Product Description:
#34521 Middle Eastern Studies - Colorado to Cairo: Voices of Youth (Run time 33 min.) DVD $59.95
This program presents two groups of high school students generating a flood of cross-cultural insights. American Islamic, Christian, and agnostic teenagers speak their minds while young Egyptian Muslims do the same-then both panels observe and react to each other. Their subjects include dating, cliques, education, religion, the impact of American entertainment, and more. Displaying a variety of backgrounds, attitudes, and visions for the future, these youthful gatherings offer a powerful remedy against stereotypes and an indispensable tool for diversity training. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (33 minutes)
#148 Middle Eastern Studies - Persian Miniatures from the Shahnameh (Run time min.) DVD $89.95
The Shahnameh, Iran's national epic, has been illustrated again and again over the course of Persian history. This epic poem, written by the poet Firdausi in the early 11th century, recounts Persia's mythological and historical past. This program traces the development of Shahnameh painting over three centuries and under the patronage of three distinct Persian dynasties. Parallels between miniature painting and other art forms of the time are drawn, and the cultural settings in which this art flourished are examined. This fascinating look at a unique art form was produced with the assistance of the Fogg Art Museum. (30 minutes)
#1621 Middle Eastern Studies - The Suez Crisis: 1956 (Run time 20 min.) DVD $89.95
This documentary looks at the African side of the 1956 Arab-Israeli conflict-the British-French attempt to safeguard their economic interest in the Suez Canal. It explains the Anglo-French intervention of 1956, rapidly and forcefully put to an end by President Eisenhower; it also goes back in time to explain Britain's role in the Suez area, its history in Egypt, and its condescending view of Egyptian competence. (20 minutes, b&w)
#2606 Middle Eastern Studies - Israel: The First Forty Years (Run time 49 min.) DVD $89.95
Showing Palestine under the British Protectorate and the arrival of Holocaust survivors in 1946, this program properly begins with David Ben-Gurion's proclamation of the state of Israel, and proceeds through the tumultuous first 40 years of the oldest surviving nation and the newest democracy in the Middle East. Included in the program are the '67 and '73 wars, the invasion of Lebanon and the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear plant, the trial of Adolf Eichmann, Yad Vashem, life on a kibbutz, the liberation of the Wailing Wall, the Camp David agreement, the move of Israeli settlers into West Bank territories, the arrival of Falashas from Ethiopia and Anatoly Shcharansky from the Soviet Union, and much more. (49 minutes)
#5872 Middle Eastern Studies - Ben-Gurion (Run time 50 min.) DVD $89.95
This documentary tells the story of David Ben-Gurion, the man who bore the greatest responsibility for the creation of the State of Israel: the early interest in Hebrew and youthful proselytizing for Jewish causes assuming sudden urgency from the 1903 pogrom at Kishinev and the call not to stand by and be massacred; the new reason for going to Palestine-national, not religious; his arrival with the second aliyah; the choice of a Hebrew name: Ben-Gurion was the last leader of the free Jewish state before the Roman subjugation. The program continues through the travails and terrors and defeats and joys of Palestine under the Ottoman Turks and the British Mandate, the Holocaust, the UN Partition Resolution, the establishment of the State of Israel, and his career as Israel's first Prime Minister. (50 minutes)
#6782 Middle Eastern Studies - The Arabs: Who They Are, Who They Are Not (Run time 28 min.) DVD $89.95
In this program, Moyers and several prominent experts of Arab descent explore how the image of Arabs as religious fanatics was formed. Edward Said, professor of English at Columbia University, discusses the richness, diversity, and distinguished history of the Arab culture. Former United States Senator James Abourezk, and Jack Shaheen, author of The TV Arab, discuss the dehumanization of Arabs in the American media. (28 minutes)
#6783 Middle Eastern Studies - The Historic Memory (Run time 28 min.) DVD $89.95
In this program, Moyers and three recognized Arab historians discuss the major historical periods in the Arab world, from its ancient past as a leader in science, mathematics, and literature, through colonization by the French and British, to the present. The Koran is discussed as a constitutional document, and the role of the West in Arab political affairs is analyzed. (28 minutes)
#6784 Middle Eastern Studies - The Image of God (Run time 28 min.) DVD $89.95
In this program, Moyers and experts discuss the religion of Islam-its history, sectarian divisions, core beliefs, and use by Arab politicians as a legitimizing force. Distortions of the Islamic image in the American media are discussed. Holy War-jihad-is defined and put into context. (28 minutes)
#6785 Middle Eastern Studies - The Bonds of Pride (Run time 28 min.) DVD $89.95
This program explores the nature of the Arab identity and the main cultural ties that hold the Arab world together-language, the Koran, historical vision, literature and poetry, and humor. Cultural diversity among various Arab groups is examined, along with the role of women in Islamic society. Methods of education-the ancient Arab technique stressing memory versus more modern methods introduced during the period of European colonization-are compared. (28 minutes)
#6786 Middle Eastern Studies - Arabs and the West (Run time 28 min.) DVD $89.95
In this program, Bill Moyers talks with scholar, writer, and economist Charles Issawi about the sources of Arab resentment toward the West and the possibility of better relations in the future. Issawi explains the Arab world's reluctance to modernize and its aversion to the secular nature of Western society-especially in the area of sexual freedom. The history of Islamic fundamentalism in the Arab world is traced, and its impact on Arab/West relations is discussed. (28 minutes)
#11388 Middle Eastern Studies - The End of Days (Run time 36 min.) DVD $89.95
About 2,000 years ago, a group of people lived at Qumran, on the shore of the Dead Sea. Were they really the Essenes? And did the inhabitants write the more than 800 scrolls that were found there? In this program, Geza Vermes, of Oxford University; Lawrence Schiffman, of New York University; archaeologist Hanan Eshel; and other experts search for the answers. The startling counter-theories of Norman Golb and Yitzhar Hirschfeld are also considered. Close-ups of scroll and pottery fragments, footage of the dig at Qumran, models and drawings, and readings from the War Scroll, Temple Scroll, and Copper Scroll are included. (36 minutes)
