The 2010 European Capital of Culture: Istanbul

Through this class, I quickly discovered the vibrant, rich and beautiful culture of Istanbul and became more and more enthralled with every aspect of Istanbul; from it's unique location between two the continents of Europe and Asia, to the politics surrounding the city to the overall civilization, I was engulfed with the beautiful city.
While doing research for my final paper, I found that Istanbul will be noted and celebrated as the 2010 European Capital of Culture (by Examiner.com, which is an online-travel guide that features different places of travel around the world) due to its' history, culture, and diversity.

This will be a year-long celebration, where the theme “A City of Four Elements,” focusing on Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, as the theme creatively categorizes Istanbul and it's sense of diversity. Earth represents the values of the past, in relation to the historical development throughout the years and the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Air represents the spiritual wealth of the religious city and a bridge between all cultures. Water is used as another connecting factor, as the people who live nearby and in Istanbul are connected by water, all of these events will take place off of the shores of Istanbul. Lastly, fire is meant to represent the future of Istanbul. This theme will be used as a cultural torch as it will continue to pass throughout generation to generation.

There is no doubt in my mind that Istanbul really is the Capital of culture, after reading some literature in regards to Turkey and doing personal research, Istanbul, Turkey seems like a global melting pot that connects an array of cultures from all around the world. Istanbul also incorporates different aspects from other cultures within their own, such as some European traditions, which is another cause that gives way to the detailed and vibrant city. The theme, “A City of Four Elements,” perfectly fits the personality of Istanbul and represents it's immense history within the city and country, the religious beliefs, and a sense of unity between all cultures.

Rick Steves in Iran

Rick Steves segment on Iran was informative, but the end of the segment left me wanting to know Iran on a deeper level, as it seemed Rick Steves just seemed to scratch the surface in this show. The information that was relayed to the audience was beneficial to me, at least because I started out only knowing minimal about Iran, but this show did not come across as deep or as intriguing as I would have liked it, especially since it was on Iran. Iran is such a different society and culture compared to the United States, and considering the events of the past, Iran would have been one of the main places that many Americans would like to know more about. Even if Americans do not plan to travel there, this show could have set Iran in a better light or them or have been more informative and detailed. I almost feel like Rick Steves was trying to prove a point to Americans that Iran is not a bad place and for us to realize how similar we are, instead of just touring and interviewing Iran naturally.

But like I said, I did find this segment interesting and beneficial, but it just left me wanting to know more about Iran once I watched this segment, it showed me how beautiful of a country it is and that Iran is such a unique culture!

Lipstick Jihad

My initial thought when reading "Lipstick Jihad" was Moaveni's identity struggle. The fact that while she was in America, she dreamt and longed for a life in Iran and to find a "niche" of some sort to fit in. She felt out of place in America, never confident with her Iranianness, almost second-guessing it when she had to tell people about herself. When she finally got to Iran, she discovered that she felt the same way and just as alone and out-of-place as she was in America. After reading only this far in the novel, all I could think was how she was simply not okay with who she was. She did not accept herself for being truly herself, which is why I believe she had such an identity struggle/crisis throughout the novel. All of the conflicts seem to come from within for her, which is why she had such a hard time "fitting in" in America and then again in Iran. No matter where she traveled or decided to live, she was not going to feel content and at peace, especially if she was struggling with her inner-self.

In end, I found this book interesting, but it just seemed as if Moaveni was dealing and centering on an identity struggle if nothing else in the end. I did not mind reading this book, while it was a bit hard to get into at the beginning, I found it interesting overall because it showed many aspects of the Iranian culture and daily lives that I became aware of, but I would not recommend it.