ibn-Musa al-Reza’s shrine and its related mortuary complex have been used for centuries by devotees as one of the most important healing sites of the Muslim world. Although pilgrimage to Imam Reza’s shrine should be considered as one of the oldest religious rituals in Shiite Iran, it remains and continues its vibrant movement in the twenty-first century. Pilgrims to this sacred site have and combine different traditional and modern motivations, but most importantly seeking healing for physical disease or spiritual issues. The existence of a huge number of national and international pilgrims to the city of Mashhad for the visitation of this holy Shiite saint’s shrine is testimony to the power that Imam Reza continues to hold for those devotees who undertake these sacred journeys.
In this masterclass, for the first time, through the use of anthropological and interdisciplinary research methods, we aim to examine different and persistent forms of Persian Shiite rituals and practices to expand our understanding of the role of Imam Reza and his holy shrine in the traditional and modern practices of Ziyarat (physical and digital). By focusing on the different dimensions of pilgrimage to the shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam, we aim to perform selected case studies grounded in different research methods to help participants to understand the many ways in which pilgrimage provides help and support to the pilgrims.
During the seven-day program (30 h) participants will be introduced to:
- The history of the martyrdom of Imam Reza and the establishment of his shrine,
- The importance of Imam Reza’s shrine and related sacred sites in the construction of a holy Shiite site,
- Methodologies for studying Imam Reza’s shrine from different aspects of Shiite doctrine,
- The importance of pilgrimage to Imam Reza’s shrine and its social, cultural and political influence at the personal, local, national, and international levels,
- Rituals and ceremonies related to Imam Reza’s shrine and its sacred and religious sites.
The entire masterclass will be organized under the governance of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and will primarily be held in the shrine of Imam Reza and its research institute.
Complementary to the theory classes and fieldwork will be the private visitation of the research institute, library and archive of Imam Reza’s shrine (Astan-e Qods), visitation of other saints’ shrines and cemeteries of Mashhad and neighbouring cities for further comparative studies.
Participants:
This program is only open to university-based scholars, registered students, and official researchers.
Visa:
The Ferdowsi University will issue an official invitation for all participants, who should apply for their own visas individually. The Ferdowsi University has no responsibility in this regard and cannot guarantee the result of related applications.
Accommodation:
For the duration of the masterclass, all participants will stay in the hotel booked by the Ferdowsi University.
The registration fee (including: program fee, accommodation, food, and transportation for the duration of the masterclass)
- Registered students: $ 600
- University scholars and researchers: $ 1000
* The registration fee should be paid in cash during the first day of arrival at the university campus.
Deadline for preliminary registration:
15th January 2020.
For further enquiries, to complete your preliminary registration and reserve your place, please contact Dr. P. Khosronejad (P.Khosronjead@westernsydney.edu.au).
4. MESA free access collection of De Gruyters until December 15
5. CFP – Decolonizing Islamicate Manuscript Studies Roundtable at BRISMES 2020
The theme of annual conference of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) 2020 is Knowledge, Power and Middle Eastern Studies. The conference organizers have invited participants to “reflect on the concept of decoloniality and practice of decolonization of knowledge and pedagogy in relation to the study and teaching of the Middle East.”
In that vein, please see our call for participants below:
Decolonizing Islamicate Manuscript Studies Roundtable
Shephard (2006) contends that a French man coined the term “decolonization” with regard to Algeria in 1836. While the meanings of the term changed according to context, it no longer means (simply?) the withdrawal or decline of imperial powers, but also mandates a challenge to white supremacy. As Tuck and Yang (2012) have pointed out, its use cannot be metaphorical.
How, and should decolonization be operationalized in the field of Islamicate manuscript studies?
For this roundtable discussion at the 2020 BRISMES, we invite participants to critically engage with the possibilities for the decolonization of Islamicate manuscript studies.
Discussants could speak on, but not be limited to, the following areas:
Neocolonial uses of manuscript digitization projects
How politics and social forces shape access (intellectual and physical) to manuscripts
Custody and the repatriation /rematriation of Islamicate manuscripts
Colonial confiscation of manuscripts / Colonial book collecting
Critical provenance of manuscripts in western libraries
Use of Islamicate mss in graduate study
The idea of (some) Islamic manuscripts as sacred texts
Biographies/social histories of specific mss and
Over emphasis of codicology in the study of Islamicate texts
Reading Islamicate manuscripts through an orientalist lens
Differences between western and indigenous scholarship of Islamicate manuscripts
The role of the critical edition as a (de)colonial practice
The appropriateness of the term “decolonization” for the field of Islamicate manuscript study.
Participants are asked to submit a 250 word abstract of their roundtable discussion along with a recent CV to sumayya.ahmed@ucl.ac.uk by November 18, 2019.
Roundtable organizers: Nadirah Mansour, Princeton University, USA
Sumayya Ahmed, University College London- Qatar
6. International Conference “Imperial Mysticisms: Piety and Power in Early Modern Empires from a Global Perspective”, Central European University Budapest, 27-30 November 2019
The conference aims to explore the political and social impact of mystical movements of different religious traditions on the formation of empires in early modernity. Employing a global comparative approach, it addresses a wide range of imperial settings, such as the Ming Chinese, the Mughal, Safavid and Ottoman Empires, and the Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs.
See conference program at https://religion.ceu.edu/imperial-mysticisms-2019-program
7. Conference of the Islamicate Graduate Student Association: “Who Speaks for
Islam?: Approaches to Authority within the Academy and Beyond”, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 29 February 2020
In light of recent attempts at intimidation by the state, we are particularly interested in thinking through the politics of power. As such, we are seeking papers that interrogate questions of authority and power. Potential topics include, but are not limited, to the following: who gets to speak for Islam and Muslims? What landscapes of authority exist in the Islamicate world? For example, what geographies constitute the Islamicate world? Etc.
Deadline for abstracts: 15 November 2019. Information: https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/40033
8. Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) in Middle Eastern Diasporic Literatures and Cultures, York University
We are particularly interested in candidates whose research can be situated within the fields of Postcolonial and World Literature in English within and across periods, genres, and regions. Interdisciplinary and intermedial approaches are especially welcome. The successful candidate will have a PhD in English Literature or a related field with a specialization in Middle Eastern Diasporic Literatures and Cultures; a dynamic, substantial, and ongoing research portfolio; etc.
Deadline for applications: 25 January 2020.
Information: http://webapps.yorku.ca/academichiringviewer/viewposition.jsp?positionnumber=2025
9. Assistant Professor in Gender, Post-Colonialism, and the Islamic World, York University
A PhD by the start of the appointment in Political Science or an appropriate related field is required. The successful candidate’s research should complement the present scholarly profile of the Department of Politics in the study of gender, post-colonialism, anti-imperialism, and the Islamic World, conceived to encompass not only “Islamic countries” but in a diasporic sense, and to develop the conception in new and innovative ways.
Deadline for applications: 25 January 2020.
Information: http://webapps.yorku.ca/academichiringviewer/viewposition.jsp?positionnumber=2029
10. Director of the Middle East Studies Center (MESC), American University in Cairo
Requirements: PhD degree in a discipline relevant to MESC’s field of study. Candidates should have well established and extended experience in policymaking and implementation related to the Middle East. They should have research and publications records showing interest and contributions to the field of Middle East studies. They may also bring evidence to contributions to negotiations, policymaking or policy advice in the Middle East at a high level in government, international organizations and/or think tanks.
Deadline for applications: Open until position is filled.
Information: https://academiccareers.com/job/4902/director-middle-east-studies-center-mesc-115424/
11. Hamad bin Khalifa Endowed Chair in Islamic Art, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Qatar
Required qualifications: PhD in art history; well-developed scholarly/research portfolio with evidence of multi-disciplinary applications; university teaching experience.
Deadline for applications: 15 December 2019. Information: https://www.vcujobs.com/postings/94363
12. Tenure-Track Instructur in Persian Language and Culture, Department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Requirements: advanced proficiency in Persian; a Ph.D. in Persian Language and Linguistics, Persian Applied Linguistics, Persian language pedagogy, or a closely related field; evidence of substantial experience and excellent teaching ability in Persian for both heritage and non-heritage learners at the post-secondary level in North America; etc.
