Shii News – Academic Items
1.CfP: “Armenian Society under Caliphal Rule” (Online Workshop)
The Emmy Noether Junior Research Group ‘Social Contexts of Rebellion in the Early Islamic Period’ (SCORE) at the University of Hamburg welcomes proposals for participation in the online workshop ‘Armenian Society under Caliphal Rule’, 7–8 December 2023.
This workshop will consider the social history of Armenia in the period between the first Muslim invasions and the establishment of the Bagratuni kingdom, i.e. seventh to ninth centuries CE/first to third centuries AH. Contributions will be warmly welcomed on any aspect of social history and its intersection with economic, environmental, cultural and religious history. Perspectives that draw upon the written word, visual culture, the built environment or any combination of the above will all be equally welcomed. Topics may include, but are by no means limited to, such themes as social hierarchies, government, church structures, labour relations, urbanism and ruralism, taxation, civic architecture, etc.
Confirmed participants include Stephanie Forrest (Cambridge), Tim Greenwood (St Andrews), Nik Matheou (Edinburgh), Leone Pecorini Goodall (Edinburgh/St Andrews), Johannes Preiser-Kapeller (Vienna), and Aram Vardanyan (Yerevan).
The workshop is envisaged as a focused event running on two consecutive afternoons (Central European Time), with papers being pre-circulated two weeks in advance. If you would be interested in delivering a paper or acting as a dedicated respondent, please contact the organizer, Alasdair Grant, at alasdair.grant@uni-hamburg.de by 31 May 2023. If you are enquiring about acting as a respondent, please indicate which topic areas you would be most interested in responding to. If you are enquiring about delivering a paper, please send an abstract of around 250 words, accompanied by a brief indication of the background to your interest in and study of the topic. For more information on the workshop and subsequent publication plans, please visit https://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/voror/forschung/score/news/project-news/2023-04-21-cfp.html or email the organizer if you have any further questions.
2. The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1391, research project no. B07 “Teaching Nature – Nature’s Teaching. Aesthetic Strategies of Knowledge Transmission in a Transcultural Perspective”, invites applications for a PhD student position / Doctoral candidate (m/f/d, 75%, E13 TV-L) in the field of Islamic Studies. The position is available from 1 July 2023 and limited to 30 June 2027.
Project B07 studies two 14th-century didactic texts about nature in a transcultural perspective. It is structured into two research areas, one focusing on al-Jildakī’s Durrat al-ghawwāṣ and one on Konrad of Megenberg’s Buch der Natur. These natural encyclopaedias transform Greek, Arabic, and Latin knowledge with a didactic intent. The didactics related to nature is provided with an aesthetic dimension, e.g. via rhetorical techniques, reflections on the beauty of the cosmos, and other artistic devices. The candidate will write their PhD dissertation systematically discussing the aesthetic strategies used by al-Jildakī in his Durrat al-ghawwāṣ for his epistemological ends.
Duties:
The position is allocated to Islamic Studies (principal investigator: Prof. Dr Regula Forster).
The candidate will conduct research leading to a dissertation on al-Jildakī’s Durrat al-ghawwāṣ in close cooperation and exchange with the research area in Medieval German (Dr. Jan Stellmann and a second doctoral candidate).
- organisation of and participation in project-related workshops and conferences
- participation in research events of the CRC
- (co-)editing conference proceedings, if applicable
Requirements:
- The position is open to graduates of any university who have obtained an academic degree equivalent to M.A. with excellent grades in Islamic / Arabic / Middle Eastern Studies or similar.
- very good knowledge of Arabic
- ability to conduct scholarly work independently
The position offers the chance to obtain further academic qualification (PhD).
The university seeks to raise the number of women in research and teaching and therefore urges qualified women academics to apply for these positions. Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference in the hiring process. The university is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. It therefore takes individual’s situation into account and asks for relevant information.
The employment will be carried out by the central administration of the University of Tübingen.
Applications should include:
- cover letter, curriculum vitae, academic certificates, if applicable: list of publications
- proof of writing skills (published article or chapter of graduate thesis, 1–2 samples in English or German)
- names and e-mail addresses of two contact persons for references
Please send applications as one pdf-file by E-mail to Prof. Dr Regula Forster (regula.forster@uni-tuebingen.de). Review of applications will begin on 12 June 2023, and continue until the position is filled. For questions regarding project B07, please contact Prof. Dr Regula Forster (+49 7071 29 78531).
The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1391 “Andere Ästhetik” (“Different Aesthetics”) is a research network funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) which aims to arrive, by means of our interdisciplinary research programme, at a revised evaluation of the contribution made by pre-modern aesthetic acts and artefacts within the field of aesthetic research (more information: https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/159607).
