Muslim and non-Muslim slaves, sometimes referred to as ghulams, loom large in the context of medieval Syria and the Jazira. Their contribution to material culture is known from a broad variety of signatures on objects. This paper explores how notions of personhood and the valorization of human bodies of slaves and others in Muslim legal texts can change our understanding of the range of actors in the production and trade of art objects.
Ruba Kana’an teaches Islamic art and architecture at the University of Toronto. Her research and publications focus on the intersections between art, artists, art production, and law in Muslim contexts. Her experience spans the worlds of academia, museums, architectural practice, and community-based art education.
Date: Thursday, Oct 17th
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: 4 Washington Square North, 2nd floor
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Silsila: Center for Material Histories is an NYU center dedicated to material histories of the Islamicate world. Each semester we hold a thematic series of lectures and workshops, which are open to the public. Details of the Center can be found at: http://as.nyu.edu/content/nyu-as/as/research-centers/silsila.html
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