Deadline for applications: 18 December 2019. Information: https://asia.ubc.ca/department/careers/
13. Assistant Professor of Arabic (Tenure-Track), Virginia Military Institute, Lexington
Specialization open; Ph.D. in Arabic, Arabic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies or related field required. Native or near-native fluency in Modern Standard Arabic and at least one dialect of Arabic required. The successful candidate should provide evidence of excellence in teaching Arabic language, literature and culture at the college-level using the integrated approach.
Position open until filled; review of applications begins immediately. To ensure full consideration, please submit all materials by 15 December 2019. Information: https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/168558
14. Teaching Assistant Professor of Arabic, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Requirements: All applicants must have PhD in hand in Arabic or a closely related field, teaching excellence at the university level as demonstrated by course evaluation summaries, potential for curricular development, native or near native fluency in Arabic as well as in English, and experience in use of instructional technology.
Review of applications will begin on December 2, 2019 and will continue until the position is filled.
Information: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/71608
15. New Professional One-year Master Program in English on “Contemporary Art in the Arab World, Iran and Turkey”, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice in Collaboration with the University of Geneva
Starting in February 2020, the Program balances theory and practice. It starts from a global perspective and focuses on modern and contemporary artistic production in the Arab world, Iran and Turkey. The training course includes a six-week internship at one of the partner institutions and concludes with the completion of a project or a final paper.
Registration deadline: 11 December 2019. For further information see https://www.unive.it/pag/33862/
16. Request to Answer a Questionnaire on “Emotional Stress among MENA Researchers”
The questionnaire has been designed for a qualitative assessment of stress-induced emotional difficulties of researchers working in (or on) the Middle East and North Africa after many colleagues have reported about deteriorating working conditions, not only in terms of actual research possibilities, but also concerning psychological challenges. You are invited to answer the 24 questions at https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/HR3KF5Z until 30 November 2019.
Information: Dr Jan Claudius Völkel, Senior Researcher, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute, University of Freiburg, jan.voelkel@politik.uni-freiburg.de
- November 11, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1.Grabar Opportunities:
The Grabar Travel Grant competition is open to graduate students (doctoral candidates) who have been invited or accepted as participants in a scholarly conference or other professional meeting for the purpose of presenting papers, chairing sessions or moderating discussions. The maximum amount of the award is $700 US.
The Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowshipis intended to support post-doctoral scholars at early stage of their careers in advancing their research. Fellowship funds may be used in one of two ways:
- To spend up to two months in residence as a visiting professor or fellow/research scholar at a university, museum, research institute or similar institution outside their usual country of residence or employment.
- To support additional research to aid in preparing the dissertation for publication.
Applicants should have completed their PhD within the last five years or have submitted their dissertations by the start of the fellowship.
The Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowship will provide up to $2000 US per month, for a maximum of two months. An additional $1000 may be requested for travel or for supplies.
For further details and to apply, please visit the HIAA website:
https://www.historiansofislamicart.org/opportunities/hiaa-prizes/grabar-grants-and-fellowships
2. International Conference: “Monotheistic Believing and Pluralistic Societies from an Islamic Perspective”, Department Islamic-Religious Studies, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 7-9 November 2019
The central matter of interest will be whether and how Islamic monotheistic understandings of God have impacted social interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims, in both historical and contemporary contexts.
See program, abstracts and contact at https://www.dirs.phil.fau.eu/2019/10/07/international-conference-monotheistic-believing-and-pluralistic-societies-from-an-islamic-perspective-from-november-7th-9th-2019/
3. Assistant Professor in Islamicate South Asian Studies, Columbia University
Required qualifications: Applications from scholars working in Urdu and a second South Asian language are especially welcome. The successful candidate will be expected to sustain an active research and publication agenda, to teach both broad courses for undergraduates as well as graduate seminars, and to direct MA and PhD theses. The appointment will begin on 1 July 2020. The Ph.D. must be in hand by the appointment start date.
The review of applications will begin 1 January 2020; the position will remain open until filled.
Information: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=59458
4. Summer School Languages Program: Modern Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, and Persian, Ibn Haldun University Süleymaniye Complex, Istanbul, 8 June – 24 July 2020
Application deadline: 31 March 2020.
5. Arabic Culture and Language Program at Bar-Ilan University, 23 December 2019 – 9 January 2020
The program includes three weeks (five days per week) of intensive classwork in the Arabic language. In addition, excursions are arranged in order to experience first-hand local customs, culture and culinary delights through direct interaction with Arab hosts in their homes within the local villages.
Deadline for applications: 15 November 2019. Information: https://biuinternational.com/short-term-and-exchange/arabic-culture-language-winter-program/
6. Call for Submissions: SERMEISS Book Award for 2020
Established in 1977, the Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Society (SERMEISS) is a professional society for specialist and non-specialist educators whose professional activities engage the Middle East or Islam. The organization was founded to provide scholars in the southeastern United States with an opportunity to meet regularly with colleagues to share research findings and teaching concerns. SERMEISS is an affiliated organization of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA). For more information, see: sermeiss.org
SERMEISS is pleased to announce its academic book prize for 2020 to recognize outstanding scholarship in Middle Eastern or Islamic studies in any academic discipline in the social sciences or humanities from any time period. Submitted books should be peer-reviewed nonfiction, published in English, and exhibit original empirical and theoretical contributions. Books published within the last three years (2017, 2018, 2019) will be considered. Edited volumes, handbooks, and novels are not eligible for the book award. SERMEISS will also give an honorable mention award.
Submissions will be accepted from authors based at a university within the SERMEISS 10-state region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Recipients will be required to attend and provide a brief presentation of their books at a future SERMEISS meeting. The society’s annual meeting occurs in October in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, and we have a biennial spring meeting.
Recipients of the SERMEISS prize will receive a $200 honorarium and certificate at their presentation. Recipients also receive a conference registration fee waiver
Submissions should include:
A cover letter including the following information:
Author name
University of Affiliation
Book Title
Publisher Name
Year of Publication
ISBN #
Contact name, phone, email
A copy of the book
SERMEISS will only accept one submission per author.
Send submissions to the SERMEISS Executive Director postmarked by March 1, 2020:
Calvin H. Allen, Jr., PhD
Executive Director-SERMEISS
208 Henkel Hall
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA 22601
Contact: edsermeiss@gmail.com
7. Call for Submissions: SERMEISS Article or Chapter Prize for 2020
Established in 1977, the Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Society (SERMEISS) is a professional society for specialist and non-specialist educators whose professional activities engage the Middle East or Islam. The organization was founded to provide scholars in the southeastern United States with an opportunity to meet regularly with colleagues to share research findings and teaching concerns. SERMEISS is an affiliated organization of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA). For more information, see: sermeiss.org
SERMEISS is pleased to announce its second annual academic article or book chapter prize for 2020 to recognize outstanding scholarship in Middle Eastern or Islamic studies published as a peer-reviewed article or edited volume book chapter from any academic discipline in the social sciences or humanities from any time period). The submission should be peer-reviewed nonfiction, published in English, and exhibit original empirical and theoretical contributions. For the 2020 prize, submissions must have a copyright date within the previous two years (2019 or 2018). SERMEISS will also give an honorable mention award.
Submissions will be accepted from scholars based at a university within the SERMEISS 10-state region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Recipients will be required to attend and provide a brief presentation of their publications at a future SERMEISS meeting. The society’s annual meeting occurs in October in Valle Crucis, North Carolina and we have a biennial spring meeting.
Recipients of the SERMEISS prize will receive a $100 honorarium and certificate at their presentation. Recipients also receive a conference registration fee waiver.
Submissions should include:A cover letter including the following information:
Author name
University of affiliation
Publication Title
Journal Name
Year of Publication
Citation information
Contact name, phone, email
A copy of the publication in pdf format.
SERMEISS will only accept one submission per author.
