Art and Architecture in the Islamic Tradition Aesthetics, Politics and Desire in Early Islam

by Alami, Mohammed Hamdouni

• ISBN13: 9781848855441
• ISBN10: 1848855443
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-12-15
• Publisher: Tauris Academic Studies

Summary

What is "art" in the sense of the Islamic tradition? Mohammed Hamdouni Alami argues that Islamic art has historically been excluded from Western notions of art; that the Western aesthetic tradition's preoccupation with the human body has meant that Islamic and Western art being perceived as inherently at odds. However, the move away from this "anthropomorphic aesthetic" in Western art movements, such as modern abstract and constructivist painting, have presented the opportunity for new ways of viewing and evaluating Islamic art and architecture. Drawing upon classical Arabic literature, philosophy, poetry, medicine and theology, along with contemporary Western art theory, the author uncovers a specific Islamic theoretical vision of art and architecture based on poetic practice, politics, desire and the "gaze." In so doing, he addresses the lack of recognition given to early Islamic thought and aesthetics in comparison with other historical periods and traditions.

Author Biography

Mohammed Hamdouni Alami is Associate Researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. He holds a PhD from the Department of Near Eastern Studies from UC Berkeley. He has also worked as a practicing architect.

Table of Contents

Introduction * Architecture and Meaning in the Theory of Al-Jahiz * Architecture and Poetics * Architecture and Myth * Al-Jahiz in the Mosque at Damascus: Social Critique and Debate in the History of Umayyad Architecture * Architecture and Desire * Conclusion