Art (and culture) humanizes what politics demonize.
Salman Ahmad - February 28, 2006
I shared this perspective at the recently concluded US-Islamic Forum in Doha, Qatar. In a rapidly chaging world, pop culture: music, films, tv and the internet can play a powerful counteractive role to the politics of hate, fear and suspicion.
In Doha, I shared my experience of creating GHOOM TANA (a song/music video promoting south asian harmony)) which I produced with soulful and generous contributions from India's Shubha Mudgal, Nandita Das, Naseerudin Shah and a wonderful production team representing the best of both nations.
What connected all of us diverse bunch of professionals was our yearning for peace in the sub-continent. While acknowleging the fact that Ghoom Tana would only be a drop in the Ocean required for peace, our journey itself towards the making of this music video changed the lives of a few but very passionate and commited individuals.
I'm in agreeance with Deepak Chopra that Peace has to be marketed and made cool by the creative people. Last year's Live-8 was watched by over 5 and half billion people and "POVERTY ERADICATION" was top of mind for all those who tuned into watch. We have far more opportunities to empower ourselves living in an instantly interactive world, the key is to ACT upon our thoughts to change and defeat those who benefit from war, violence and hate.
This feeling resonated with all the artists, musicians, film makers and writers that had gathered in Doha. I've come back inspired,energised and reinforced in my beliefs that creative people hold the keys to a better future.
I think it was Heinrich Heine who said "I care not if I am considered a poet or not, but lay on my coffin a sword, for i was a soldier in the war of liberation of mankind".
We must all try and become the poet-warriors for peace.
Here is the press release from the conference:
PRESS RELEASE: ARTS AND CULTURAL LEADERS SEMINAR MEETS FOR FIRST TIME IN US-ISLAMIC FORUM
Ignorance is the greatest weapon of mass destruction.
Art humanizes what politics demonizes.
These were the key themes discussed in the Arts and Cultural Leaders Seminar, which included rock and hip hop musicians, actors, filmmakers, art collectors, novelists, and private foundations which fund the arts. Participants from Pakistani rock musician to Yemeni filmmaker Bader Ben Hirsi remarked on how unusual it was for cultural figures to participate in a conference that focused on political affairs. Martin Indyk and Peter Singer, co-convenors of the conference confirmed that this was a first. They also pronounced the meeting an “incredible success” and plan to include the Arts and Cultural Leaders in future years.
Participants agreed that music is the universal language.” Music, culture, sports is what makes us want to know the other”, commented Salman Ahmed, founder of the popular rock band “Junoon”. He and British Muslim singer Sami Yusef told of playing to mixed crowds of tens of thousands, which included people of all faiths. American Muslim hip hop musician Ali Shaheed Muhammad explained the global reach of hip hop, “People identify with the struggle. It doesn’t really matter where you come from, we all have the same story”.
The storytelling power of the arts was another theme. Novelist Amy Tan, who has written about Chinese-American identity learned that her novels have helped young women in Qatar and Palestine as they have struggled with issues of culture and identity.
Participants agreed that the stories told in films had great potential to reach millions of people and could contribute to increasing understand between the west and the Islamic world. Bader Ben Hirsi and Ahmad Abdali, director and producer of “A New Day in Old Sana’a”, wanted to introduce Yemen with a story about normal people. They succeeded despite many obstacles, including having to defend the film before the Yemeni Parliament, and have won the best film awards at the Cairo film festival.
Still participants lamented the difficulties of making and distributing films within the Islamic world, despite the current Renaissance in filmmaking. “It is heartbreaking that our own films are ghettoized within our own culture”. More than 90% of what is in on TV in Arab countries is American. Michael Nozik, producer of “Syriana” wondered, “How do you create a model for young Muslims to express themselves?” He noted the need to find economic markets for young Islamic filmmakers and artists.