E-mail submissions to the SERMEISS executive director at edsermeiss@gmail.com by March 1, 2020:
Calvin H. Allen, Jr., PhD
Executive Director-SERMEISS
208 Henkel Hall
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA 22601
Contact: edsermeiss@gmail.com
8. 8th International Conference on Contemporary Philosophy of Religion
Subject Matter: Religious Diversity
Basics:
- Description of Religious Diversity in the world
- Explanation of Religious Diversity in the world (and its epistemological, ontological and anthropological basis)
- Approaches in facing Religious Diversity
Issues:
- The definition of religion and the extent of Religious Diversity
- Religious Diversity and interreligious dialogue
- Religious Diversity and epistemic obligation
- Religious Diversity and religious pluralism
- Religious Diversity and guidance and legitimacy
- Religious Diversity and the transcendental unity of religions
- Religious Diversity and peaceful coexistence
- Religious Diversity and tolerance and global peace
- Religious Diversity and global theology
- Religious Diversity and religious minorities
- Religious Diversity and politics
- Religious Diversity and mysticism
- Religious Diversity and futurology
Time: 4-5 February 2020
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 6 December 2019
Deadline for Submission of Full Text of Speech (1500-2000 words): 10 January 2020
Venue: Islamic Propagation Center, Shahid Rajaei St., Mashhad, Iran
Submissions:
Proposals of papers should consist of a title, a 300-350 word abstract, at least 3 keywords, and the author’s affiliation and email address. The proposal should be sent online from the form, available here.
Accommodation: The conference secretary offers you a two day stay in Mashhad for FREE.
Website: www.en.philor.org
Contact Conference Secretariat
philorconf@gmail.com
m.mahdi.fallah@gmail.com
Telephone: +989126048893
- November 05, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1. Call for Papers
IRANIAN STUDIES INITIATIVE COLLOQUIUM SERIES
2020-2021
UC Santa Barbara, California, United States
The 2020-2021 Colloquium Series of the Iranian Studies Initiative will be held this next year in caboration with the UCSB Graduate Center for Literary Research (GCLR). The theme of the colloquium is:
ART AND LITERARY EXCHANGE BETWEEN IRAN, TRANSCAUCASIA, CENTRAL ASIA, AND RUSSIA IN THE 20th CENTURY
We welcome interdisciplinary proposals for papers and seminars addressing such transnational exchanges in roughly three periods: The Tsarist/Qajar Era, the Soviet Union/Pahlavi era, and the Islamic Republic/Post 1991 era, with a focus on Iran, Russia, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia. Although our focus is on literary, artistic, and cultural exchange, we will entertain submissions by historians and political scientists provided they relate to these areas.
The deadline for sending your abstract is December 31, 2019. If you are interested in participating, please send a resume, the title of your presentation, and an abstract (250 words). Please include any theoretical or methodological approaches used in your research. If your paper or seminar is accepted, we ask that you provide a draft of your paper/an outline of your seminar by late September 2020. Your lecture or seminar may be scheduled for the Fall, Winter, or Spring quarters 2020/21 on a Wednesday evening. If you have a preference for a particular time of day, please let us know.
Two nights of accommodation and meals, as well as travel expenses (in the US), and a small honorarium will be provided. Funds may be available for international travelers, but will be decided on an individual case by case basis.
For questions and paper proposals, please contact:
Christine D’Anca
Colloquium Organizer
Contacts:
Janet Afary, Mellichamp Chair Director, Iranian Studies Initiative, UCSB
Sven Spieker, Professor of German and Slavic Studies Comparative Literature Program, UCSB spieker@gss.ucsb.edu
2. Inaugural lecture, Islamic Art and Material Culture Collaborative (IAMCC), Toronto. Nov. 7
Tiles that tell Persian Tales–the Safavid Tile Arch Project of the Royal Ontario Museum
Lisa Golombek, Curator Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Venue: Institute of Islamic Studies, University of Toronto (Jackman Building, room 530)
In 1976 the ROM acquired two large Safavid arched panels composed of colourful glazed square tiles: a royal picnic and a heroic dragon-slaying scene. Recently, The Safavid Tile Arch Project (Lisa Golombek and Robert B. Mason) decided to delve further into their history. They found that there are at least another 24 such pictorial arched panels representing a wide range of subjects (e.g., Shahnameh, Nizami, Jami, Safavid history and daily life), some yet to be identified. Stylistically, they date the tiles to c. 1680, the reign of Shah Sulayman. In this talk, Lisa Golombek will present their research and discuss the issues that have yet to be resolved—who commissioned these tiles, when and for what building, and why were these images chosen.
The Islamic Art and Material Culture Collective (IAMCC) is a new collaborative research network based in Toronto that brings together the capacities and resources of the University of Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Aga Khan Museum. The aim of the IAMCC is to foster innovative and interdisciplinary research on Islamic art and material culture, support a joint student internship program, host monthly talks and research seminars and present a high-profile annual visiting lecture.
3. Ševčenko Prize Deadline — 15 November 2019
Every year HIAA sponsors a competition and awards the Margaret B. Ševčenko Prize for the best unpublished essay written by a junior scholar (pre-dissertation graduate student to three years after the Ph.D. degree) on any aspect of Islamic visual culture. This competition is open to HIAA members only. The Ševčenko Prize recipient receives an award of $500 and a citation, generally presented at HIAA’s annual business meeting. The Prize is named in memory of Margaret Bentley Ševčenko, the first and long-serving Managing Editor of Muqarnas, a journal devoted to the visual culture of the Islamic world and sponsored by the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard and at MIT. The winning essay will be considered for publication by the Muqarnas Editorial Board.
For more information, see the Historians of Islamic Art Association website:
- November 02, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1. Conference: “From Sectarianism to De-sectarianisation – Reimagining Sectarianism, Geopolitics and the State in the Contemporary Middle East”, Lancaster University, 16-17 April 2020
We welcome abstracts reflecting on sectarianism, ‘proxies’, the struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and broader questions about identities, geopolitics, economics and social factors in the contemporary Middle East.
Deadline for abstracts: 1 December 2019. Information: https://www.sepad.org.uk/announcement/sepad-conference-2020-from-sectarianism-to-de-sectarianization
2. BRISMES Annual Conference 2020: “Knowledge, Power and Middle Eastern Studies”, University of Kent, Canterbury, 29 June – 1 July 2020
We invite complete panels or individual paper proposals on any topic related to the Middle East and North Africa. Panels/roundtables in non-English languages spoken in the Middle East region are also welcome.
Deadline for abstracts: 25 November 2019.
Information: http://www.brismes.ac.uk/conference/call-for-papers-2020/
3. Visiting Professor for Cultural Studies of the Middle East, Universities of Bamberg and Erlangen-Nuremberg
The relevant qualifications consist of a doctorate in a relevant discipline, demonstrated ability in teaching, and an excellent track record in publications and related academic achievements. The position presupposes the ability and willingness to teach in English. The position is available 01.10.2020-15.08.2021.
Deadline for applications: 15 December 2019. Information: https://www.uni-bamberg.de/fileadmin/abt-personal/Homepage_ab_2016-03/10_Stellenausschreibungen/01_Professuren/2019/2019-12-15_Gastprofessur_Elite-MA%202020_21.pdf
4. Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Dickinson College
International Studies, Middle East Studies and Political Science at Dickinson College are seeking qualified applicants for one two-year visiting assistant professor position in Middle East and North African Politics beginning in academic year 2020-21. A completed or nearly-completed Ph.D. in Political Science, International Relations, or related discipline is required.
Application Review Begin Date: 15 January 2020. Information: https://jobs.dickinson.edu/postings/5294
5. Appel à contribution pour le MIDÈO 36 (2021) : «Iğtihād et taqlīd dans l’islam sunnite et šīʿite»
Le dossier de ce MIDÉO se propose d’approfondir les deux logiques à la lumière du patrimoine islamique. L’histoire de la pensée islamique montre que l’on a établi en effet des distinctions entre les principes fondamentaux (uṣūl) et les branches du fiqh(furūʿ), que l’on a élaboré des relations avec des notions connexes (iḫtilāf, ittibāʿ,iǧmāʿ, tarǧīḥ), que l’on a évalué de manière différente taqlīd (ḥarām, maḏmūm,mubāḥ), ou encore établi des distinctions de degrés d’iǧtihād.
