Middle East Feast: Food, Music, Literature, and Course Listings

Students feasted on falafel, hummus, and more in BU Central Monday night as part of the Modern Languages and Comparative Literature Department’s Middle East Feast. In what event co-organizer and BU assistant professor Dr. Margaret Litvin called “a secret ploy to boost fall enrollment in Middle Eastern courses,” students not only feasted but were also entertained. The event was not connected to ongoing Islam Awareness Month events on campus, but was geared toward encouraging interest in the Middle East in time for class registration.

The Berklee Lions perform in BU Central Monday. | Photos by Cecilia Weddell
The Berklee Lions perform in BU Central Monday. | Photos by Cecilia Weddell

The event included music from the “Berklee Lions” Middle-Eastern music group from Berklee College of Music who wowed the crowd with a guitarist, singers, drummer, flutist, and an oud (A.K.A. the Coolest-Looking Instrument Ever) player. The Lions shared songs in Hebrew and Turkish as well as in a near-extinct Judeo-Spanish language known as Ladino. A belly-dancer elicited jealousy in more than one clumsy observer. Their last song inspired many of the near 150 attendants to hum, sway, and clap along.

Dr. Sassan Tabatabai, the head of the Persian Language Program, gave a melancholy reading of great 13th century Persian poet Rumi. With one hand in his pocket, Tabatabai managed to enrapture the room as he recited in Persian and translated to English.

Collage performs a Turkish dance.
Collage performs a Turkish dance.

The tempo quickened with a performance from Collage, a Turkish dance ensemble. The group somehow managed to maintain perfect symmetry at every moment of the quick-stepping, jump-filled routine. Their final bow was met with loud applause.

Of course, the “secret ploy” would not be successful without an explanation of student resources for further involvement. Professors presented some courses of interest for Fall 2013, a few among which were:

  • CAS EN 590/XL441/LY441: A Thousand And One Nights in the World Literary Imagination
  • CAS HI 393: History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
  • CAS AH 317: Morocco to Timbuktu, Art and Architecture at the Saharan Crossroads
  • CAS XL 560: Autobiography of Minority Experiences
  • CAS XL 382: Gender and Sexuality in Middle Eastern Film

… as well as a large array of courses in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Said Litvin, “We have awesome language programs, and we’re it for learning languages like these outside of the Ivy League.” Students were reminded to take advantage of these opportunities and consider the large amount of Middle East Study Abroad programs.

The opportunity to explore — academically or abroad — the world that produced the food, music, and literature displayed Monday is enticing. The department’s encouragement should be taken seriously.

Any questions about Fall 2013 course offerings — all of which can be found on the Student Link — can be directed to the Modern Languages and Comparative Literature department or sent in an email to mlitvin@bu.edu. BU Study Abroad programs can be found by area on their website.

About Cecilia Weddell

Cecilia Weddell (CAS 2015) studies Comparative Literature and Mathematics. She likes poetry, basketball, YouTube videos of baby animals, and tea.

View all posts by Cecilia Weddell →

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