Collector of Islamic art, Nasser David Khalili noted that “People in the west need to recognize Islamic cultures and the Islamic world needs to learn about themselves.” He advocated using art and culture to introduce both the west and the Islamic world to the breadth and depth of achievements in art and design, which are largely unknown. Jane Alexander, actress and former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts in the United States, noted that designs everywhere, from kitchens to evening gowns, originated in Islamic art, but no one knows it.
Session coordinator Ambassador Cynthia Schneider noted that artists play a valuable role by looking reflectively and critically at society. Alexander summed up the potential of the arts to contribute to building bridges between cultures, “Art persuades”.
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Posted by Salman Ahmad at February 28, 2006 07:08 AM
Comments
Good Post Salman and welcome to Intent. Long term peace will come through a people's movement not political movement and people like you and Bono play a vital role in bringing the masses together. Looking forward to your posts.
Hi Salman,
Thank you for a wonderful post. It gives me so much joy to know that people like you and many others are using their highest creativity to create peace.
Peace,
Donatella
Dear Salman
Thank you for an inspiring post. The focus and determination you have on this issue burns like a clear flame throughout.
Love, Heather
(I hope this comment doesn't hit twice -- I got a timeout error when I tried to post it at first.)
Hi Salman - Good luck with your efforts and hope to hear more about what's going on in this respect. From your report on the meeting in Doha, it seemed like you may just have been preaching to the choir. The trick is to reach the masses. The only glimmer of hope on the dismal Islamic landscape is that these countries have an enormous youth contingent. Hopefully the power of hip hop can help turn the world around.
Stop Copying ....
Be original....May be thirld world countries you can survive, not here in USA.
Best of luck for Plagirizing...
JD
Wonderful efforts, which inspire!!
This movement of the artist persuassion; may just BE the binding glue, necessary to break the walls/barriers between old and new generations and ways of managing things. Bridge/heal generational gaps.
All the best in your future efforts!
North
JD,
What the hell are you talking about? You don't make any sense whatsoever! Who is plagiarizing?
Also, it would help if you learn how to spell the damn word!
"Also, it would help if you learn how to spell the damn word!"
AJ: Wouldn't that be plagiarizing from the Dictionary? LOL... He said he wanted to be "original" didnt he? :-)
Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com
~ Nasser David Khalili noted that “People in the west need to recognize Islamic cultures and the Islamic world needs to learn about themselves." ~
Do people in west (or elsewhere) *need* to recognize Islamic Culture? Why? Nobody who is uninterested recognizes or learns of another if he/she doesnt HAVE to... I believe it is time that the Muslim intellectuals and scholars and leaders STOP putting the onus of others "understanding" the Islamic world on "others"!! And WHAT makes them think they do not "understand" already??
Just because the "other" person's "understanding" does NOT match with YOUR understanding of YOURSELF.. does NOT mean that he/she does "not understand"!
Don't you think this statement was rather "uncharitable" to begin with?
It takes ONE generation to change the perceptions - difference in how Americans perceive India within last 10 years is one example - and the ONUS and burden of altering the perceptions of one's ownself LIES with the person perceived!
The reality is that the last 50 years of world politics and internal mismanagement of natural and human resources has relegated the Islamic world into throes of ignorance and poverty ... .and this is when Islamic countries were RICH in Natural resources and cash rich! Wait for the time when the oil either runs out or most of the world moves to another alternative!
If I were a Muslim Leader.. I would NOT be able to sleep thinking of the sheer havoc that will be unleashed in a religion landscape "rich" in ignorance, lack of education, poverty and bitter!!
The answer lies internally...
Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, inspiration and the article. It is easy enough to be bitter and jump on the bandwagon and scream expletives and threats. It is much more difficult to follow the path of peace and respect. Muslim, Hindu, Christian, or whatever faith one use as a framework, if that doesn't make one more HUMAN and HUMANE, religion has lost it's purpose.
The way people respond to posts around here, is also very revealing of one's character. I feel that it one thing to put forth an intelligent point supported by facts, it is quite another to make sweeping generalizations.
