Exploring Lebanon – Multimedia Resources
Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 17:59
Located on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, the tiny country of Lebanon is remarkable for its great diversity. Straddling East and West, Lebanon is home to a diverse mix of Christians, Druze, Shia, and Sunnis. This diversity, in conjunction with its geographic location bordering Israel and Syria, has made achieving stability in the country a difficult task. And while Lebanon enjoys a liberal free press in comparison with other countries in the Arab world, it also must contend with illiberal forces in the form of armed militia groups that contest and win election to the nation’s parliament.
Looking back – a historical review
In this feature, historian William Harris and journalist Sandra Mackey take the listener through a history of Lebanon featuring archival audio clips, historic speeches, and contemporary newsreels. We examine Lebanon’s status as a French mandate after World War I and trace its growth into an independent state. We also explore Lebanon’s ethnic and religious diversity and its effects on the country’s cultural, economic, and political development. (Total time: 17:38 minutes.) | |
In this feature, Ray Suarez examines America’s unsuccessful attempts to calm Lebanon’s troubled waters in the 1980’s. Guests include: Nicholas Veliotes, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs; Robert Dillon, US Ambassador to Lebanon; and, Robert McFarlane, US National Security Advisor. (Total time: 12:37 minutes.) |
A look at contemporary Lebanon
We speak with Dr. Marwan Kraidy of the University of Pennsylvania, an expert on Arab media, politics, and culture, about Lebanon's dynamic media environment. (Total time: 9:52 minutes.) Topics include: the history of a free press in Lebanon, the major players in Lebanese print, radio, and television; and the ways in which the press affects public discourse in the country. | |
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We speak with Aram Nerguizian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies about the security environment in Lebanon. (Total time: 8:54 minutes.) Topics include: who are the primary actors in Lebanon affecting the country's security and in what ways is Lebanese security and stability relevant to the international community. |
A lens on culture
We speak with Lebanese-American author Therese Soukar Chehade about her debut novel Loom. (Total time: 12:42 minutes.) Topics include: growing up during the Lebanese civil war; immigrating to the United States; Lebanese conceptions of identity and of family. | |
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We speak with Lebanese artist and painter Chawky Frenn. (Total time: 10:44 minutes.) Topics include: the influence of his experiences during the civil war on his painting; the critical reception of his art in Lebanon and the United States; and what he tries to achieve through his work. |
Bibliography and Timeline
Visit us on Scribd, to read our bibliography and review a timeline of significant events in Lebanese history.
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