Deadline for abstracts: 15 January 2020. Information: https://iismm.hypotheses.org/36891
6. Assistant or Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
The Comparative Literature Program at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) in Qatar invites applications for a position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Comparative Literature to begin at the start of the 2020 academic year, August 01, 2020.
Founded in 2015, DI is a non-profit and independent institute. Arabic is the official language of instruction, but in the Program of Comparative Literature the language of instruction alternates between Arabic and English. The institute offers excellent remunerative packages including competitive salaries, housing and other benefits.
The Comparative Literature Program at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies is a pioneering program in the region, aiming uniquely to engage with the emergent approaches of the New Comparative Literature and key recent debates in the discipline. In this respect, the Program focuses on recent crucial reflections on the discipline’s historical formations, and the methodological challenges of working across languages and traditions. Expertise and perspectives from non-European literary, aesthetic and critical traditions are integral to this approach.
With its critical humanist and interdisciplinary thrust, and through its uniquely designed core and elective courses, the Program aims to train a new generation of comparative literature scholars, who will be able to situate themselves in the discipline at large as a new type of Arabist and comparative literary theorist.
The candidate must have a PhD in Comparative Literature from a recognized Program or Department of Comparative Literature. Preference will be given to candidates with specializations in literary theory, approaches to World Literature and the new comparative literature, and with demonstrable expertise in Arabic literature and an Asian, African or Latin American literature. The candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching of the Program’s core theory courses and electives, and in the Interdisciplinary Curriculum in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Candidates should show evidence of research excellence and a commitment towards quality teaching at the graduate level. Please note that the Ph.D. requirement must have been fulfilled by July 1, 2020.
Key Responsibilities
• Demonstrate a sustained critical and theoretical intervention in the current debates of the discipline through teaching, research and publication
• Demonstrate versatility in lecturing in both Arabic and English and to a highly diverse body of students
• Participate in the teaching of core theory courses and design of new electives to expand the remit of the Program’s vision and critical reach across new areas of investigation and research
• Collaborate with colleagues in other programs and participate in the design and teaching of interdisciplinary courses across the School of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Undertake academic advising, MA Thesis supervision and other administrative duties in the Program
• Serve on academic and professional committees across SOSH and DI
• Participate in DI and ACRPS seminars and international workshops and conferences
• Initiate and participate in collaborative projects with other Qatari and Doha-based institutions, and the Doha community at large
• Participate in the Program’s recruitment plans throughout the region and beyond
• Promote the work of the Comparative Literature Program and the DI in major international conferences and international collaborative research projects and grant applications
The Comparative Literature Program at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies places high value on diversity and will welcome applications from early career scholars.
Please provide: (1) a letter of application; (2) a curriculum vita; (3) a statement of teaching philosophy; (4) a research statement; (5) evidence of teaching excellence; (6) selected samples of peer reviewed publications and research work; (7) three references (email and phone number). Email: careers@dohainstitute.edu.qa
To apply, please send your documents via email by December 1, 2019 to: careers@dohainstitute.edu.qa.
For more details on the position, please visit the following link:
https://www.dohainstitute.edu.qa/EN/Careers/Pages/Apply.aspx?JobId=DIAC_2019_063
For informal further queries, please contact the Head of Program, Professor Ayman El-Desouky at:
ayman.eldesouky@dohainstitute.edu.qa
7. The American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT)is pleased to announce 2020-2021 fellowship programs for students and scholars based in the U.S. and Canada:
ARIT / National Endowment for the Humanities Advanced Fellowships for Research in Turkey cover all fields of the humanities, including prehistory, history, art, archaeology, literature, and linguistics as well as interdisciplinary aspects of cultural history. The fellowships support applicants who have completed their academic training. The fellowships may be held for terms ranging from four months to a full year. Stipend per month is $4,200.
ARIT Fellowships for Research in Turkey are offered for research in ancient, medieval, or modern times, in any field of the humanities and social sciences. Post-doctoral and advanced doctoral fellowships may be held for various terms, from one month up to one academic year. Stipends range from $2,500 to $15,500.
Applications for ARIT fellowships must be submitted to ARIT by November 1, 2019. The fellowship committee will notify applicants by late January, 2020.
- October 29, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1. Tenure-track Instructor in Persian Language & Culture (Univ British Columbia)
Application closing date: 18.12.19
2. The fourth Arabic Linguistics Forum conference will be held at the University of Leeds on Wednesday 1st -Thursday 2nd July 2020. As in previous years the aim of this international conference is to provide a forum for academic and scholarly exchange on the linguistics of the Arabic language family, for researchers from across Europe and the Middle East, and beyond.
http://arabiclinguisticsforum.com/leeds-2020/
http://arabiclinguisticsforum.com/leeds-2020/call-for-papers/
The Arabic Linguistics Forum welcomes the submission of abstracts in all areas of Arabic linguistics: phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, morphology, dialectology, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, historical linguistics, language acquisition, psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, and applied linguistics.
- This year, the University of Leeds will hold a pre-Forum study day on the Arabic dialects of the Arabian Peninsula, on June 30th At this event , Marjin Van Putten(Leiden University) and Barry Heselwood(University of Leeds) will be in conversation on phonation (title TBC).
- Abstracts are invited for this pre-Forum study day: they must consider Peninsular varieties only, though in all areas of Linguistics. It is possible to submit two abstracts both for the pre-Forum study day and the conference. The deadline and guidelines for submission of abstracts are the same as for the main ALiF call (see below).
Abstracts for both full papers and posters should be written in English and should not exceed 500 words. References and/or figures may optionally be included, but should not exceed two pages of A4 (or US ‘Letter’). Please submit your abstract in pdf format.
Your abstract must be anonymous. You will be asked to submit a version with your name and affiliation on it if your abstract is selected for presentation. Please make sure that you do not use your name in the filename for your abstract, and please erase any details which might identify you in the file that you submit. Please use one word from the title of your abstract as the filename.
Talks will be allotted 20 minutes for the presentation with 10 minutes for questions and answers.
The deadline for all submissions is January 12th 2020.
Abstracts must be submitted via EasyChair at: https://easychair.org/my/conference?conf=alif2020
Notification of abstract acceptance is issued by March 20th 2020.
3. An International Symposium on Media & the Middle East
RESISTANCE AND ACTIVISM
University of East Anglia (Norwich, United Kingdom) March 6 – 7, 2020
University of East Anglia invites proposals for An International Symposium on Media and the Middle East. The symposium aims to bring together scholars, and filmmakers from around the world interested in exploring ideas of Resistance and Activism in the Middle East in relation to a range of media including film, television, radio, video, and digital media. Papers may be historical or contemporary in scope.
The event will begin with a film screening of For Sama (Waad Al-Kateab, 2019) at Cinema City Norwich on Friday March 6, 2020. A symposium filled with panel discussions, short film screenings and a keynote by Dr Saeed Talajooy (University of St Andrews) will follow the next day on Saturday March 7, 2020.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
* Feminism and gender politics in Middle Eastern media * Art and activism in the Middle East
* Political and social resistance in Middle Eastern Media * Revolution and uprising in media from the Middle East * Censorship and constraints in Middle Eastern Cinema * Political and social movements in a digital age
* Creative media/film projects on and about the Middle East * Short films and excerpts from the Middle East
Please send abstracts of 250 words together with a short (max 100 words) biography to z.khosroshahi@uea.ac.uk by Monday December 2, 2019. We will notify applicants by Monday December 16, 2019.
This event is organized by Professor Eylem Atakav, Zahra Khosroshahi, Khaldoun Shami and Dr Burcu Dabak Ozdemir (Yasar University), and supported by the Faculty of Arts & Humanities Engagement Fund and the Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities from the University of East Anglia.
