An exhibit by Ara Oshagan at the The Center for Experimental Art and Architecture through October 17, 2008

Born in Beirut of Armenian heritage, with his degrees in Physics and English Literature from UCLA and a degree in Geophysics from UC Berkley, by day Ara Oshagan is a geophysicist and at other times an accomplished documentary photographer. Scion of Armenian poets, writers and educators, Oshagan is also an avowed novelist manqué who uses photography to narrate his community’s stories—or in the case of “Identity and Community”—interwoven Armenian and Ethiopian narratives. With “three skeletons of novels in my head,” nearly a decade ago he began taking photography to a higher level and has held several solo and group exhibits.

“We play heavy metal because our lives are heavy metal.” —Reda Zine, one of the founders of the Moroccan heavy-metal scene

“Music is the weapon of the future.” —Fela Kuti

Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam: your purchase benefits LCC programmingMark LeVine is the author of Why They Don't Hate Us, Unveiling the Axis of Evil. In his new book, Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam, you'll find an eighteen-year-old Moroccan who loves Black Sabbath. A twenty-two-year-old rapper from the Gaza Strip. A young Lebanese singer who quotes Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” They are as representative of the world of Islam today as the conservatives and extremists we see every night on the news. Heavy metal, punk, hip-hop, and reggae are each the music of protest, and in many cases considered immoral in the Muslim world. This music may also turn out to be the soundtrack of a revolution unfolding across that world.

“I can tell you’re Egyptian when you turn to the side, because everyone knows that Egyptians only have profiles,” Danny—one of my best friends on the planet, who also happens to be Jewish—jests.

I get it. I get it. Ancient Egyptian ruins always depicted the human form as a profile. Fantastic. The Arab-Jew jokes are endless, and his multiple references to Anubis or the irony of our friendship are always appreciated. I sincerely don’t mind it, as he is one of the most decent and intelligent people I know; he shares my belief that the best way to deconstruct stereotypes is to critique their flawed logic via exaggeration, parody, and not-so-subtle humor. Yet it was not until college that I discovered how some people actually manage to possess such naiveté—the very ignorance that Danny I could mock and repudiate without end.

Learn Arabic Drumming at Levantine Cultural Center

When: Every Tuesday night (join anytime)
Beginner: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Intermediate: 8:15 - 9:15 pm

Where: Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W. Pico Blvd. (one block east of Crescent Heights)
Los Angeles CA 90035

Come and join us as we learn the fundamentals of one the most dynamic and exciting drums on earth…the Middle Eastern doumbek!

A Map of Home, by Randa JarrarA Map of Home recently won the prestigious Hopwood Award. Here's what one of our favorite Arab American writers/poets, Naomi Shihab Nye, had to say about this debut novel:

"Jazzy, and vastly intelligent and fun. Jarrar is a wonderworker with delectable details and sweet swerves of surprise. I adore her multicultural mix and her wry, punchy attitude and think she embodies some crucial new-world Arab-American that I wish the whole world could see, the old worlds and the smug self-satisfied pundits who think they can know or guess what a creative spirit might really be. I turn to her for gusto." - Naomi Shihab Nye

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Aug 14 2008 7:00pm

Price: 

$10 donation

Where: 

Center for Experimental Art and Architecture
3191 Casitas Ave., Suite 138
Los Angeles, CA 90039

CEAA will present its inaugural exhibit, the artworks and screening of “Stone Touch Time” by Gariné Torossian with a reception and screening. Gariné Torossian, a filmmaker and visual artist, was awarded Best Documentary at the Warsaw International film festival for “Stone Touch Time” (2007) and nominated at the Berlin, Melbourne, and Houston film festivals for her various short films. Retrospectives of her work include the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Cinematheque of Yerevan, Berlin Arsenal, and Telluride Film Festival, amongst others.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Aug 28 2008 8:00pm

Price: 

$18. A portion of the proceeds benefits Levantine Center's programs for peace through arts.

Where: 

The Improv
8162 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90046

Sultans of Satire - Aug. 28: Click to view flyerSome of today's funniest stand-ups come together for an uproarious night of satire and comedy. Featuring comediologist Peter "the Persian" Shahriari, Gulden the Istanbuli vixen, Mike Batayeh, Ara Basil, K-Von, and Nick Youssef. All performances in English!

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