#11389 Middle Eastern Studies - A Common Heritage (Run time 33 min.) DVD $89.95
What can the Dead Sea Scrolls tell modern theologians about 1st-century Judaism and the roots of Christianity? Drawing on the experiences of Frank Moore Cross, of Harvard University; Emanuel Tov, chief editor of the Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project; James Charlesworth, of Princeton Theological Seminary; and other experts, this program describes the battle for open access to the scrolls while exploring the common heritage that links both faiths. In addition, Barbara Thiering airs her radical hypothesis. Footage of the Pope in Jerusalem and readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls Beatitudes and the Thanksgiving Scroll are included. (33 minutes)
#29768 Middle Eastern Studies - Saudi Arabia: Friend or Foe? (Run time 22 min.) DVD $89.95
In the aftermath of the attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, how well is Saudi Arabia juggling its roles as a U.S. ally, an opponent of terrorism, and a stronghold of Islamic culture? This ABC News program opens with a background report by correspondent Chris Bury that goes straight to the heart of the question. Afterwards, Richard Murphy, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum and columnist for The New York Post, assess with anchor Ted Koppel the reliability of the Saudis in the war against terrorism. (22 minutes)
#30433 Middle Eastern Studies - NOW with Bill Moyers: Justice and Jihad (Run time 58 min.) DVD $89.95
Hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians continue to flare, while small-scale conflicts in postwar Iraq proceed unabated-will the bloodshed and anguish in the Middle East never end? In this special edition of NOW with Bill Moyers, the Aspen Institute and Moyers invite eight journalists and scholars to participate in a dialogue exploring the religious and political roots of these chronic troubles. Rich in information and constructive commentary, their conversation yields not only the context and history of the hatred but the outline of a viable future accord. (58 minutes)
#30434 Middle Eastern Studies - Islam vs. Islam: A Special Edition of NOW with Bill Moyers (Run time 58 min.) DVD $89.95
In the West, Islam is often oversimplified-to the detriment of better understanding this complex religion and the diverse interpretations inspired by its tenets. The Aspen Institute and Bill Moyers brought together eight journalists and scholars from the U.S., Pakistan, France, Iraq, Turkey, India, and Britain to join in a conversation about the history and motives of the states too easily grouped under the heading "Islamic nations." The panelists identify and explore the fulcrum of the conflict: increasing tension between the growth of religious expression in the region and the pressures of modernity from the West. (58 minutes)
#31149 Middle Eastern Studies - Inside the Kingdom: Life in Saudi Arabia (Run time 23 min.) DVD $89.95
Saudi Arabia is a land of contradictions where Western ideas and Islamic law rub shoulders and often clash. This ABC News program gains entrance to this powerful and mysterious kingdom to examine the politics, religion, and culture of one of America's key Muslim allies. Tensions surrounding the 9/11 hijackings, the country's rampant unemployment, declining oil revenues, and the ongoing drama in the Middle East are all on the agenda. (23 minutes)
#33148 Middle Eastern Studies - NOW with Bill Moyers: Amal Amireh on Life in the Occupied West Bank (Run time 28 min.) DVD $89.95
Amal Amireh is a Muslim Palestinian who lived in Ramallah most of her life. In this program, Dr. Amireh, currently a member of the English department at George Mason University, talks with Bill Moyers about the hardships of life under Israeli military occupation. "The occupation is not something abstract," she says; "it's something that affects people's lives daily. It's about resources...it's about water, about land, about jobs. That is what the occupation is." Suicide bombings and a two-state solution to the Palestinian/Israeli deadlock are also discussed. (27 minutes)
#37176 Middle Eastern Studies - Stop the Flow: Analyzing the Causes of EU Immigration (Run time 26 min.) DVD $89.95
Can Western aid to the developing world help to stem the tide of foreign workers into the EU? This program reports on European initiatives intended to improve conditions in Africa and the Middle East and thus reduce the number of job-seekers entering the European Union. With a spotlight on human rights, fair trade, the global war on poverty, the role of the private sector, and the frustrations of young unemployed foreigners, the program uses Morocco as a specific case study and also outlines the significance of the Middle East peace process. Additional insight comes from activists and businesspeople in developing countries and from Louis Michel, EU Commissioner of Development and Humanitarian Aid. (27 minutes)
#37179 Middle Eastern Studies - Bill Moyers Journal: Buying the War (Run time 87 min.) DVD $89.95
The Bush administration marketed and sold the war in Iraq to the American people. How and why did the press buy it, and what does that say about the role of journalists in helping the public sort out fact from propaganda? In this program, veteran journalist Bill Moyers, award-winning producer Kathleen Hughes, and their investigative team piece together the reporting and political spin that shaped the public mind prior to, during, and following the 2003 invasion. Exposing the disappearance of a watchdog mentality in mainstream newspaper and TV journalism, the documentary also highlights the work of intrepid Knight Ridder reporters who dug beneath the surface of administration claims-only to be drowned out by the drums of war. Further insight comes from journalists Dan Rather, former anchor of CBS Evening News; Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press; Bob Simon of 60 Minutes; and Walter Isaacson, former chairman of CNN. (87 minutes)
#37522 Middle Eastern Studies - Bill Moyers Journal: June 8, 2007 (Run time min.) DVD $89.95