Salman, welcome, Salam Ale Kum. I liked what you have written. I especially liked,"Ignorance is the greatest weapon of mass destruction","Art humanizes what politics demonizes", "music is the universal language".
May peace prevail. With God's grace may we all live in peace and harmony. God bless you Salman.
Salman, thank you for your post. Like you, I believe that creativity will get us out of this situation and will make us take that leap we have to take if we want to survive as a species. Thank you for your efforts and good luck to you and the people who are working with you!
Actually... good luck to us all!
Hi Salman,
Good to see you here on Intentblog. Let me tell you that "Sayyo Ni" has been one of my all-time fav songs and perhaps the most popular number of Junoon, even to this date. That was the song which shot you, Ali & Brian to fame.
Although I agree that "Peace has to be marketed and made cool" as you posted, put your hand on your heart and tell me how much money which is raised in the name of Peace and Charity (various causes) actually goes to the intended beneficiaries?
More often than not, the money which is collected by events/concerts is pocketed by the organisers/participants themselves.
Cheers!
Navin
Hey AJ,
So...what is problem with you? U did not like my honesty about Indian and Pakistani music artists. Or my typo....
Well...Typo I can do something about it. However what about Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern artist copying everything from here (West).
Anyways, I am just requesting artists to be original and hopefully one day they will follow original path rather than shortcuts(Copying) to achieve success. Because artist which is part of media is responsible for setting up example for society to follow.
JD
I think the arts and related activities definitely help us see our surroundings in a more liberal way and with different perspectives. Acoording to me,it helps us see the better sides of what seems to be negative superficialyy and brings a sense of identification with everything,which I think is lacked by people engaged in monotonous and regular activities.As per the psychoanalysis a person is most satisfied and happy if he is able to gratify his instinctive desires ,which if seen from a broader perspecrive,involves spontanaeity and variety.Both these terms are well related to CREATIVITY which explains why most of the creative people and those involved in such fields are more concerned about humanity than the others.
It is also true that films,music and popular arts like theatre,paintings have a huge impact on the common man.A recent example can be that of the movie Rang De Basanti,which although wasnt as powerfull as some other really thoughtprovoking off-beat films but still managed to make adoloscents as well as adults to think about ourselves ! I could see even in my school my schoolmates who are the most carefree and unconcerned about the country were pondering over the message given in it and were well-identifying with it also.Its insignificant in regard to what needs to be done but even these examples are significant in changing mindset of people,even if its very slow and not apparent on the surface.
salman u rok man..u r the bst..
Whatever art is popular by media is not the only art out there of course. Real talent has been supressed. Enough of this dead poet society, it's time to embrace the Living Poet.
Real talent is also concerned with using their God given gifts for service to humanity, which many have been successful at displaying publically to some degree. The reason that real talented people are awake to matters of the heart is because they are born that way and being talented is one sign of such a being.
There is an unending cosmic music that sustains the material world that does not have to be heard by ears to exist.
Talent is Beauty, Beauty is Truth, Truth is Love and Love is Everything.
Music, you did it again!
Just like now, just like then,
Music the symphony of creation,
That can be heard without ears,
That can be seen without eyes,
Blessing me to be the instrument
through which the infinite plays the song...
"Thy Will Be Done"
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Recent Comments
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Rita Raju commented on Art (and culture) humanizes what politics demonize.
Whatever art is popular by media is not the onl
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agha commented on Art (and culture) humanizes what politics demonize.
salman u rok man..u r the bst..
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Aastha commented on Art (and culture) humanizes what politics demonize.
I think the arts and related activities definit
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JD commented on Art (and culture) humanizes what politics demonize.
Hey AJ,
So...what is problem with you?
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Navin commented on Art (and culture) humanizes what politics demonize.
Hi Salman,
Good to see you here on Intent
Salman,
First of all, God bless you for all the work that you do for humanity and thank you for kept releasing one masterwork after another.
Secondly, I wanted to ask you if you were faced with any opposition by your fellow attendees in Doha conference about acceptance of Music in Islam?