Seminar on Malay Theatre and the Arts: Tradition, Conflict and Change

Date:	12 Nov 2009
Time:	4 - 6 pm
Location:	Lecture Theatre 8, AS5, Faculty of Arts and Social Science,10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, National University of Singapore

 

• Principal Investigators: Dr. Maznah Mohamed, Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore; Dr Suriani Suratman, Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore
• Speakers: Dato Dr Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof, Department of English Language and Literature, International Islamic University of Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Tan Sooi Beng, School of Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia

The Department of Malay Studies and Religion Research Cluster are organising a seminar on Malay Theatre and the Arts on 12 November. The papers in this seminar are meant   to stimulate thought-provoking questions on the issue of the symbiosis or tensions between the Arts and religion. This is a subject that is not unique to Malay arts or Islam as in any cultural contact with new religions, ideas, or philosophies, such as between Christianity and the Greek culture or in the western tradition in general, many elements of conflicts are infused within their developments.

This seminar will explore how Islam has been the basis or the obstacle in the flourishing of Malay arts and culture. Is there really a divide between Malay Adat and Islam? Has Islam been accommodative or antagonistic of cultural productions, especially of the material, visual and performance arts found within the Malay world?  

Other than looking at aspects of conflict the  seminar will also highlight  the influence and contribution of  Islam in shaping Malay culture in terms of art and art forms and  how in the process, Malays have creatively  assimilated its  principles to evolve art forms  that reflect the richness of its heritage. It is also pertinent to highlight the significance of dominant cultural brokers in determining perceptions of Islam, Malay arts and future directions.  

Please RSVP to Dahlia Bte Kasmani at dahlia{at}nus{dot}edu{dot}sg if you are interested in attending.