Wasif Jawahriyyeh, Popular Music, and Early Modernity in Jerusalem

I enjoyed learning about more in depth Jerusalem.  Mr.. Tamari’s article talked on popular music in Jerusalem.  I liked how Wasif Jawhariyyeh, a very famous musician whom I had no previous knowledge of.  From the time Wasif is born to the peak of his career, all bases are covered.  I would have enjoyed more explanation of the frequent Arabic words included in the essay.  I feel like I could have gotten more out of the paper if I had more knowledge of Arabic language and culture.  I don’t think Professor Tamari catered to all audiences.

I would like to have had a better explanation of the instrument ‘ud.  I am still confused what this instrument is.  Is there a name in English for it?  What I will take from this piece is that there is more in Jerusalem then just war and peace.  There is music, there is culture, Jerusalem is a city of great diversity of people!  Just like the movie we saw in class yesterday, I think music has great potential to bond all people of Jerusalem despite their background!

Lepers, Lunatics and Saints

I was just simply bored with this piece from Professor Tamari.  I just couldn’t find what the main idea was, and what point Tamari was trying to get across.  In the piece Tamari chronicles the lives and times of Tawfiq Canaan.  However, the reading didn’t interest me.  In my opinion the author did not enough to make me interested, and regard Canaan's life with great importance.  I liked that Tamari talked about a time in the region that was after the time in his first article.

It is increasingly interesting for me to see the conflicting opinions.  The thoughts of Palestinian Nationalism and Jewish Zionism.  Both have a very legitimate claim.  I think Canaan really saw the Jews as a negative effect on his region.  He as well as other Arabs have a legitimate claim for viewing the Jews as “occupiers”.  I think it would be very interesting if Professor Tamari brought in Canaan’s diaries to class tomorrow!