Category Archives: Blog

Joko Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi) was sworn in today as Indonesia’s new president. Jokowi is the first president of Indonesia not to have come from the military or political elite. Witnessing the election drama between Jokowi and Prabowo this summer in Java was one of the highlights of my Fulbright fellowship in Indonesia–and it’s a relief to see all of the post-election tensions come to an end…

If you have the opportunity to visit the historic city of Novgorod on a trip to Russia, don’t miss the nearby Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture–featuring wooden churches, windmills, and homes from the 16th to 19th century…

Novgorod for Russia is like Pompeii for Italy. Only Novgorod is still alive.

— Pyotr G. Gaidukov, deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology

Years ago, when I was living in Russia, I had the opportunity to explore the Kremlin-fortress and silver domed churches of Novgorod, founded (according to legend) in 859. Considered the “motherland of Russia,” Novgorod is where the first ruble, customs office, and school appeared in Russia. For its archaeological, linguistic, and historical importance, Novgorod serves today as a prime site for archaeologists. To learn about the most recent archaeological discoveries in Novgorod, please click here.

Whether I’m working in Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon, or Central Asia, I’m always interested in engaging young people in cultural heritage appreciation and education. When I was excavating in Sudan and doing research at the National Museum in Khartoum, I was excited to see a number of Sudanese school children visiting the museum, and using their cell phones and ipads to capture their favorite objects to share with families and friends. Of course, the possibilities of bringing together technology, education, and cultural heritage are endless–and I’m looking forward to dreaming up new ways to inspire young people to safe-guard and share cultural heritage around the world…

Omar Shakir will discuss his work with Human Rights Watch in Egypt over the last year, where he was a fellow and the lead researcher and author of “All According to Plan,” a 188-page report on the Rab’a massacre and the mass killings of protesters in Egypt in July and August 2013. The report concludes that the methodical killing of at least 817 demonstrators on August 14, 2013 in Rab’a Square ranks as one of the world’s largest killings of demonstrators in a single day on par with the Tiananmen Massacre. Over one year later, not a single person has been held accountable. Omar will also discuss working as a human rights lawyer on serious abuses amidst a serious crackdown and in a climate of rampant impunity.

DVORAK-HAIWATHA-MELODRAMA CONCERT
Sunday, October 26, 3PM
Bohemian National Hall
321 E 73rd St
New York, NY 10021

Because of my family’s roots in both Czech and Native American history, I’m very excited about an upcoming program of lectures and performances at the Bohemian National Hall in New York around the theme of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s “near obsession” with Longfellow’s The Song of Hiawatha. The event will feature actor Fred Melamed, cultural critic Joseph Horowitz, David Samuels, a scholar of Native American music and colonial contact, flutist Kaori Fujii, and Dvořák scholar Michael Beckerman. It will also serve as an unofficial launch for the Naxos recording of the Hiawatha Melodrama created by Horowitz and Beckerman on a CD titled “Dvorak and America.”

In 1893, Antonín Dvořák composed his celebrated Symphony No. 9 in E Minor “From the New World”, Op. 95, B. 178 (popularly known as “The New World Symphony”) during his stay in the United States. Dvořák drew his inspiration for the piece from rhythms of his native Bohemia, as well as Native American music. In the New York Herald, Dvořák articulated how Native American music influenced this symphony: “I have simply written original themes embodying the peculiarities of the Indian music, and, using these themes as subjects, have developed them with all the resources of modern rhythms, counterpoint, and orchestral colour.” The third movement scherzo, he explained, was “suggested by the scene at the feast in Hiawatha where the Indians dance.”

Dvořák believed that the foundation of a uniquely “American” sound could be found in “Negro melodies,” and the “red man’s chant”. Dvořák’s “New World Symphony” happens to be the piece that Neil Armstrong chose to accompany his historic walk on the moon.

And the people of the village
Welcomed him with songs and dances,
Made a joyous feast, and shouted:
“Honor be to Hiawatha!
He has slain the great Pearl-Feather,
Slain the mightiest of Magicians,
Him, who sent the fiery fever,
Sent the white fog from the fen-lands,
Sent disease and death among us!”

— Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha

Here’s some music (based on “Mama Don’t” by J.J. Cale) from the underground Iranian band Kiosk…

A new social media campaign has kicked off in Lebanon to raise funds for the Lebanese Autism Society. To contribute an online donation to the LAS, please click here.