4. On-line resources:
Alphabetical list of Open Access Islamic Manuscripts Collections
Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Middle Eastern Studies
5. CALL FOR PAPERS
Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University
Graduate Student Symposium
March 26-7, 2020
The organizing committee of the McGill Institute of Islamic Studies Graduate Student Symposium welcomes abstract submissions to their tenth annual symposium.
Our aim is to provide an opportunity for graduate students based in various parts of the world and approaching the study of Islamicate thought and life across time and space through a multiplicity of disciplinary and methodological approaches to share their work with the Institute’s faculty and students in an atmosphere of constructive and supportive criticism. We are pleased to invite graduate students at all stages of research and dissertation-writing related to Islam and Islamicate communities anywhere in the world (East Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East) to submit proposals for individual paper presentations.
Reflecting our department’s primary research areas, the symposium’s themes include but are not limited to:
- history, political science, and anthropology
- theology, philosophy, mysticism, and jurisprudence
- Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and Turkish literature
An abstract of 250-500 words and a one-page résumé should be sent electronically to miisscsymposium@gmail.com by November 30, 2019. Please include a tentative title for your paper and two or three keywords describing its regional and disciplinary focus, as well as your name, programme of study (MA, MPhil, or Ph.D.), and departmental and institutional affiliation. Applicants will be notified of a decision by December 30, 2019. It may be possible to offer a limited number of grants (of not more than 200 CAD) to contribute towards participants’ travel expenses. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any other queries.
6. H-Maps
H-Maps is an international digital forum in the historical study of the making, circulation, use and preservation of maps from the ancient to the contemporary period. Because of its international nature, H-Maps welcomes contributions in world languages, including (but not limited to) English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Abstracts in one of these languages is requested for posts submitted in a language not spoken by list editors. H-Maps is a collaboration between the International Society for the History of the Map (ISHMap) and H-Net to further substantive inquiry among a growing number of global scholars with an interest in the history of maps and mapping.
The aim of H-Maps is to advance the work of scholars, curators, archivists, collectors, students, and others interested in aspects of map history of any place, scale, type, or historical period. H-Maps welcomes cross-disciplinary and non-traditional interpretations and encourages contributions related to new approaches in research, curation, teaching, and tools for analysis. H-Maps commissions and publishes reviews of work relevant to the field as a part of the H-Net Book Review Project. H-Maps will announce and review conferences and exhibitions, and post calls for papers, fellowships, and employment opportunities.
H-Maps Editorial Staff
Jordana Dym, Skidmore College – Network Editor
Carolina Martínez, CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Argentina – Network Editor
Quentin Morcrette, Le Mans Université – Network Editor
Bram Vannieuwenhuyze (Belgium/The Netherlands) – Network Editor
David Weimer – Network Editor
H-Maps Advisory Board
Jordana Dym
Mark Monmonier – Distinguished Professor of Geography at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Carla Lois
Gilles Palsky
André Reyes Novaes
Benjamin Sacks benjaminjamessacks@gmail.com
All H-Maps content is freely accessible at: https://networks.h-net.org/h-maps
You can contact the editors of H-Maps here: editorial-maps@mail.h-net.org
A free account and subscription are required in order to receive discussion posts by email for all of our networks. For assistance with creating accounts and managing subscriptions on the H-Net Commons:
For instructions to create an account in the Commons go to:
https://networks.h-net.org/node/905/pages/943/getting-started.
For instructions on subscribing to H-Maps go to:
https://networks.h-net.org/node/905/pages/965/subscribing-or-unsubscribing-network
For tutorials and assistance in using the H-Net Commons, visit H-Net’s Help Desk:
https://networks.h-net.org/help-desk
7. Socio-Environmental Dynamics along the Historical Silk Road (2019)
Open Access book, accessible at:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-00728-7
Editors Liang Emlyn Yang, Hans-Rudolf Bork, Xiuqi Fang, Steffen Mischke
Introduction
Front Matter, 1
On the Paleo-climatic/Environmental Impacts and Socio-Cultural System Resilience along the Historical Silk Road
Liang Emlyn Yang, Hans-Rudolf Bork, Xiuqi Fang, Steffen Mischke, Mara Weinelt, Josef Wiesehöfer, 3-22
Landscape Evolutions in the Human-Environment System
Front Matter, 23
Evolution of Saline Lakes in the Guanzhong Basin During the Past 2000 Years: Inferred from Historical Records
Jie Fei, Hongming He, Liang Emlyn Yang, Xiaoqiang Li, Shuai Yang, Jie Zhou, 25-44
Landscape Response to Climate and Human Impact in Western China During the Han Dynasty
Steffen Mischke, Chengjun Zhang, Chenglin Liu, Jiafu Zhang, Zhongping Lai, Hao Long, 45-66
The Ili River Delta: Holocene Hydrogeological Evolution and Human Colonization
Jean-Marc Deom, Renato Sala, Anne Laudisoit, 67-94
Quantitative Evaluation of the Impact on Aral Sea Levels by Anthropogenic Water Withdrawal and Syr Darya Course Diversion During the Medieval Period (1.0–0.8 ka BP)
Renato Sala, 95-121
Reconsidering Archaeological and Environmental Proxies for Long Term Human-Environment Interactions in the Valley of Kashmir
Michael Spate, 123-149
Natural Disasters and Impacts in the Past Societies
Front Matter, 151
Living with Earthquakes along the Silk Road
Miklós Kázmér, 153-176
Natural Disasters in the History of the Eastern Turk Empire
Rustam Talgatovich Ganiev, Vladimir Vladimirovich Kukarskih, 177-193
Dry and Humid Periods Reconstructed from Tree Rings in the Former Territory of Sogdiana (Central Asia) and Their Socio-economic Consequences over the Last Millennium
Magdalena Opała-Owczarek, Piotr Owczarek, 195-214
A Drought Reconstruction from the Low-Elevation Juniper Forest of Northwestern Kyrgyzstan since CE 1565
Feng Chen, Shulong Yu, Qing He, Bakytbek Ermenbaev, Rysbek Satylkanov, 215-228
Climatic Factors in the Transitions of Social Systems
Front Matter, 229-229
Social Impacts of Climate Change in Historical China
Xiuqi Fang, Yun Su, Zhudeng Wei, Jun Yin, 231-245
Climate Change and the Rise of the Central Asian Silk Roads
Daniel J. Hill, 247-259
The Coming of the Barbarians: Can Climate Explain the Saljūqs’ Advance?
Yehoshua Frenkel, 261-273
Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of the Oxus Civilization in Southern Central Asia
Élise Luneau, 275-299
Climatic and Environmental Limiting Factors in the Mongol Empire’s Westward Expansion: Exploring Causes for the Mongol Withdrawal from Hungary in 1242
Stephen Pow, 301-321
Social Adaptation and Resilience to Environmental Stresses
Front Matter, 323-323
Resilience of the Human-Water System at the Southern Silk Road: A Case Study of the Northern Catchment of Erhai Lake, China (1382–1912)
Anning Xu, Liang Emlyn Yang, Weibing Yang, Aubrey L. Hillman, 325-358
The Age and Origin of Karez Systems of Silk Road Oases around Turpan, Xinjiang, P.R. of China
Bertil Mächtle, Stefan Hecht, Nicola Manke, Bernd Kromer, Susanne Lindauer, Cheng-Sen Li et al., 359-378
Water Supply and Ancient Society in the Lake Balkhash Basin: Runoff Variability along the Historical Silk Road
Irina P. Panyushkina, Mark G. Macklin, Willem H. J. Toonen, David M. Meko, 379-410
Demographic Changes, Trade Routes, and the Formation of Anthropogenic Landscapes in the Middle Volga Region in the Past 2500 Years
Leonid A. Vyazov, Ekaterina G. Ershova, Elena V. Ponomarenko, Konrad Gajewski, Mikhail S. Blinnikov, Ayrat G. Sitdikov, 411-452
Social-Culture in Connection with the Environment
Front Matter, 453-453
Routes Beyond Gandhara: Buddhist Rock Carvings in the Context of the Early Silk Roads
Marike van Aerde, 455-480
Steppe and Sown: Eurasianism, Soil and the Mapping of Bukhara in the Light of Soviet Ethnographic Accounts
Susanne Marten-Finnis, 481-506
A Karez System’s Dilemma: A Cultural Heritage on a Shelf or Still a Viable Technique for Water Resiliency in Arid Regions
Shalamu Abudu, Zhuping Sheng, James Phillip King, So-Ra Ahn, 507-525.]