Emerging from under the cloud of bankruptcy, Northwest Airlines has cut $1.4 billion from annual labor costs-while increasing executive pay. Bill Moyers looks at yet another industry in which CEOs fly high on salaries and perks while workers and retirees must tighten their belts. Also on the program: What's next for Afghanistan? Journalist Christian Parenti, just back from his fourth visit to the forgotten front line, discusses the growing influence of warlords in government, the resurgence of the Taliban and the drug trade, and life on the ground in the struggling nation. In addition, Episcopal presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori-spiritual leader of more than two million American worshipers-talks about science, the environment, and the rift in her church over the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy. Broadcast date: June 8, 2007. (58 minutes)
#38970 Middle Eastern Studies - Bill Moyers Journal: Christian Zionism and the Rhetoric of Preemptive War (Run time 58 min.) DVD $89.95
As leader of Christians United for Israel, Pastor John Hagee wants to bring millions of Christians together to support Israel, but some say his message is dangerous. This program features an interview with Pastor Hagee, after which Bill Moyers gets theological and political context on Christian Zionism from Timothy Weber and Michael Lerner. Dr. Weber, an evangelical Christian and a historian, is the author of On the Road to Armageddon: How Evangelicals Became Israel's Best Friend; Rabbi Lerner is the editor of the Jewish journal Tikkun. Also on the program: one year after the massacre at Nickel Mines, a look at what the Amish can teach others about healing. Broadcast date: October 5, 2007. (58 minutes)
#38983 Middle Eastern Studies - Bill Moyers Journal: September 28, 2007 (Run time 58 min.) DVD $89.95
Is there a crisis in American capitalism? Investment industry luminary John Bogle-one of Fortune's four "Giants of the 20th Century"-tells Bill Moyers that as more and more money managers take control over corporations on Wall Street, stockholders are paying the price. Turning to Iraq, the program looks at what is happening in the war-torn country's neighboring states, focusing on the rising number of displaced Iraqis-a figure topping 4 million, according to some estimates. NPR's Deborah Amos, just back from Damascus, and The New Yorker's George Packer discuss the regional humanitarian crisis emerging from the Iraq war. In addition, Bill Moyers remembers two soldiers fallen in Iraq. Broadcast date: September 28, 2007. (58 minutes)
#39519 Middle Eastern Studies - Bill Moyers Journal: Mission Accomplished in Iraq? / Contexts and Subtexts of the Obama/Clinton Race (Run time 58 min.) DVD $89.95
Five years have passed since George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq. In this edition of the Journal, Bill Moyers interviews Christopher Cerf and Victor S. Navasky, cofounders of "The Institute of Expertology," about their latest book: Mission Accomplished!, a satirical analysis of so-called expert commentary on how the U.S. won the (ongoing) war in Iraq. In addition, media and politics expert Kathleen Hall Jamieson examines the contexts and subtexts of the 2008 quest for the Democratic nomination as the candidates bounce between Indiana and North Carolina, and Moyers reflects on the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the controversy swirling around him. Broadcast date: May 2, 2008. (57 minutes)
#7687 Middle Eastern Studies - Edward Said (Run time 40 min.) DVD $99.95
In this program, noted scholar Edward Said discusses his postcolonial theory and how it applies to modern culture, from politics to literature. He exposes the Western image of the East as an artificial construct that is still retained today. He discusses Palestine as a politically expedient construct of Europe; argues the right of Palestine to exist as an independent, self-governing nation; and traces the origins of European attitudes toward the Arab world through the literature of E. M. Forster, T. S. Eliot, Joseph Conrad, and Chinua Achebe. (40 minutes)
#8817 Middle Eastern Studies - Honorable Murder (Run time 57 min.) DVD $99.95
In many Middle Eastern countries, honor is so highly prized that it is considered more valuable than life itself. This program examines the code of conduct that makes each woman a sacred vessel of her family's honor-and the practice of atoning for any family member's breach of that code with her blood. Scholars, judges, and clergymen discuss the culturally sanctioned practice of "honorable murder," while fathers, brothers, and mothers talk about the communal pressure to adhere to the honor code and how the loss of daughters and sisters has affected their lives. Interviews with some of the "lucky" ones-women who were imprisoned rather than executed-are also included. (57 minutes)
#11205 Middle Eastern Studies - The Media and Democracy in the Arab World (Run time 45 min.) DVD $129.95
This program goes behind the scenes at Al Jazeera, "the CNN of Arabia." Dedicated to freedom of speech, Al Jazeera has earned the admiration of the West and the ire of the Arab nations-with the exception of Qatar, where the independent news agency is based. Interviews, clips of the highly controversial and extremely popular debate show The Opposite Direction, and reportage covering the first democratic election in Qatar, the role of women in Iranian politics, jihad in Afghanistan, U.S./British air strikes on Iraq, and the war in Kosovo demonstrate Al Jazeera's commitment to boldly present "the other opinion." (45 minutes)
#11411 Middle Eastern Studies - The Arabs Make Their Entrance: Islam and Empire (Run time 26 min.) DVD $129.95
As the shadow of the Dark Ages fell across Europe, the scene for the advancement of Western civilization shifted to the Near East. This program charts the rise of the Arab empire, from its roots in the long-standing rivalry between the Byzantines and the Sassanids. Nodes along that timeline include the dual role of Mecca as a place of worship and as a center for trade, the life of Muhammad and the birth of Islam, the rapid expansion of Arabia at the expense of Byzantium and the Sassanid kingdom, and the internecine struggle between Arab factions that led to the founding of the Umayyad dynasty. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 26 minutes)
#11412 Middle Eastern Studies - Once Upon a Time: Baghdad During the Abbasid Dynasty (Run time 26 min.) DVD $129.95
The victory of the Abbasids over the Umayyads signified much more than the replacement of one dynasty with another. With it, Islam saw the birth of a multiethnic concept of power, in which both Arab and non-Arab Muslims could share authority. This program presents the Abbasid Caliphate at its peak, enthroned in its prestigious capital city: Baghdad. The defining project of Caliph al-Ma'amun, the translation by an army of clerks of all the ancient writings his emissaries could procure, is spotlighted-an achievement that set the stage for an eventual showdown between religious and secular scholars. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 26 minutes)
