Islamic Expressions in Art, Culture, and Literature

Abstract

The Fourteenth Annual Conference of The American Council for the Study of islamic Societies, held on May 2 and 3, 1997, at The Connelly Center, Villanova University, Villanova, PA The American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies (ACSIS), is one of the oldest continuing organizations in the United States that focuses specifically on Muslim states, societies, and the problems confronting Muslim communities throughout the world. Composed of American and foreign scholars, non-Muslims as well as Muslims, ACSIS encompasses the full range of humanities and social science disciplines. The represented disciplines include the familiar areas of political science, history, linguistics, philosophy, religion, economics, anthropology, international relations, and sociology; moreover, artists, musicians, media specialists, poets, folklorists, architects, agronomists, bankers, educators, and business consultants are involved in the Council‘s work. Along with this professional diversity, ACSIS has always taken special pride in providing a forum for younger and innovative students to present their ideas and research and encouraging them to publish True to these founding goals, the Board of Directors chose “Cultural, Artistic, and Popular Expressions in Islam” as the theme for this conference. Papers on Muslim works from the Americas, Europe, South Asia, China, Africa, and the heartlands of the ummah were solicited. The call for papers also struck new directions for ACSIs-seeking music and performance presentations, calligraphy, textile art, film and animation, calligraphy, cuisine, and other original formats different from the standard confenmce panel modes. The Board also designated long-time member Weston F. Cook, Jr. as program chair and organizer. Dr. Dale F. Eickelman of Dartmouth College, currently a scholar-in-residence at the ...