8. Call for Papers for an edited volume: “Western Hegemonies and their Contestations” – Deadline December 2nd, 2019
The present call of paper solicits chapter proposals to complete a peer-reviewed collection of original research papers on the topic “Western Hegemonies and their Contestations”. This collection is inspired from the international and multidisciplinary conference “The End of Western Hegemonies ?” held in Jyväskylä, Finland, in June 2019, organized by The West Network. The proposed chapters must fall within one of the following categories:
1 – Analysis of a type of Western hegemony (political, economic, cultural, intellectual (see general description below)) in a non-Western setting (i.e., in the former Eastern bloc, USSR (or in post-Cold War Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia), Africa, Asia);
2 – Analysis of contestation(s) of a given type of Western hegemony in a non-Western setting (i.e., in the former Eastern bloc, USSR (or in post-Cold War Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia), Africa, Asia);
3 – Analysis of the challenges met by democratization in non-Western settings.
Guidelines for chapter proposals
The planned chapters must develop original research and not have been previously published in English or another language.
Potential authors must be Ph.D. holders and affiliated to a university.
Submissions will be peer-reviewed (and full chapters thereafter). They must contain (please send all documents in Word format):
1) A short abstract of the planned chapter clearly stating the topic, hypothesis, main arguments, methodological approach and sources + a list of 5-6 keywords (1/2 page – ¾ page).
2) A detailed preview of the planned chapter (5-6 pages) including references and footnotes. (The full chapters will be 8000 words long.)
Please also include:
3) In a single file:
(page 1) Identification : Name, job title, affiliation, institutional address, work phone number, home address, home phone number, e-mail address
(page 2) Short biography mentioning professional information relevant to the publication (as previous publications, teaching/research experience)
4) A short cv (2-3 pages max.)
Please send all material by Monday, December 2nd, 2019 to the attention of Dr. Marie-Josée Lavallée at marie-josee.lavallee@umontreal.ca
No submissions will be considered afterwards.
Selected authors will be allowed six months for the preparation of their full chapter.
Dr. Marie-Josée Lavallée
University of Montréal, Canada
The West Network
Contact Info:
Dr. Marie-Josée Lavallée
Contact Email:
marie-josee.lavallee@umontreal.ca
9. Conference at The Courtauld Institute of Art
Fri 15 Nov, 2019 – Sat 16 Nov, 2019
DECENTRING THE FLÂNEUR: GLOBAL HISTORIES OF WALKING THE EARLY MODERN CITY
10. A Critical Introduction to Islamic Legal Theory
based on Imām al‑Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī’s Kitāb al‑Waraqāt (كتاب الورقات)
Open Access Book
“…offers to students and scholars interested in the Islamic discipline of legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) a critical Arabic edition and an English translation of Imām al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī’s Leaflet on the Sources of Law (Kitāb al-Waraqāt fī uṣūl al-fiqh), along with a new explanatory commentary on the text and a method for readers to add their own comments to any page, paragraph, or phrase. Unlike the many traditional commentaries that have been written on al‑Juwaynī’s popular medieval handbook https://waraqat.vishanoff.com, David Vishanoff’s extensive commentary explains for uninitiated modern English-speaking readers the function and significance of each legal theory principle, and critically examines the conceptions of ethics, knowledge, and scriptural interpretation that are articulated or assumed in this classic summary of Islamic legal theory.”
- October 26, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1.The 12th Annual International Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Conference (IRTP) 24-27 June 2020 in Braga, Portugal
All detailed information about the Conference can be found at our web site: www.irtp.co.uk
2. International Conference: “Historicity and Islamicity: Perceptions of Early Islamic History in Contemporary Muslim Thought”, Institute for the Study of Islamic Culture and Religion, Goethe University in Frankfurt a.M.,12-14 December 2019
Our conference attempts to shed light on the contemporary Muslim perceptions and perspectives on the early history of Islam. It will first address the mechanisms of construction of ‘early Islamic history’ and its use in the processes of identity building among Muslims and, in a next stept, the critical and revisionist approaches to history developed by Muslim scholars.
Organizers: Prof. Dr. Armina Omerika, Dr. Soumaya Louhichi-Güzel.
See program at https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/82093441/ContentPage_82093441
3. Conference “Visible and Invisible Borders between Christians and Muslims in the Early Modern World”, Central European University, Budapest, 10-11 January 2020
We aim to create a network that will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of past relations between Christianity and Islam in the European context through the addressing of three main research problems: otherness, migration and borders.
Information: https://is-le.eu/calls/conferences/
4. Workshop: “Mosques, Power and Politics”, University of Copenhagen, 22-24 January 2020
This seminar will examine the power strategies used by national and local politicians, examining national legislation and municipal planning on mosques, and will investigate a number of concrete cases of contested mosque building.
Deadline for abstracts: 15 November 2019. Information: https://mosques.ku.dk/nordic-mosques/
Contact: lbm993@hum.ku.dk
5. Workshop: “Dialogues in the Late Medieval Mediterranean: Methodological Encounters and (Dis)Encounters”, Casa Árabe, Madrid, 27 January 2020
The aim of this workshop is to create a network that will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of past relations between Christianity and Islam in the European context through the addressing of three main research problems: otherness, migration and borders.
Information: https://is-le.eu/workshop/dialogues-in-the-late-medieval-mediterranean-methodological-encounters-and-disencounters/
6. Conference: “Protests, Power, and Prayer: Intersection of Activism, Culture, and Religion”, Religion Graduate Students Association, University of Florida, 21-22 February 2020
Contributors should frame their papers primarily in response to the questions: In what ways are religious practices and/or beliefs deployed within various socio-cultural protests? How and why do certain individuals or groups engage in activism? To what degree are religiously motivated protests effective/ineffective?
Deadline for abstracts: 15 November 2019.
7. 17th Annual Duke-UNC Conference: “Who Speaks for Islam? Approaches to Authority within the Academy and Beyond”, University of North Carolina, 29 February 2020
In light of recent attempts at intimidation by the state, we are particularly interested in thinking through the politics of power. As such, we are seeking papers that interrogate questions of authority and power. Potential topics include, but are not limited, to the following: Who gets to speak for Islam and Muslims? What landscape of authority exist in the Islamicate World? For example what geographies constitute the Islamicate world? Etc.
Deadline for applications: 15 November 2019. Information: https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/40033
8. Graduate Student Workshop on Religion, Law, and Politics in the Middle East, Syracuse University, 23 April 2020
The workshop will serve as avenue for advanced graduate students (ABDs) to meet and share their work-in-progress and receive extensive feedback on their dissertation projects from a panel of interdisciplinary experts. The workshop welcomes research conducted on a broad range of topics that addresses the historical and contemporary interactions between religious, legal and political institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Deadline for abstracts: 15 December 2019.
9. Conference: “Rethinking Narratives of China and the Middle East: The Silk Roads and Beyond”, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 8-10 April 2021
The conference examines the relationship between China and the Middle East, both ancient and modern. Papers that incorporate additional regions, such as Europe, Central Asia, or South/Southeast Asia are also encouraged, provided they are also incorporate both China and a country in the Middle East, broadly construed.
Deadline for abstracts: 21 January 2020. Information: mec-conference@sas.upenn.edu
10. Post-doctoral 2020-2021 Fellowships for Scholars in the Study of Africa, University of Bayreuth
Africa-based scholars with a proven track record in the study of Africa are eligible to apply. They may come from any discipline in the humanities and the social, technical and ‘hard’ sciences.
Deadline for applications: 30 November 2019.