#11413 Middle Eastern Studies - The Andalusian Epic: Islamic Spain (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
This program addresses the expansion of the Arab empire into Spain, where Muslims ruled with tolerance for more than seven centuries. The introduction and consolidation of Islamic power in Spain, the creation of the Umayyad emirate by the sole survivor of the Umayyad dynasty, the rise of Cordoba as a cultural rival of Abbasid Baghdad, and the gradual ebb of Arab rule on the Iberian Peninsula are all discussed. Special attention is given to the prosperous reign of Abdel Rahman III and the flowering of a Muslim culture that respectfully welcomed the contributions of Christians and Jews alike. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 27 minutes)
#11414 Middle Eastern Studies - They Surveyed the World: Exploring the Arab Empire and Beyond (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
During the 10th century, people routinely journeyed from one end of the huge Arab empire to the other-and even into non-Islamic lands far to the north and the east. Who were these travelers, and what did they seek? This program captures what it was like to be a pilgrim in a caravan bound for Mecca, an official carrying out the Caliph's orders, a scholar seeking knowledge, a merchant in search of new markets, and an explorer charting the seas. Some of the era's most memorable personalities-the mathematician al-Khuwarizmi, the chronicler Abul Hasan Ali al-Mas'udi, the cartographer Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Hawqal-are profiled. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 27 minutes)
#11416 Middle Eastern Studies - An Art of Living: Arab Aesthetics in 9th-Century Spain (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
As life among the aristocracy in Damascus and Baghdad attained its zenith of refinement, another important cultural center was developing in Islamic Cordoba. This program focuses on the remarkable cultural contributions of Ziryab, a talented young musician who fled the East for Andalusia and became the era's preeminent arbiter of style and taste. After creating a popular new form of music and perfecting the lute and other instruments, he went on to radically reshape Arab high society, inventing new fashions and hairstyles, introducing fine dining, and creating a thriving market for all manner of luxury goods. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 27 minutes)
#11417 Middle Eastern Studies - The Secrets of the Human Body: Islam's Contributions to Medicine (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
This program investigates the practice of medicine during the Abbasid Caliphate, offering profiles of Jurjis ibn Jibrail, personal doctor to Caliph al-Mansur; Yuhanna ibn Masawayh, head of Caliph al-Ma'amun's House of Wisdom; Rhazes, whose Kitab al-hawi outlines an exemplary clinical approach; Avicenna, universally known for his Canon of Medicine; and Abul Qasim al-Zahrawi, the father of modern surgery. The Islamic concern with the relationship between the body and the soul is also discussed, as is the founding of hospitals, one of the great achievements of Islamic society. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 27 minutes)
#11421 Middle Eastern Studies - From Arabic to Latin: The Assimilation of Arab Knowledge (Run time 26 min.) DVD $129.95
As dissension mounted between the rival Arab dynasties in Baghdad, Cordoba, and Cairo, Christendom rallied to oppose the Muslims in Spain and Jerusalem. This program plots out the decline of the Empire of the Caliphate and the acquisition of Arab knowledge by Europeans starved for Islam's intellectual riches. The rise of feudalism and papal authority, the gradual defeat of the Muslim rulers in Spain, the Seljuk usurpation of Abbasid power in the Near East, and the Crusades are explained, along with the concerted efforts of Catholic authorities to translate the vast libraries of Arab scientific and philosophic texts. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 26 minutes)
#11422 Middle Eastern Studies - Forgetting the Arabs: Europe on the Cusp of the Renaissance (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
Why was Islamic philosophy, once the epitome of Arab learning, eventually rejected by Muslims? And why, after assimilating it, did Europeans distance themselves from its formulators? This program seeks to understand the religious climate of the late Middle Ages, in which universities and madrassas became centers of power and models for evolving sociopolitical systems. The potentially heretical nature of philosophy is also analyzed-in Islamic lands the djinni of intellectuality was put back in the bottle, but in Christendom it escaped the control of those who used it, paving the way for Renaissance humanism. (Portions in French with English subtitles, 27 minutes)
#32503 Middle Eastern Studies - The Aftermath: A Visit to Postwar Iraq (Run time 46 min.) DVD $129.95
Just a day after the cease-fire, news correspondents in this program journeyed into Baghdad to offer firsthand perspectives on the political, social, and religious fault lines exposed with the fall of Saddam Hussein. Balanced in its assessment, the program features interviews with Iraqi clerics, businessmen, scholars, and street protesters, as well as U.S. Army soldiers and their commanders, providing valuable insights into the complexities and problems that will play themselves out in the months and years to come. (46 minutes)
#35359 Middle Eastern Studies - Stories of Women in Kabul (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
The producers of this program were granted unlimited access to Kabul's Baghe Zanana, or Garden of Women-perhaps the only public place in Afghanistan where men are not welcome. Here, women can gather, dance, and remove their burqas without fear of violence or alienation. In stark contrast, a women's prison is also visited. The courageous figures who inhabit these settings-including a resident therapist who conducts support groups for the frightened and the traumatized, and a cafeteria employee struggling to improve her family's living conditions-demonstrate how far Afghanistan must go to overcome its repressive and war-ravaged history. A Deutsche Welle Production. (27 minutes)
#35662 Middle Eastern Studies - The Curse of Oil (Run time 52 min.) DVD $129.95
