MOSAIC: Minds On Society, Arts, Ideas, and Culture

Event Time: 
Saturday, December 8, 2018 - 10:00am
Location: 
Whitney Humanities Center See map
53 Wall Street
New Haven, CT
Event Description: 

MOSAIC, an interactive lecture series, offers students the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions with Yale faculty and graduate students. Our next MOSAIC “Mechanical Horses, Galactic Sinbads and Other Unexpected Tales: Exploring the Astonishing Wonders of Classical Literature of the Middle East” will explore the history of science fiction in classic Middle Eastern literature. Fantasy, science fiction and superheroes have never been more popular. From blockbuster films (like Black Panther) to television programs (like the Game of Thrones) to the bestselling Harry Potter novels, our appetite for make-believe adventures is insatiable. But fantasy and Sci-Fi isn’t just a modern phenomenon. The classical literature of the Middle East was the source of much early European Sci-Fi writing. In Arabic and Persian, we find stories of mechanical horses that fly, galactic explorations and underwater civilizations. In this workshop and lecture, we’ll explore some of these astonishing fabulous stories by investigating primary sources, making connections to more modern narratives and hearing a special presentation about some of the historical roots of today’s fantasy and Sci-Fi craze. Facilitated by Abdul-Rehman Malik, Postgraduate Associate, Council on Middle East Studies at Yale.
To register visit: onhsa.yale.edu/MOSAIC