iis and turkish cultural exhibit visit
TRANSCRIPT
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7/30/2019 IIS and Turkish cultural exhibit Visit
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Nathalie Dagmang 2010-24702 BFA Sculpture
Reflection paper: IIS Visit and Turkish Cultural Exhibit
The Islamic culture is often viewed as mystical, exotic, war-loving, and others that arent really
characteristics of this culture. We may have viewed them as mystical and exotic because we are not very
familiar with their rich culture. We may have seen depictions of this culture in forms of media like mainstream
movies, tv shows and cartoons, that usually claim Muslim characters who are moneylenders, magicians, fortune
teller, or rebels.
I think it is best to know the culture of Muslims through a real Muslim who practices his/her culture in
his/her everyday life. Only a Muslim can accurately describe his/her practices and traditions, and the situation of
the Muslim community in a country like the Philippines where majority of the population are not Muslims.
Back then, I was ignorant of the Islamic culture because I didnt know a single Muslim. I grew up
watching Disneys Aladdin, believing that they are the magicians, fortune-tellers and rebels. It was only later in
high school that I learned that Christianity and Islam have the same line of faith, only differing in terms of
doctrines and the accepted prophet.
Objects and teachings from the Islamic culture still appear as mystical to me, but now more in a positive
way. Before, my mom would scare me that the bumbay would get me if I go too near, or the news would show
me images of muslims with guns. They were usually depicted in a negative way by the media, and many people
are brainwashed by it.
I think it is essential for non-Muslims to learn about their culture, for Muslims have also tried to
understand the Christian culture in order to blend in with us. They are more tolerant, in my opinion, and lesscontrolling than Christians in terms of national issues like the RH bill.
Their art amazes me, in particular the hand-crafted copperware and gold designs on jars shown in the
Turkish cultural exhibit, which was unbelievably intricate, in contrast to the usual copperware that are available
commercially. It is also important to take note of the cultural objects shown in the exhibit and the IIS library that
is somehow similar to us so that we could identify with them easily. The textiles and Chinese-influenced pottery
that were exhibited are similar to those that are found in the usual Christian home. Learning to write in Arabic
can also help in learning the Islamic culture. Their culture can be traced from the Koran and other famous
writings, which are usually written in Arabic. We can also view their differences from our own culture in a more
positive way instead of feeling alienated and scared . One interesting fact about their culture (although I didntcheck if it still holds true today) is their positive perception of fire. The sight of fire was almost pleasurable to
them. People gathered around the fire and somehow celebrated it while writers wrote about this gathering.
They accepted fire as if it was their fate and that it was meant to happen. I saw this as a manifestation of their
less materialistic culture, that they gave importance more to the plans of fate (of what is destined to happen)
than their houses and properties.