This program offers a global history of the oil industry and the issues intertwined with it, from early-20th-century prospecting in South America and the Middle East to war in Iraq. The origins and significance of OPEC figure prominently in the narrative, as do several historic and violent conflicts revolving around controlling sources or flows of oil: labor strikes in Latin America, Nasser's seizure of the Suez Canal, the Iran-Iraq war, and other pivotal events. Revealing interviews feature, among others, former OPEC leader Sheikh Ahmed Yamani and former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia James Akins-who minces no words and calls oil a curse. (52 minutes)
#36140 Middle Eastern Studies - The Saudi Question: What Fate Awaits the World's Top Oil Exporter? (Run time 58 min.) DVD $129.95
Despite severe restrictions on Western media, this Wide Angle documentary goes deep inside the ruling elite of the Saudi kingdom. With an introduction to the royal family from reform-minded Prince Turki al-Faisal, the program explores the Saudi government's ability-or lack thereof-to implement lasting democratic change. It records an extraordinary emergency council session convened by then Crown Prince Abdullah and features an interview with Jamal Khaleefa, Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law. Conversations with ordinary citizens are also included-presenting Saudis who welcome progressive reforms and Wahabist hardliners who advocate the destruction of all infidels. In addition, Senator Joseph R. Biden discusses Saudi Arabia with anchor Carol Marin. (57 minutes)
#36145 Middle Eastern Studies - Red Lines and Deadlines: Inside Iran's Reformist Media (Run time 58 min.) DVD $129.95
Twenty-five years after the Islamic Revolution, Iran is struggling for political reform. Some of the most visible signs of struggle can be found in the nation's media. This Wide Angle documentary goes behind the scenes at Shargh, one of Iran's new pro-reform newspapers, illustrating its efforts to report the news without incurring the "blade of censorship"-an ever-present threat from Iranian authorities. Showing how Shargh has quickly cultivated a loyal readership among Iran's intellectuals, opinion-makers, politicians, and youth, the program features eye-opening scenes of daring young journalists covering Iran's controversial 2005 presidential elections. In addition, Judith Kipper discusses Iran with anchor Bill Moyers. (57 minutes)
#36147 Middle Eastern Studies - Future for Lebanon: Politics after the Cedar Revolution (Run time 58 min.) DVD $129.95
Through coverage of Lebanon's 2005 legislative elections-the first since the end of its 15-year civil war without the presence of occupying Syrian forces-this Wide Angle report explores political change in the oldest democracy in the Middle East. It also provides a solid grounding in Lebanese politics for viewers studying current events in the region. A democracy advocate, a Hezbollah candidate, and a youth organizer for the Future Movement air their views as the Lebanese political process grapples with old sectarian tensions. In addition, anchor Daljit Dhaliwal discusses Lebanon with Michael Elliott, editor of Time International. (57 minutes)
#36234 Middle Eastern Studies - Shaping the Emirates (Run time 27 min.) DVD $129.95
Focusing on trade, education, and technological progress, this program outlines the late-20th-century history of the United Arab Emirates and details its emergence among the most advanced, liberal nations in the Middle East. Incorporating the recollections of elderly U.A.E. citizens who have witnessed sweeping changes within their lifetimes, the program also presents conversations with young professionals-including a stockbroker, a diplomat, and a satellite communications specialist-as well as students at Zayed University, a thriving institution for women only. The program emphasizes the visionary decision of former president Sheik Zayed to invest in education programs. (27 minutes)
#37131 Middle Eastern Studies - Amin Maalouf: Building Bridges Between East and West-in French with English Subtitles (Run time 30 min.) DVD $129.95
"My role as a writer is to create positive myths," says Amin Maalouf. The Lebanese-born novelist and journalist also acknowledges "the material that history gives me." This program features conversations with Maalouf about his imaginative, historically grounded novels and his identity as a Christian Arab living in Paris. On-screen readings by the author present excerpts and themes from Leo Africanus, Rock of Tanios, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes, and In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong. While Maalouf's views on recent Middle East conflicts reveal a degree of skepticism, the staging of Kaija Saariaho's opera L'amour de loin, for which Maalouf wrote the libretto, evokes his faith in the power of cross-cultural connections. (French with English subtitles, 30 minutes)
#37298 Middle Eastern Studies - Pilgrimage to Karbala: Iran, Iraq, and Shia Islam (Run time 87 min.) DVD $129.95
It is the summer of 2006, and a bus filled with Iranian men and women sets out on a perilous journey to the holy sites of Najaf and Karbala in war-torn Iraq. Wide Angle accompanies them on their pilgrimage-revealing many of the attitudes, beliefs, and emotions that add to the complexity of modern Islam. As the bus rolls through breathtaking desert landscapes, the five-day odyssey takes on spiritual as well as historical dimensions. Each traveler recalls past anxieties and dangers-having lived through Iran's 1979 revolution and its war with Iraq-and each marvels at the chance to experience the longed-for Karbala pilgrimage, impossible during Saddam Hussein's rule. In addition to this moving and sometimes disturbing story, anchor Daljit Dhaliwal talks with Dr. Vali Nasr, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future. (87 minutes)
#7106 Middle Eastern Studies - Part 1: The Roots of War (Run time 50 min.) DVD $149.95
This program traces the economic and political roots of the Gulf War. Arab officials, including the Prime Minister of Kuwait, discuss historically bitter feelings between Iraq and Kuwait. Shortly before the war, the dispute took the form of Iraqi demands for Kuwaiti land, and Kuwaiti threats to lower oil prices in the region. Jordan attempted to mediate the dispute, but the U.S. undermined a peace plan proposed by the late King Hussein. Former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, and Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia comment. (50 minutes)
#7107 Middle Eastern Studies - Part 2: No Turning Back (Run time 50 min.) DVD $149.95
