ABC Family Pulls Plug On ‘Alice In Arabia’ Pilot
ABC Family will not go forward with its "Alice In Arabia" pilot, a project about an American girl kidnapped by her Saudi royal family and forced to live with them.The network released a statement and said, "The current conversation surrounding our pilot was not what we had envisioned and is certainly not conducive to the creative...Several Arab countries ban Hollywood movie “Noah”
DUBAI - Three Arab countries have banned the biblical epic movie "Noah," while three more are expected to follow suit, a studio spokesman said Wednesday, March 12.Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates told Hollywood giant Paramount last week that the film, starring Russell Crowe, will not be released in their countries. Egypt,...HFCC aims to establish art history study abroad program by offering trip to Morocco
DEARBORN — Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) has collaborated with The Arab American Foundation for Multicultural Education and Students' Understanding (ARAMFO) to launch a study abroad course that will take a two week trip to Morocco this spring.The three-credit course is open not just to HFCC students, but also to all community...Katy Perry’s Egyptian themed music video angers Muslims, responds by removing ‘Allah’ symbol
One of the men who appears in the video is wearing a pendant with the word "Allah." Pop singer Katy Perry has come under fire from Muslims worldwide for a "blasphemous" act in her latest music video, "Dark Horse," reports Al Bawaba. Perry plays an overly stereotypical Egyptian queen who rejects suitors by zapping them with...The savage poem
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates excerpts of a poem by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. "The Savage Poem" was turned into a song by Iraqi artist Qadim Al Saher, who formed a partnership with Qabbani and continued to sing his...Sphinx Organization hosts conference dedicated to furthering diversity in the arts
DETROIT — The Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based national arts and youth development non-profit organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, is hosting its second annual "SphinxCon" this year, entitled "Solutions 2014." Simon Shaheen will be featured as a speaker at the conference....New book features collection of passages from popular stand-up comedian’s blog, “The Civil Arab”
Amer Zahr, a popular stand-up comedian and well-respected writer, recently announced the release of his new book, “Being Palestinian Makes Me Smile.” The book is a collection of passages from Zahr’s blog, “The Civil Arab,” and is a combination of diary, biography, political analysis, and prose. The passages were compiled from...
Actress Scarlet Johansson snubs charity, supports Israeli company in West Bank
January 31st, 20140 LOS ANGELES — Scarlett Johansson is ending her relationship with a humanitarian group after being criticized over her support for an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank. Johannson.A statement released by Johansson's spokesman Wednesday, Jan. 29, said the 29-year-old actress has "a fundamental difference of opinion" with...Three Arab films nominated for Academy Awards
Three Arab films have made their way onto the Academy Awards’ nomination list this year. "The Square," directed by Jehane Noujaim and produced by Karim Amer, was nominated in the Documentary Feature category. This is the first Academy Award nomination for both Noujaim and Amer. Omar.The film depicts a unified front in Egypt...New film “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” includes Dearborn terrorist plot
DEARBORN — In the new action thriller "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," starring Chris Pine, a plot follows him in a post 9/11 era through his tour of duty in Afghanistan and into a career as the Financial Intelligence Unit of the modern CIA, where he becomes an analyst.The plot of the film features a story line in which terrorists are...Poetry corner: In Jerusalem
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by the legendary Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.In JerusalemIn Jerusalem, I mean inside the old walls,I walk from an era to an era with no memory to guide me. Prophets...Documentary to archive history of Armenian music in Detroit
DETROIT — It is said that music transcends cultures, colors and nationalities. But with the Armenian American community, music has transcended continents and traveled through generations to symbolize the survival of the culture from war, massacres and estrangement. Armenian American musician Ara Topouzian, who plays the...Detroit appraises priceless art collection
DETROIT - For decades, visitors to the Detroit Institute of Arts have been amused, inspired and perhaps warned of the dangers of overindulgence by the peasant revelers of 16th century painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder.Now, as a result of Detroit's bankruptcy filing, "The Wedding Dance," considered priceless by lovers of the world-famous...Poetry corner: Strangers
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by Syrian poet Muhammad Maghout.Maghout was a poet, playwright and essayist, who spent a lifetime advocating for political freedom in an Arab World run by totalitarian regimes. He...Yemeni-themed mural reflects Hamtramck diversity: Community celebrates the artwork
HAMTRAMCK — The buildings atop the turban of the old man, found in the newly-painted Yemeni-themed mural in Hamtramck, do not seem to be weighing him down. Rather, they are flying toward a young girl, whose eyes are all that show of her face, which is covered with the sky. On the other end of the mural, a woman looks firmly into the......
Arabic poetry: The lover bled anemone
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by the legendary Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.In this poem, Darwish addresses the violence in the Levant, urging the "disarmed" Canaanites to adopt wheat as their eternal...Catch “Sound: The encounter”
Sound: The Encounter is the fruit of collaboration on several levels: between presenters from far and near, and between musicians from a once-shared culture.An adventuresome trio, Sound: The Encounter explores the ancient music from the Silk Route, while updating the shared culture of the region. The group features......
Poetry corner: Build your castles
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by Egyptian poet Ahmed Fouad Negm. This week's "Poetry Corner" is also a homage to Negm, who passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 3. "Build Your Castles" was written in colloquial...Farewell Ahmed Fouad Negm: The Arab World loses the poet of the people and the revolution
CAIRO — Egyptian poet Ahmed Fouad Negm, renowned for his revolutionary poetry and harsh criticism of political leaders, died on Tuesday, Dec. 3.Negm spent a total of 18 years in jail for his strident criticism of former Egyptian presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak. He became recognized as a voice of protest in...Poetry corner: You take the bags of time and travel
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates excerpts of a poem by the legendary Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani.You take the bags of time and travelOh woman who was my lover in a past time,I asked for the old hoteland the booth where I...‘Detroit Unleaded’ film earns rave reviews at DIA
DETROIT — At its red carpet premiere on Wednesday evening at the Detroit Film Theatre of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), "Detroit Unleaded," featuring an Arab American cast, received rave reviews from audiences and critics. The film, shot primarily at a gas station on Detroit's east side, tells the story of a gas station......
Muralist Dasic Fernández discusses Hamtramck Arab Mural, art and graffiti
HAMTRAMCK — To Chilean Muralist Dasic Fernández, graffiti is a means of self-expression, with universal appeal. It does not have a specific audience, nor does it aim to transmit defined ideas.The renowned artist is in Hamtramck to paint a Yemeni-themed mural that will celebrate the community's heritage and presence in the...Poetry corner: Bags of tears and crying
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by the legendary Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani.Bags of tears and cryingIf winter came,and its wind moved my curtains,I feel, my friend,a need for crying...On your arms...On my......
Yemeni-themed mural to celebrate community heritage in Hamtramck
HAMTRAMCK — Graffiti, which could be a form of vandalism, can serve as a powerful artistic means to convey strong messages. Just look at Banksy's work at the separation wall in the West Bank. "I Love Gaza." A mural by Fernandez in the Bronx, New York CityIn Hamtramck, work begins next week on a large Yemeni-themed mural to celebrate...Poetry corner: Think of others
As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by the legendary Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Think of othersWhen you prepare your breakfast, think of others, ......