3. Arabic Transliteration for Academics, Publishers and Librarians
AKU-ISMC’s new Centre for the Languages of the Muslim World is delighted to offer this short course as part of its Professional Development series. The course is aimed at professionals, scholars and students who work with Arabic text and would like to acquire knowledge of transliteration systems and gain or improve their practical transliteration skills under the guidance of experienced tutors. The course is a 5-hour practical workshop-style course taught in two highly interactive sessions. Both sessions incorporate tailored feedback from the tutors; prior to session II, participants are required to submit a short sample transliteration for discussion during the session. The course is equally well suited to native and non-native speakers of Arabic.
Date and time
08 June | 14:00 – 17:00 (London time)
15 June | 14:00 – 16:00 (London time)
Tickets
£99 professionals | £79 students, AKU alumni and staff. The number of tickets is limited
Note
The course will be delivered via Zoom. Readings and further details will be provided later upon registration.
This course will not be recorded.
4. ‘Pre-Islamic Survivals’ in Muslim Central Asia: Tsarist, Soviet and Post-Soviet Ethnography in World Historical Perspective
C Weller
Palgrave MacMillan, 2023
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-19-5697-3
5. Sunni Communities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2013-2021
Securitization, Secularization and Privatization
Hessam Habibi Doroh
Brill, 2023
https://brill.com/display/title/63179
| 6. Call for Papers on “Media and Women”
Arab Media & Society, the biannual journal of the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo, is seeking submissions for our next issue on “Media & Women.” The world is contending with challenges of global magnitude like climate change, the COVID19 pandemic, and geopolitical conflicts, where women and girls are disproportionately negatively impacted. Our mediascapes are rapidly evolving and playing increasingly pivotal roles in shaping social and political responses to these challenges. Thus, it is of essence to critically examine how women in the Arab world engage with media: how they have been portrayed by it, how they contribute in its production, how they grapple with it as consumers and audiences, and even how they resist its depictions. This, not just as an effort to expand on the scholarship that tracks how media reflects and affects (positively and negatively) social patterns of gender inequality, but also to think through how these interactions can prove productive in addressing the urgent crises of our time. Submissions should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style and may be up to 10,000 words, including footnotes, and citations (author-date). All submissions should be sent as .doc or .docx files, and should include the author’s name as it will be published, their affiliation, and a brief abstract of no more than 150 words. Send articles and ideas to editor@arabmediasociety.com |
7. 3 Islamic Manuscripts on Astronomy
We would like to draw your attention to three manuscripts in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish which deal with Astronomy:
https://gerlachbooks.com/index.php?p=17&h=11
(1)
Tashrih al-aflak (Anatomy of the celestial spheres)
including Sharh Tashrih al-aflak (Commentary on Tashrih al-aflak)
Manuscript in Arabic , 1072 H (1656 AD)
Direct link: https://gerlachbooks.com/MSS_142
(2)
Three Manuscripts in Ottoman Turkish Bound in 1 Volume, 1166 H [1752 A.D.]
(1) Kifayat al-waqt li-ma’rifat al-da’ir wa- fadlihi wa-‘l-samt.
(2) Tashil al-miqat
(3) Farah Faza
Direct link: https://gerlachbooks.com/MSS_118
(3)
Observations of the Movements of Sun and Stars during the year 1287 H. [1870 AD]
for Submission to the Sultan.
Manuscript in Ottoman Turkish
Direct link: https://gerlachbooks.com/MSS_123
8. Career Information Days for Students of Iranian Studies, Arabic Studies, and Islamic Studies
The departments of Iranian Studies and Arabic/Islamic Studies I-II at the University of Göttingen organize a two-days Career Information event on the 2nd and 3rd of June via Zoom.
The talks are in German and English.
Link for participation:
https://uni-goettingen.zoom.us/j/63754076924?pwd=Y0FoTGFzWl-QzWVRka0hudk1sTTZzUT09
Further information:
lara-lauren.goudarzi-gereke@uni-goettingen.de
sebastian.bitsch@uni-goettingen.de
ali.balaeilangroudi@uni-goettingen.de
9. Position in Arabic and ME studies : Bard College: Bard High School Early Colleges
Bard College: Bard High School Early Colleges: BHSEC – Manhattan
Location
New York, NY
Open Date
May 24, 2023
Description
Job Title: Full-time Faculty in Arabic Language/Middle Eastern Studies (Bard High School Early College Manhattan)
Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) Manhattan invites applications for a faculty position in Arabic language instruction, to begin in the fall of 2023. We seek a teacher-scholar who is passionate about Arabic, creative in engaging students, and dedicated to working with adolescents. More information about BHSEC is available here: https://bhsec.bard.edu/manhattan
Applicants should be prepared to teach Arabic language classes at all levels, as well as courses on the civilizations of the Islamic world. The area of specialization is open. College teaching experience and Ph.D. (in hand by August 2023) are preferred, and experience with younger students is a plus. The successful candidate will teach four courses per semester.