11. Research Fellow, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Hamburg
Qualifications: excellent university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Political Science, Sociology, Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, or related social sciences / area studies; familiarity with academic research on radicalisation, political Islam and jihadism; proficiency in English and Modern Standard Arabic; good working knowledge of German; etc.
Screening of applications will begin on 18 November 2019. Information: https://www.giga-hamburg.de/sites/default/files/md_pdf/GIGA-19-11_Call_ResearchFellowIMES.pdf
12. Ahmed Seddiqi Endowed Chair in Gulf and Middle Eastern Studies, Department of International Studies, American University of Sharjah
Successful candidates will have a PhD in an area related to Gulf and/or Middle Eastern studies, a strong record of scholarship with an active and ambitious research agenda as well as a record of excellent teaching. As a university formed on the American model and with English as the language of instruction, American University of Sharjah gives priority to candidates who have substantial experience in American models of higher education.
Deadline for applications: 15 November 2019. Information: https://www.aus.edu/employment/the-ahmed-seddiqi-endowed-chair-in-gulf-and-middle-eastern-studies
13. Tenure-track Assistant Professor on the Culture, Economics or Politics of Muslim Societies in Iran, Central/South/East Asia, Stanford University
Applications from Anthropology, Communication, Economics, Political Science, or Sociology are welcome from scholars who can contribute to the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies.
Deadline for applications: 25 October 2019. Information: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/14164
14. The Richard Gillespie Mediterranean Prize for Early Career Researchers
Mediterranean Politics is pleased to announce the launch of this Prize for the best research article on the contemporary social and political dynamics of the Mediterranean region published in the Journal by an early career researcher. We welcome contributions on politics and international relations as well as economics, human geography, sociology, anthropology and other relevant disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.
Information: https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/journal-prize-richard-gillespie-mediterranean-prize/
15. Grant to Digitise Collections at Risk
The Endangered Archives Program seeks to preserve cultural heritage and make it available to as wide an audience as possible. We fund digitisation projects to record the content of archives, which can include rare printed sources, manuscripts, visual materials, or audio recordings.
Deadline for applications: 11 November 2019. Information: https://networks.h-net.org/node/11419/discussions/4733064/apply-grant-digitise-collections-risk
16. Scholarship Program of the German Bundestag for Highly Motivated Graduates from the Arab Region in Berlin, 1-30 September 2020
The programme is aimed at politically engaged young graduates from the Arab region who are interested in the German parliamentary system and play an active role in promoting core democratic values in their home countries. Participants have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the German parliamentary system and political decision making processes.
Deadline for applications: 1 December 2019.
Information: https://www.bundestag.de/en/europe/international/exchange/ips/arabian-250618
17. Critical Muslim Studies Summer School, Granada, 15-20 June 2020
The premier summer school on Islam and Decoloniality focuses on approaches to the academic study of Islam which are both critical and post-Orientalist. The program is geared towards advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students; junior lecturers; as well as those working in the government or civil society sectors who have a keen interest in the summer school topics.
Deadline for applications: 1 February 2020. Information: http://www.dialogoglobal.com/granada/
18. Maps of the Ottoman Empire
http://www.dlir.org/about-aiarmaps.html?layout=default
The W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research (AIAR) in Jerusalem in cooperation with the Center for Ancient Middle Eastern Landscapes (CAMEL) at the University of Chicago scanned and geo-referenced a series of topographical maps of Eastern Turkey and the lands of the broader Ottoman Empire with a grant from the US Department of Education TICFIA program. The bulk of the collection contains topographical maps compiled at the British Intelligence Division War Office in 1915 derived from map and survey data collected during multiple expeditions 1839-1906. The collection contains high resolution copies of the original maps held by AIAR, and geo-referenced versions can be requested by contacting dlir@caorc.org.
19. The Bodleian Libraries, Oxford are now accepting applications for Visiting Fellowshipsto be taken up during academic year 2020-21. Fellowships support periods of research in the Special Collections of the Bodleian Libraries, across a range of different subjects. Of particular interest might be the Bahari Visiting Fellowships in the Persian Arts of the Book
Fellows are hosted in the Visiting Scholars’ Centre at the Weston Library, where they join a lively research environment.
Details of the Fellowship terms and application process can be found on our Fellowships webpage: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowships. Please note this year applicants for a Bahari Visiting Fellowship are asked to submit an article length example of their work with their application materials.
A list of current Visiting Fellows and in the academic year 2019-20 can be found at: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowships/current-and-past-fellows/2019-20-visiting-fellows
Applications for these Fellowships should be made by the deadline of midnight, Sunday, 01 December 2019.
For further information, please email: fellowships@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
20. Research Associate position at Doha Institute
https://www.dohainstitute.edu.qa/EN/Careers/Pages/Apply.aspx?JobId=DIAC_2019_061
A full-time highly motivated Research Associate (RA) is being sought for a research project, led by Dr. Eid Mohamed and funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) titled, “Computational Study of Culture: Cultural Analytics for Modern Arab and Islamic Studies.” The project will operate within the Research & Grants Department led by the Director.
The overall vision of this project is to harness state-of-the-art Cultural Analytics (CA) approaches and technologies to make pioneering forays into the vast corpus of machine-readable Arabic texts that has become available in the last two decades. It also aims to digitize and annotate a set of early Arabic media material from the late 19th century until present. This will be done along the lines of two case studies: Modern Arab socio-political and cultural history and Contemporary Diaspora Arab-Islamic cultural archive and digital repository.
We invite applications for an RA position in Digital Humanities with a specialization in literary, rhetorical, cultural, media or historical studies. We welcome applications from those engaged in research areas and technologies across the digital humanities domain and are particularly interested in research that explores the critical and cultural significance of tools and methods in the context of questions of East-West encounters, representation, culture and politics. We strongly encourage applicants with expertise in digital technology and an interest in global Arab studies, especially as it relates to bringing the field of Arab Literature/Humanities into the digital age and who will bring theoretical, methodological, and technical expertise to the project.
Main duties and responsibilities:
- To contribute to a comprehensive literature review on digitized Arab newspapers, magazines, etc.
- To contribute to developing models of historical newspaper research, past and future.
- To work with team members to develop use cases of the project’s ontology in describing and mapping Arabic text and concept migration across regional and linguistic borders.
- To co-author research papers suitable for publication in high quality academic journals on Arabic literature and culture historically and materially produced and reproduced.
- To organize, attend and contribute to events at Doha Institute (DI)
- To contribute to project promotion and public engagement events
- Engage in training programmes at DI that are consistent with the needs and aspirations of the project.
- Undertake other duties as may necessary
MA in Comparative Literature, Culture and Media Studies, with background in Arabic Digital Humanities studies. PhD holders or PhD candidates are preferred.
For full consideration please provide 1) a brief cover letter stating the applicant’s academic field, area of specialization, and a short summary (1 page) of the proposed work during the appointment period, 2) CV 3) A Research statement: summary of the research questions, goals, and methodological approaches of current and future projects, and a sample of scholarly writing, and a sample syllabus for an undergraduate-level introduction to digital humanities course. The cover letter should not exceed 2 single-spaced pages. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled, but priority will be given to those received by October 31st, 2019. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.
Salary and benefits are competitive at an international level.
21. The University of Religions and Denominations (Qom, Iran) is the sole specialized university of religions in Iran which has been active for
more than two decades and with the goal of creating peace, peaceful
coexistence and mutual understanding and dialogue has connected with
several institutions and universities across the world.
The International Department of the university has a successful
history of organizing academic conferences and short courses in which
many professors and students from across the world have participated.
For more information regarding the university please visit the
following site: www.urd.ac.ir
The International Short Course Center of URD organizes courses twice a
year in summer and winter. We are proud to announce the following
courses for winter 2020:
Winter 2020 Courses
Course Dates
The 10th International Intensive Course on Shi‘a Studies
13-17 February 2020
Cultural Tour
18 -21 February 2020
The 1st International Intensive Course on Mysticism and Sufism in Islam and Iran
22-26 February 2020
For more information please contact us at: iisc@urd.ac.ir
22. The 17th Annual South Asia Graduate Student Conference at the University of Chicago is pleased to invite submissions to the 2020 graduate student conference Reception, Tradition, and Canonization: Pasts and Presents in South Asia to be held on March 5th-6th, 2020 in Chicago.
