Asalamualikum family and
friends,
My apologies for not starting this blog sooner, but here is my attempt to keep you all updated and informed with the amazing research I am doing as a Haas Scholar!
Selecting this research topic was a long journey and I couldn't be more happy with it! Back during my sophomore year at UC Berkeley I decided to study abroad in Cairo for the 2010-2011 school year. After living in Cairo for about 5 months the UC system canceled our program and force evacuated us a week after the Egyptian Revolution began. I returned to Cal and for the next 1.5 years I began studying Arabic and reading non-stop about the ongoing revolution. Initially I began by researching the public education system in Egypt and the possibilities of reform with the coming revolution. After realizing educational reform wasn't going happening any time soon since the old military regime is continuing Mubarak's dictatorship, I decided to take a route was more directly connected to the ongoing revolution. I chose to research the role of political graffiti and street art and how it is a documentation of the visual narrative of the movement.
I am privileged and blessed to be selected by Haas Scholars program at UC Berkeley to spend my entire summer doing just that. This indicates that I will be collecting data all summer in Cairo and this includes: taking thousands of photographs of graffiti, interviewing graffiti artists and local Egyptians, taking field-notes, going through archives, speaking with scholars... etc. Then I will then return to Cal for the remaining 2012-2013 school year to work with my mentor, faculty and other advisers to analyze and synthesize my findings and eventually publish my scholarly work.
Why graffiti? When I was living in Cairo prior to the revolution, it was quite rare (if not impossible) to find people opposing the government / military regime through graffiti and street art. However, with the start of the January 25th revolution, people of all backgrounds have flooded the streets to openly express their public opinions and denounce the oppressive regime and its leaders through graffiti and street art. The messages include: dozens of massive murals of martyred individuals, demands of the people, blunt satirical messages bashing on the government and much, much more. These messages are displayed throughout Cairo and many other cities by being plastered on street walls, bridges, restaurants, public buildings, governmental offices, and just about everywhere you can think of. Since many of these messages serve as a huge threat to the current military regime in power, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces have continued to paint over and erase these powerful statements. With the risks of political detainment and torture, Egyptians continue to paint these messages in order to keep sparking the revolution and fight for justice and freedom.
This is just a small introduction to provide a little context to the core of my study. I hope to get as much as I possibly can for the remaining of the summer and from here on out... blog about it! inshAllah!
Masalama,
My apologies for not starting this blog sooner, but here is my attempt to keep you all updated and informed with the amazing research I am doing as a Haas Scholar!
Selecting this research topic was a long journey and I couldn't be more happy with it! Back during my sophomore year at UC Berkeley I decided to study abroad in Cairo for the 2010-2011 school year. After living in Cairo for about 5 months the UC system canceled our program and force evacuated us a week after the Egyptian Revolution began. I returned to Cal and for the next 1.5 years I began studying Arabic and reading non-stop about the ongoing revolution. Initially I began by researching the public education system in Egypt and the possibilities of reform with the coming revolution. After realizing educational reform wasn't going happening any time soon since the old military regime is continuing Mubarak's dictatorship, I decided to take a route was more directly connected to the ongoing revolution. I chose to research the role of political graffiti and street art and how it is a documentation of the visual narrative of the movement.
I am privileged and blessed to be selected by Haas Scholars program at UC Berkeley to spend my entire summer doing just that. This indicates that I will be collecting data all summer in Cairo and this includes: taking thousands of photographs of graffiti, interviewing graffiti artists and local Egyptians, taking field-notes, going through archives, speaking with scholars... etc. Then I will then return to Cal for the remaining 2012-2013 school year to work with my mentor, faculty and other advisers to analyze and synthesize my findings and eventually publish my scholarly work.
Why graffiti? When I was living in Cairo prior to the revolution, it was quite rare (if not impossible) to find people opposing the government / military regime through graffiti and street art. However, with the start of the January 25th revolution, people of all backgrounds have flooded the streets to openly express their public opinions and denounce the oppressive regime and its leaders through graffiti and street art. The messages include: dozens of massive murals of martyred individuals, demands of the people, blunt satirical messages bashing on the government and much, much more. These messages are displayed throughout Cairo and many other cities by being plastered on street walls, bridges, restaurants, public buildings, governmental offices, and just about everywhere you can think of. Since many of these messages serve as a huge threat to the current military regime in power, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces have continued to paint over and erase these powerful statements. With the risks of political detainment and torture, Egyptians continue to paint these messages in order to keep sparking the revolution and fight for justice and freedom.
This is just a small introduction to provide a little context to the core of my study. I hope to get as much as I possibly can for the remaining of the summer and from here on out... blog about it! inshAllah!
Masalama,
Barira
Here's a picture that holds a special spot in my heart! This is photo from the surprise party celebration my friends threw for me in the MCC at Berkeley to celebrate me being selected for this prestigious opportunity. This is just a reminder to myself for all the people (family, friends, educators, mentors, whoever!) that helped get me where I am with all their love and support. This blog is for you, so don't get mad at me for not keeping you updated! PLEASE comment and share your reflections so I know someone out there is reading! =)
This is absolutely awesome! Has Egypt gotten outside artists to come in and bomb or is purely local artists?
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I'll take credit for their amazing work... lol. jk. For the most part all the work is from local Egyptians. However, it's not limited to just Cairo. There have been several artists (one who is the head of an art institute from way south in Egypt) and from many other locations that have come through to leave their work behind and proclaim their messages to the world. I haven't heard too much of any artists come internationally to do work here just yet, but I'm sure it will happen because its turning into a major hot spot. At the same time, many of the graffiti artists who have become famous for their pieces have been traveling internationally to graffiti about the Egyptian revolution around the world. Pretty cool!
Deleteso excited to see some of the artwork! good luck on the project and hope you're having tons of fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Def am!
Deletethis is really great barira! wishing you the best of luck, clarity, and growth in one of the best most lively cities on earth! :D bitawfeeq
ReplyDeleteHudaaaaaaaa! Love youuuuu!!!! <3 <3
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