This program covers the fascinating behind-the-scenes diplomacy that took place as war became inevitable. Former Secretary of State James Baker describes how Saudi Arabia, at the request of the U.S., offered economic aid to the Soviets in return for their support. Baker and an American embassy official describe how the U.S. punished Yemen for not supporting the war by withholding aid, and rewarded Syria for allying itself with pro-war Arab nations. Jordanian Prime Minister Mudar Badran describes his country's problems in dealing with the huge influx of refugees fleeing the impending conflict. Atrocities committed against Kuwaiti nationals by Iraqis are described by a survivor. (50 minutes)
#7108 Middle Eastern Studies - Part 3: Mother of All Battles (Run time 50 min.) DVD $149.95
In this program, battlefield footage captures the intensity of the war, the bombing of Iraqi military sites, and Scud missile attacks on Tel Aviv. Iraqi Prime Minister Tariq Aziz describes events leading up to the truce brokered by the Soviets. U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf discusses his frustration with Washington's decision not to continue the war despite Iraqi atrocities in Kuwait and Saddam Hussein's brutal repression of the Kurds. (50 minutes)
#8547 Middle Eastern Studies - The Conflict (Run time 52 min.) DVD $149.95
May 14, 1948: David Ben-Gurion declared the independence of the Jewish state of Israel. The following day the neighboring Arab populations declared war. Israel was born from this conflict and emerged a refuge for a people dispersed throughout the world, yet still engaged in combat with its Arab neighbors for its right to exist. This program presents the history of Israel, from its founding Zionist fathers in the 19th century such as Theodor Herzl, to the war of independence and the emergence of Israel as a prosperous, independent Jewish state. (52 minutes)
#8548 Middle Eastern Studies - The Ingathering (Run time 52 min.) DVD $149.95
Ben-Gurion's founding principles of the Israeli state were security and immigration. This program examines the history of Jewish immigration and the conflux of cultures that exist within the broader cultural/religious identity of the Israeli population. In addition to identifying as Jewish, Israelis also identify themselves as Polish, Russian, Hungarian, Romanian, Libyan, Algerian, Yemenite, and Ethiopian. Yet as the Jewish state prospers and grows, the latest wave of immigrants, the Ethiopians, feel unwelcome. The program explores the question of cultural identity and heritage in a multicultural society founded on a principle of inclusion for all Jewish people. (52 minutes)
#8549 Middle Eastern Studies - The People's Army (Run time 54 min.) DVD $149.95
Born in battle and ever struggling to survive, Israel requires compulsory military service for women as well as men. This program traces the history of the Israel Defense Forces in all of its conflicts, from the war for independence, where many immigrants went directly from their ships into battle; to the formation of Unit 101, the forerunner of the famed and feared paratrooper battalions; to the crack commando teams that protect the borders and police the trouble spots within the country today. The program also includes the details of present-day life in the field with the IDF. As ever, being an Israeli means being a soldier. (54 minutes)
#8550 Middle Eastern Studies - Whose State? Whose Religion? (Run time 53 min.) DVD $149.95
Israel was founded by Zionists, who viewed Israel as the Promised Land, the patrimony of the Jewish people. Today, many Israelis define themselves as a nation, not as a religion. Does being an Israeli mean embracing a religion, or is it a national identity? This program examines this divisive question that has pitted Israeli against Jew. Beginning with the forefathers who founded Israel on Zionist principles, to those who have immigrated seeking a homeland, this question of identity continues to shape Israeli politics and policy. (53 minutes)
#8551 Middle Eastern Studies - From the Orange to the Chip: Israel's Economic Revolution (Run time 53 min.) DVD $149.95
In its quest to boost per capita income to the level of Western Europe and the U.S., Israel has progressed from exporting Jaffa oranges to developing high-tech computer chips in just 50 years. This program explores the ups and downs of the economic revolution that has occurred in this arid, resource-poor region surrounded by historically hostile neighbors. Today, technology rather than agriculture is the backbone of Israel's economic vitality, as it continues its drive to maintain its position as a force in the world technology market, leveraging its diverse and talented human capital. (53 minutes)
#8552 Middle Eastern Studies - Future Peace, Next War (Run time 52 min.) DVD $149.95
At the time of Israel's golden anniversary, it was a nation torn between its political left and right. In this program, the vision of Israel's purpose and scope-and the leaders who have interpreted and shaped that vision-is discussed. From the first Begin/Sadat meeting in Jerusalem to the war against the PLO in Lebanon, from the post-Gulf War peace initiatives to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's history has been a story of the search for a lasting peace, but within the context of almost constant war. Even today, the volatile issues of security and territorial compromise remain unresolved. (52 minutes)
#10440 Middle Eastern Studies - Yemen: Land of the Queen of Sheba (Run time 54 min.) DVD $149.95
Is the Queen of Sheba, ruler of Saba, a figure of legend or of history? This program delves deeply into Yemen's past on a journey of discovery, visiting important stops on the caravan route that once carried frankincense-the principal source of wealth and power in ancient Yemen's three kingdoms-to market in Palestine, the Levant, and even Rome. Archaeological artifacts from the collection housed in Sana'a and footage from Wendell Phillips' 1950 expedition offer a tantalizing glimpse of a civilization long gone and a queen who lives on in the cultural memory of her country. (54 minutes)
#29377 Middle Eastern Studies - The Living Martyr: Inside the Hezbollah (Run time 53 min.) DVD $149.95
For militant followers of Islam, the highest honor is to be dubbed al-shahid al-hai-"the living martyr," one who has irrevocably committed himself to dying in a suicide attack against the organization's enemies. Why do boys and young men so readily embrace this ideal? And how do the mothers, sisters, and daughters feel about it and the honor that it confers upon them? Filled with exclusive interviews with Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance fighters and their families as well as chilling footage of suicide mission preparations, this program is a must-see documentary for anyone seeking to understand the political situation in the Middle East and beyond. (53 minutes)