We invite graduate students at all levels to submit abstracts for consideration. The the online submission form can be found via this link. We would appreciate it if you would forward this email to students in your department and colleagues who may be interested
If you have any questions please write to us at sagsc2020@gmail.com
22. Postdoctoral Research Associate – Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran/Persian Gulf Study, Princeton University
The Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University invites applications for a postdoctoral or more senior research position in the relevant fields of Iran and the Persian Gulf studies in the 19th – 21st century.
The position, starting in September 2020, is open to scholars of all academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. This full-time twelve-month position may be renewed for up to three years, subject to satisfactory performance and funding. The Center promotes interdisciplinary approaches to advancing understanding of Iran and the Persian Gulf, with special attention to the region’s role and significance in the contemporary world. The goal of the program is to support outstanding scholars of Iran and the wider Persianate world at an early stage of their careers and thus to strengthen the field of Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies in the United States and abroad.
In addition to their salary, postdoctoral researchers receive funding (up to $4,000 per academic year) for research related expenses (books, conferences, travel expenses, etc.). The Center provides office space and staff support but the research associates are responsible for their travel and moving arrangements and expenses, and for accommodation in Princeton.
Applications are reviewed both by specialists in the candidate’s academic discipline and by an interdisciplinary group of scholars. All committee deliberations and decisions are confidential.
Candidates are required to apply online at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/14301 and submit the following documents: (1) cover letter with title and summary of proposed research project (200 words); (2) research proposal (max. 1500 words), including description of project, bibliography, timetable, explicit goals, and the reason it is proposed to be pursued at Princeton; (3) curriculum vitae and list of publications; (4) sample chapter (in English) of dissertation or other recent work; (5) contact information for three references.
DEADLINE: All materials must be received by December 15, 2019, 11:59 p.m. EST. Preferred start date is September 1, 2020. This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.
Essential Qualifications: PhD required. Postdoctoral Research Associates may not pursue another degree while in this appointment, nor may they hold any other fellowships or visiting positions concurrently. Appointment cannot be deferred to a later term. Postdoctoral Research Associates are expected to be on campus most weekdays and be active contributors to the intellectual life of the Center.
Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should have less than three years of postdoctoral experience, but more senior candidates may be considered.
Candidates within Princeton University will not be considered. Please contact iran@princeton.edu for further clarifications.
Instructions for Applying: Complete the online application and click “Apply to this Posting” at the top of the posting details page.
Documents that can be associated with this posting: Cover letter, Statement of Research Interest, Resume/CV, Bibliography/Publications List, Writing Sample, Other Document 1
Proposed Start Date: 09-01-2020
End date, if a Term Appointment: 09-01-2021
Comments related to end date: This twelve-month position may be renewed for up to three years, subject to satisfactory performance.
EEO Statement: Princeton University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
- October 22, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment
Shii News – Academic Items
1.The Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for an advanced Assistant Professor or Associate Professor tenure line position in Media Studies with expertise in the Middle East. The position will begin in August 2020.
The position, part of a university-wide cluster hire in Media and (dis)information, will focus on Media in the Middle East, with a strong preference for specialization in Iran or the Arab World. Ideal candidates will have research interests in media information flows, including misinformation or disinformation, within or originating from the Middle East. Preferred candidates will employ interdisciplinary methods, and conduct empirical and theoretical analyses of local political cultures, but will also be engaged with media and policy studies more broadly. The successful candidate is expected to hold a courtesy appointment in the College of Communication.
Duties include working closely with other partners in the Media lab, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses, serving in the doctoral programs in Middle Eastern Studies, and contributing to related programs in other colleges, such as the College of Communication. All faculty in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies are expected to pursue a strong record of research and publication, while also engaging in service to the Department, College, University, and profession. The department places a high premium on collegiality and maintaining a diverse and hospitable working environment. Salary is dependent upon position and qualifications. As per university procedures, background and academic credential checks are conducted as appropriate.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a PhD in hand at the time of appointment. Candidates should have native or near-native fluency in one or more of the languages of the Middle East (with a strong preference for Arabic or Persian), and must demonstrate excellence in research, publication, and teaching. They must also have the ability to train and supervise graduate students and to effectively teach large undergraduate classes.
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. The University embraces and promotes diversity in its work environments.
Application Instructions
To apply, please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, one sample publication, teaching dossier including sample syllabi (both graduate and undergraduate), and three names of recommenders, who may be contacted later in the application stage. In addition, please submit a one-page rationale, explaining how your research trajectory corresponds to the goals of the cluster (more info here). Electronic submissions only (through Interfolio). All materials should be submitted by November 8, 2019. Review of applications will begin November 8, 2019.
For Further Information, please contact:
Karen Grumberg, Search Committee Chair
Email: keren@austin.utexas.edu
2. TENURE/TENURED LINE POSITION IN MODERN ARABIC & FRANCOPHONE LITERATURES (University of Texas at Austin)
The Department of Middle Eastern Studies and the Department of French and Italian at the University of Texas at Austin invite applications for an advanced Assistant Professor or Associate Professor tenure line position in Arabic and Francophone Literatures. The position will begin in August 2020.
Housed equally in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies and the Department of French and Italian, the position will focus on modern Arabic and Francophone literatures, preferably in North Africa. Duties include teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses, serving in the doctoral programs in Arabic Studies and French Studies, and contributing to related programs such as Comparative Literature. All faculty in the Departments of Middle Eastern Studies and French and Italian are expected to pursue a strong record of research and publication, while also engaging in service to the Department, College, University, and profession. Both departments place a high premium on collegiality and maintaining a diverse and hospitable working environment. Salary is dependent upon position and qualifications. As per university procedures, background and academic credential checks are conducted as appropriate.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should have native or near-native fluency in Arabic and French, and must demonstrate excellence in research, publication, and teaching. They must also have the ability to train and supervise graduate students and to effectively teach large undergraduate classes.
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, one sample publication, teaching dossier including sample syllabi (both graduate and undergraduate), student evaluations (both graduate and undergraduate) and three letters of recommendation. Electronic submissions only (through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/68263 ). All materials should be submitted by October 29, 2019. Review of applications will begin October 29, 2019.
For Further Information, please contact:
Karen Grumberg and Alex Wettlaufer, Search Committee Co-Chairs Email: keren@austin.utexas.edu or akw@austin.utexas.edu
3. A conference for graduate students studying Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations will be hosted by the Near Eastern Studies Department and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley on Friday, March 13th – Saturday, March 14th, 2020.
We are now accepting abstracts until November 15th with notification of acceptance by December 15th.
Our full call for papers can be found here: https://jagnesjournal.wordpress.com/conferences/2020-conference/call-for-papers/Please send any inquiries to jagnes@berkeley.edu.
4. The master’s program Cultural Studies of the Middle East, jointly hosted by the Universities of Bamberg and Erlangen, invites applications for the Visiting Professorship 2020-21.
The deadline to apply is December 15, 2019.
Please contact Dr Schayan Gharevi for further information, at: ma-mideast [at]uni-bamberg.de
“The South Asia Open Archives (SAOA), a subset of the South Asia Materials Project (SAMP), creates and maintains a collection of open access materials for the study of South Asia. This major collaborative initiative is aimed at addressing the current scarcity of digital resources pertinent to South Asia studies and at making collections more widely accessible both to North American scholars and to researchers worldwide.”
Nearly 350,000 page images in the collection!
Historical research materials in English and other South Asian languages are being digitized and prepared by SAOA for online public access. This material includes, for example:
Colonial-era administrative and trade reports
Women’s periodicals
Newspapers and magazines
Census materials and gazetteers
Important literary and other monographic sources
- October 19, 2019
- by Andrew Newman
- 0 Comment