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5 Must-read Narrative (Arab) Comix Online

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ArabLit & ArabLit Quarterly

If you have an interest in Arab and Arabic comix — in narrative or single-panel form — then I’d hope you follow Oum Cartoon, edited by Jonathan Guyer (@mideastxmidwest).

But here, a glimpse of five recent narrative projects:

1) Lena Merhej’s 2012 Machine / ماكينة, enigmatically subtitled”a story about drama,” is a wordless exploration of war, refugee life, protest, and violence seen through and by women’s bodies.

machine

Merhej is one of the founders of Samandal magazine, and her evocative art was one of the reasons the magazine was convicted of crimes against religion. Her graphic novel I Think We Will Be Calmer in the Next War was one of the best-selling books in Lebanon in 2007, and her autobiographical Murabba we Laban, (Jam and Yogurt) was released in 2010. You can find more of her work at Grand Papier and new work at Solidarités International, where Merhej and others are…

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The Real Lion of The Desert

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Through an Arabic Lens: the Intersection of Film and Culture

by Sebastian Brito

The filmLion of the Desert, directed by Moustapha Akkad, is a pivotal period piece in Libya’s history for a multitude of reasons. Released in 1980, the film’s 2 hour and 53-minute runtime transcend that of its longevity, transporting the viewer to the early twentieth- century wartime era. This desert masterpiece is about Libyan leader, Omar Mukhtar, played by Anthony Quinn, fending off Italian oppression under the command of General Rodolfo Graziana, played by Oliver Reed and Benito Mussolini, who was played by Rod Steiger. Akkad directs a very realistic portrayal of fascist Italy in the pre- World War 2 era, not shying away from introducing heartbreaking deaths and dark visuals throughout the film. Regardless of its cruelty, the film also develops themes of resilience and optimism spearheaded by Mukhtar.

The legend, Omar Mukhar is a wise and educated Bedouin, entrusting his faith in God to…

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So you want to be an armchair neuroscientist? 6 of the best Introductory Neuroscience books

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As I ease back into neuroscience, I'm going back and re-reading old textbooks, as well as picking up new ones. I'm refreshing my memory and also learning a ton of new things, including from the books below. In order from highest to lowest perceived difficulty, here are some of my recent neuroscience reads. Clinical Neuroanatomy … Continue reading So you want to be an armchair neuroscientist? 6 of the best Introductory Neuroscience books