#30289 Middle Eastern Studies - Mrs. President: Women and Political Leadership in Iran (Run time 47 min.) DVD $149.95
In the summer of 2001, 47 Iranian women neither affiliated with nor supported by any political party registered themselves as candidates for the presidential elections. Due to the Guardian Council's interpretation of a clause in the constitution, none of the women were allowed to run. This documentary presents the thoughts and opinions of six female candidates who agreed to be interviewed, along with the commentary of two female Iranian journalists who cover political developments for magazines in their country. They discuss their efforts in trying to change both governmental and popular opinion regarding the role of women in Iranian politics and society. Produced by Shahla Haeri, Director of Boston University's Women's Studies Program. (47 minutes)
#30480 Middle Eastern Studies - Afghanistan: In the Company of Warlords (Run time 27 min.) DVD $149.95
After being ravaged by more than a quarter century of war, Afghanistan then became the epicenter of America's war on terrorism. Now, with the defeat of the Taliban, the United States and its allies are seeking to rebuild that shattered country. This program looks at the massive obstacles hindering outside efforts to help Afghanistan gain stability, such as widespread corruption, lack of centralized authority, and anarchy outside of the capital, Kabul. The rivalries between warlords epitomize the legacy of a country devastated by armed conflict and repeatedly plundered over generations by its own leaders as well as by invading armies. (27 minutes)
#30919 Middle Eastern Studies - 9/11 Through Saudi Eyes (Run time 53 min.) DVD $149.95
In this program, a broad cross-section of Saudis-parents and neighbors of the accused hijackers, editors of Arab News and Asharq Al Awasat, political and military analysts, a psychologist, and others-give their perceptions of events and issues involving September 11th. Interviews provide background on and insights into the lives and minds of the alleged hijackers, the recruitment practices of al Qaeda, the co-opting of jihad for militant political ends, Osama bin Laden's cult of personality, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and frustration over U.S. foreign policy. This video, the first documentary to scrutinize 9/11 from the Saudi perspective, is a powerful learning tool for students of political science, the Middle East, and Islam. (Portions in Arabic with English subtitles, 53 minutes)
#32069 Middle Eastern Studies - Eye of the Storm: Jerusalem's Temple Mount (Run time 52 min.) DVD $149.95
At the heart of the Middle East conflict stands the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Holy ground for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, this 35-acre plot is the world's most contested piece of land. Filmed on location, this timely program presents a wide array of perspectives on the role and future of the Temple Mount. Numerous interviews bring together political and religious activists-from moderate to radical-from all three faiths, including Jewish groups actively preparing for the reestablishment of King Solomon's Temple and evangelical Christians taking similar steps that they believe will hasten the Second Coming. (52 minutes)
#33534 Middle Eastern Studies - Khomeini's Children: Imprisoned Youth? (Run time 54 min.) DVD $149.95
The generation of students who overthrew the Shah's regime in Iran some 25 years ago championed the synthesis of Islam with leftist ideologies. But today's generation has no direct recollection of that regime, and they regard it as one with greater personal liberties than they now enjoy. This program examines the present condition of those who grew up during Ayotollah Khomeini's Islamic Revolution, with particular emphasis on how these young people yearn for secular freedoms-drinking, dancing, dating-considered to be against the Islamic way of life. An insightful look at the real lives of Iran's generation X. (54 minutes)
#34577 Middle Eastern Studies - In Search of Palestine: Edward Said's Return Home (Run time 50 min.) DVD $149.95
For Palestinian expatriate Edward Said, the return to his homeland amounted to a painful inquiry into his past. This program captures the interconnection between Said's personal recollections and the shared memory of the Palestinian people. Far from ignoring the contemporary realities of the Middle East, Said's perspective relates the ruins of history to the complacent and destructive policies of present-day governments, and delivers a powerful articulation of the weaknesses of the Oslo accords. His intellectual legacy provides valuable insight into the circumstances of the second intifada, as well as the faint steps toward peace that have followed. A BBCW Production. (50 minutes)
#37637 Middle Eastern Studies - Islamic Art: India and the Middle East (Run time 60 min.) DVD $149.95
In this program, art critic Waldemar Januszczak travels through the heart of the Middle East and beyond to study a wide range of Islamic architecture, decoration, and art objects. Providing helpful historical background on the faith-with an eye on the explosive spread of early Islamic culture-the program examines the pristine beauty of India's Taj Mahal as well as one of the world's oldest surviving mosques, and what may be its most spectacular: the Great Mosque in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Dispelling the myth that Islam forbids all pictorial images, Januszczak analyzes mosaics commissioned by Umayyad caliphs Al-Walid I and II-including one uninhabited cityscape that seems to depict heavenly paradise. (60 minutes)
#38824 Middle Eastern Studies - The Sand Castle: Building a City in the Desert of Ras al-Khaimah (Run time 57 min.) DVD $149.95
A magnet for tourists, investors, and Fortune 500 companies, the United Arab Emirates is an oasis of economic success-but the wealth is not shared equally among its sheikdoms. In the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi has a plan to attract more business to his oil-poor realm: a new capital city designed to become the region's center of trade, industry, and tourism. But can the team of Norwegian architecture firm Snohetta and the renowned Rem Koolhaas make an iconic city bloom in the desert? This Wide Angle report has the answer. In addition, Afshin Molavi, former Dubai-based Reuters correspondent and New America Foundation fellow, speaks with Daljit Dhaliwal about the U.A.E's global significance. (57 minutes)