This full-time position provides the opportunity to work with a dedicated faculty of scholars, scientists and artists, most of whom hold terminal degrees in their fields. In their four years here, BHSEC students earn an associate of arts (A.A.) degree from Bard College in addition to a New York State high school diploma. The academic program emphasizes small class size, seminar-style discussion and a commitment to teaching a diverse student body in a liberal arts environment.
Location: Bard High School Early College at 525 Houston Street in New York City, NY
Start Date: Late August 2023
Salary Range: $55-$80K based on experience
Qualifications
- This position is open to experienced teacher-scholars who hold a Master’s or PhD in Arabic literature and culture or a related field.
- The successful candidate should be capable of teaching Arabic classes from the high school level through the college 200-level as well as literature and culture courses in translation.
- We seek teachers and scholars deeply committed to their field and creative in engaging students at both the college and high school levels.
- New York State teaching certification is a plus.
- Interest in working with high school age students who are completing a college-level course of study
- We are seeking candidates with a strong commitment to equity and social justice and desire to open up opportunities for underrepresented students
- Candidates must understand cultural difference and purposefully help to uplift ideas from underrepresented groups to improve the equity balance in education.
- A commitment to reducing and an openness to learning about potential barriers to inclusion are needed.
Application Instructions
Please apply directly with Bard College / Bard Early Colleges. Do this by clicking on the “Apply Now” button found through the Interfolio job application link provided here: http://apply.interfolio.com/125951
Use the Interfolio link provided to upload the following documents directly with Bard College:
- a letter of interest (including a description of a proposed course)
- a C.V.
- a teaching portfolio (including statement of teaching philosophy and a sample writing assignment for the proposed course)
- contact information for three references
REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY.
Inquiries:
If you have any questions about the position, please reach out to Dean of Academic Life, William H. Hinrichs, whinrichs@bhsec.bard.edu. Include your name and “Fall 2023 Arabic Search” in the subject line.
All materials must be submitted electronically.
10. ‘A UNIQUE RECORD OF FRANCO-PERSIAN RELATIONS IN THE REIGN OF NAPOLEON: THE MAUSOLEUM OF ANTOINE-ALEXANDRE ROMIEU (1764-1805)’
Daniel Potts
Journal Asiatique, 2022, 310/2, 229-235
link not yet available
11. Either Lost or Found? A Child’s Story from a WWII Australian Internment Camp
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm (Sydney Time)
Online / in person
https://westernsydney.libcal.com/event/5532195
Professor Pedram Khosronejad and Mrs Helga (Girschik) Griffin present the findings of a research project which explores the socio-cultural history and memories of a group of civilian German detainees and migrants in Australia through their heritage and the roles that they played in the development of the country after World War II. This presentation is the result of a four year collaboration between Professor Khosronejad and Mrs Helga (Girschik) Griffin, the only surviving female among the civilian Germans from Persia (Iran) who were brought to Australia as families and allegedly kept in detention, but actually lived like prisoners in Tatura’s Internment Camp No. 3 (1941-46).
As many as 50,000 German, Italian, and Japanese civilians were sent to Internment camps in Australia during WWII. Until today, the lives and fates of 512 German civilians of Persia (Iran), the imprisoned inhabitants of Australian World War II confinement centres, and the roles that they and their family members played in the development of post-war Australia has been ignored by academia.
12. AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship
‘*The British Museum, and the University of St Andrews *are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded Collaborative doctoral studentship from October 2023 under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.
This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis and Dr Tom Hockenhull at the British Museum and Professor Ali Ansari and Dr Siavush Randjbar-Daemi at the University of St Andrews. The student will be expected to spend time at both The British Museum and University of St Andrews, as well as becoming part of the wider cohort of CDP funded students across the UK. The studentship can be studied either full or part-time.
The project seeks to understand how Iran’s Pahlavi regime (1925–1979) defined and projected its identity through analysis of the circulating official iconography on coins, banknotes and commemorative medals. It will study how the two Pahlavi shahs fused Persian history and culture with western-style iconography to forge a distinct vision for modern Iran, in the process creating a political and societal divide that took full force during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, persisting to the present. The project will contextualise this highly significant body of material within what was a transformational period for Iran economically, politically and culturally.
The British Museum’s substantial and visually significant collection of coins, banknotes and medals from the Pahlavi period, will be the primary focus of this study.
*Deadline: 9th June 2023*
*For details please link to:*
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/prospective/cdp-studentship/ <https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/prospective/cdp-studentship/>
13. 22-23 June 2023 Islamic Manuscripts & Digital Codicology at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
AKU-ISMC Short Course
Information and book here:
Posted in: Academic items- May 27, 2023
- 0 Comment
