Iona College – Muslims and the Making of American Democracy

Ismaili Institutions for Canada. Dr. Rashid’s presentation entitled “Sounding Off: Making National Narratives through Music” focused on how Muslims integrate different musical expressions to alter national narratives and normalize the presence of Muslims in North America. Dr. Rashid looked at musical genres from hip-hop to qawwali, including the practice of silence. The talk also touched on transnational flows, mixing of traditions, and Muslims ignorance of their own traditions. The question-and-answer revolved around two themes: valuing the human being and the race to cultural amnesia that Muslims are participating in.

Schedule Sponsors Opening Comments New Cordoba Discuss the Undiscussable Talent Bazaar and Knowledge Transfer Artists Panel Extremism and the New Media, Imam’s Circle Pluralism in Islam Construct Your Identity Muslims in the Media On Being a Conservative-Liberal Muslim [post-conference] What it Means to be Muslim [post-conference] MLT, MLT2009

I’ll be speaking at this conference over the weekend. Swing by if you get a chance. Should be a lot of fun. Contemporary Muslim Voices in the Arts and Literatures | The Second Annual Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program Conference.