Art and Architecture



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Holy Land: Yesterday and Today, The
       by David, R.A. Roberts,Fabio Bourbon,Antonio Attini

      




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Islam: Art and Architecture
       by Markus Hattstein,Peter Delius

      




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Memoirs Engraved in Stone: Palestinian Urban Mansions
       by Diala Khasawneh

      




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In the Holy Land
       by D. Roberts

      




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A Civilian Occupation
       by Rafi Segal and Eyal Weizman (eds.)

       Its first edition banned in Israel, this book demonstrates how, over the last century, planning and architecture have been transformed from everyday professional practices into strategic weapons in the service of the state.




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Voyage to the Holy Land, The
       by Jean-Claude Simoen

      




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The Object of Memory: Arab and Jew Narrate the Palestinian Village
       by Susan Slyomovics

      




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Portraits of Israelis and Palestinians, for my parents
       by Seth Tobocman

      


5 out of 5 stars "Is She an Arab, or a Jew"?
by a Reader from Washington, DC, posted on Tuesday, Sep 30, 2003

Written by an American Jewish artist, this collection of sketches and portraits begins with a challenge. A question is scribbled next to the portrait of an attractive, smiling woman: "Is she an Arab, or a Jew?" Very often the conflict in the middle east is portrayed to us in media snippets as an irresolvable conflict between extremists that has been going on and will go on for centuries. Unsatisfied with this shallow depiction, Tobocman resolved to go to Israel/Palestine and penetrate the layers of journalistic obfuscation to get to the heart of the conflict: the people behind the news. We get to see images of people, on both sides. We get to see what they look like, hear what they say, and understand their fears. Before I bought this book, I browsed through a few pages. It starts with a scene of Israelis boarding a plane going to Israel, then reading the "reports of the latest bombings", and then the Teddy Bear Incident: "El Al Security Checking the Bear". Considering I have actually, believe or not, experienced that incident myself, I decided immediately to buy the book. I'm glad I did.

Artistically, the book is visually appearing and an enjoyment to read. The sketches are much more raw and unfinished than, e.g., Joe Sacco's masterpiece "Palestine". Yet this book is somewhat easier to read and perhaps contains a more positive, hopeful, message about the spirit of humanity.

Factual and accurate, it is written with a good purpose. To quote the author's introduction: "I don't claim to be an expert on the Middle East. I am neither an Israeli nor a Palestinian. But in many ways, the fate of that region has been in the hands of Americans who aren't experts. Americans like you and me. That's why it's important for us to come to a better understanding of the situation. I hope we make the right decisions.

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