#37168 Middle Eastern Studies - Islamic Art at the V&A (Run time 51 min.) DVD $159.95
London's Victoria and Albert Museum contains one of the finest collections of Islamic art in Europe or America. It is housed in the V&A's recently constructed Jameel Gallery-a facility designed to increase awareness and appreciation of Islamic art. This program highlights the beauty and complexity of the Jameel collection; it also enables viewers to closely examine individual pieces-including the Ardabil Carpet from 16th-century Iran, one of the largest and finest carpets in existence, and an exquisite rock crystal ewer from 11th-century Egypt. Many other examples of ceramics, textiles, metalwork, manuscripts, and architectural elements are featured. (51 minutes)
#39141 Middle Eastern Studies - The Armenian Genocide-Educator's Edition (Run time 57 min.) DVD $159.95
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire exterminated more than one million members of its minority Armenian population. This program, narrated by Julianna Margulies, unflinchingly addresses the Armenian genocide, a dark and long-suppressed chapter in 20th-century history. Rarely seen footage, uncensored photographs, excerpts from eyewitness reports and newspaper articles, and interviews with leading experts, relatives of survivors and perpetrators, and others provide viewers with a vivid image of the methodical elimination of Armenians that haunts Turkey to this day. Turkey's ongoing denial of the genocide, calling it instead an Armenian insurrection or a Turkish civil war between Muslims and Christians, is also explored-a hot-button issue as the country positions itself for entry into the European Union. Bonus material (DVD only) includes additional interviews and film clips. Some images may be objectionable. (57 minutes + bonus material)
#11387 Middle Eastern Studies - The Dead Sea Scrolls (Run time min.) DVD $179.9
A theological and archaeological find of major significance, the Dead Sea Scrolls contain prayers, poems, hymns, biblical commentaries, and the beliefs and community rules of an apocalyptic Jewish sect. What have these documents revealed about Judaism and Christianity, and what surprises might they yet contain? This fascinating two-part series provides a thorough examination of the scrolls and the enigmatic inhabitants of Qumran in an effort to lift the veil of mystery that still surrounds them both. 2-part series, 33-36 minutes each.
#30432 Middle Eastern Studies - NOW with Bill Moyers: Struggles and Solutions in the Middle East (Run time min.) DVD $179.9
In this special two-part series, the Aspen Institute and Bill Moyers assemble a panel of eight international journalists and scholars to examine the contexts and causes of the ongoing struggles in the Middle East. Their dialogue does not simply stop at an assessment of the religious and sociopolitical dynamics of the region, but goes on towards a formulation of a possible plan for peace. Panelists include Seyla Benhabib, the Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Philosophy at Yale University; Charles Krauthammer, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post; and Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International. 2-part series, 58 minutes each.
#6781 Middle Eastern Studies - The Arab World (Run time min.) DVD $449.75
In these five illuminating programs, Bill Moyers talks with leading writers, thinkers, and other experts on Arab history and culture in an effort to clarify misconceptions that mar our understanding of this important region and its people. During the conversations, participants discuss topics such as the dehumanization of Arabs in the American media; the roots of the conflict that divides Arabs, Jews, and the West; the role of religion in Arab society; and the artistic and literary achievements of the Arab world. 5-part series, 28 minutes each.
#7105 Middle Eastern Studies - The Gulf War (Run time min.) DVD $449.85
This three-part documentary uses primary sources to provide a historical record of the war. Officials including the late King Hussein of Jordan, Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and former Secretary of State James Baker speak candidly about the secret political alliances and power plays that fueled the conflict. 3-part series, 50 minutes each.
#8546 Middle Eastern Studies - Tkuma: Israel's First 50 Years (Run time min.) DVD $899.7
Militant unrest sparked by the struggle for political control of Jerusalem has once again moved Israel to the center of the world stage. Is peaceful coexistence possible in a geopolitical region where both sides claim hereditary rights to the same land? This six-part series, a retrospective on Israel's first fifty years of existence, offers a timely perspective on the events currently unfolding in the Middle East. Penetrating insights are provided by major contemporary figures-Ariel Sharon, Binyamin Netanyahu, and others-as well as by everyday people simply trying to live their lives. Not available in French-speaking Canada. 6-part series, 52-54 minutes each.
#33508 Middle Eastern Studies - When the World Spoke Arabic: The Golden Age of Arab Civilization (Run time min.) DVD $909.65
With the fall of Rome, Europe turned its back on the marvelous contributions of Classical civilization. But the legacy of Greek thought was not completely lost. It lived on and developed elsewhere: in the Arab world. Supported by expert commentary and enhanced by footage of historic Arab architecture and period works of art, this comprehensive seven-part series documents the remarkable history and the most significant cultural, scientific, and technical achievements of the Arab empire, which came to prominence between the 7th and 13th centuries. Portions are in French with English subtitles. 7-part series, 26-27 minutes each.
#11410 Middle Eastern Studies - When the World Spoke Arabic: The Golden Age of Arab Civilization (Run time min.) DVD $1559.4
With the fall of Rome, Europe turned its back on the marvelous contributions of Classical civilization. But the legacy of Greek thought was not completely lost. It lived on and developed elsewhere: in the Arab world. Supported by expert commentary and enhanced by footage of historic Arab architecture and period works of art, this comprehensive twelve-part series documents the remarkable history and the most significant cultural, scientific, and technical achievements of the Arab empire, which came to prominence between the 7th and 13th centuries. Portions are in French with English subtitles.12-part series, 26-27 minutes each.
