Harmony Or Contradiction?

Posted on February 2, 2007
Filed Under Female Species, Art/Photography, Islam |

Oh you have no idea how much I love this picture. It shares similarities with this one. I simply love it. Oh I so freaking love it! Place it infront of one of “us” and you’ll get a reaction and then place it infront of one of “them”, and you’ll get an opposite reaction. It’s little pieces of art like this one that truly matter.

G. Willow Willson shares her thoughts. I have to say, I agree with much of what she says!

Comments

10 Responses to “Harmony Or Contradiction?”

  1. Roman Kalik on February 2nd, 2007 12:22 pm

    Heh, the only thing I disagree with in Willson’s article is her comparison to other faiths.

    The Jewish head-covering and all ‘covering’-style clothing in Judaism is on par with what she describes for Muslims. Sex for pleasure isn’t an issue either, quite the contrary really. It’s sexual acts that emulate our, ah, “perverted” Canna’anite neighbors of ages past that are problematic.

    So, to sum it up, the Catholics are to blame for everything. ;-)

  2. The Usual Suspect on February 3rd, 2007 3:35 am

    This is a great photo and an insightful article by Wilson.
    I’ve written a lot on the Western view of the Hijab and Wilson hits the nail right on the head when she says that you can’t interpret the significance of the Hijab in terms of Western notions of piety.
    The problem I have, however, is that there are a lot of women who do actually think that donning the hijab makes them more pious- ascribing a Western symbolic interpretation to the Hijab and appropriating it. These women think that wearing hijab makes them somehow more “authentic”, more Muslim and attract a position of suprerior morality over those who do not wear it. This kind of position, in my observation, tends to be more prevalent among Muslims in the diaspora than those in Egypt for whom, as my sister says, the hijab has become “aadi”- a social expectation, a norm, a part of one’s attire and appearance- not specifically and solely a religious symbol.
    RK- I agree with you on that one- the notion of incompatibility between being covered (like a nun) and being a sexual being is very much Catholic!

  3. dumbwoman on February 3rd, 2007 4:35 am

    Whos to say the woman is not wearing the exact same outfit underneath her clothes? Nice pictures..

  4. Sudan fairytale on February 3rd, 2007 12:39 pm

    Love this picture and the contradictory and harmonic effect it creates - in someway it is beneficial in that is shows muslim girls can wear what they please under the right circumstance and their wishes to do that is not held back so this girl is looking at the clothes and she can buy them etc if she wants - in another aspect though it can reflect the pressure muslim girls wearing hijab can be under today because you can see the difference between how this girls appearnace is (conserved) and how the window shop(in metaphoric terms) what the the world looks - (open and uncensored )- so the picture is very strong and well written _ picture of words in some way -

  5. halalhippie on February 3rd, 2007 12:40 pm

    TUS, love your comment. Great pic. Tells a 1000 words.

    The woman in the center is wearing a colored scarf AND jeans. Interesting.

  6. Roman Kalik on February 3rd, 2007 8:14 pm

    TUS, not just that. The whole concept of sex being a neccesary evil, and that avoiding it fully makes you a more pious person is also a Catholic concept.

  7. Hipster on February 4th, 2007 12:27 pm

    Beautiful pic & enlightening article.

    Thankx for sharing:)

  8. halalhippie on February 7th, 2007 11:02 pm

    place it infront of one of “them”, and you’ll get ….

    Guess that means me… Ok then

    / Ignorant Westerner mode on

    This poor oppressed woman, whose beauty has been denied her by some old, impotent men, is staring longingly at forbidden ways to express her beauty. hmmm….. a potential market ?

    / ignorant Westerner mode off

    Patronizing, huh ?

  9. Drima on February 8th, 2007 12:50 pm

    LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL, man you never fail to crack me up. :D

  10. “Freedom” from “Freedom” : The Sudanese Thinker on December 13th, 2007 3:30 pm

    […] find other pieces of art bearing strong similarities here, here and […]

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