Images of Afghanistan: Exploring Afghan Culture through Art and Literature / Arley Loewen and Josette McMichael / Hardcover / Oxford University Press 

ISBN: 9780195477955 / 978-0195477955

ISBN-10: 0195477952

• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Publisher: OUP Pakistan
• Genre: Literary Criticism
• ISBN: 9780195477955, 978-0195477955
• Edition: 2010
• Pages: 350

Images of Afghanistan provides the first-ever overview of the art and literature of Afghanistan. 32 chapters on art, music, film, proverbs, short stories, poetry, cartoons, and folktales in popular style offer key insights into the complexities of Afghan culture. The book is divided into seven sections. Introductory chapters focus on the history of Afghanistan and understanding culture through art and literature. A Dari Literature section covers classical and modern poetry, short stories, proverbs and children's rhymes. A Pashto Literature section includes traditional poetry, modern poetry, short stories, folktales, proverbs and tappas. The Themes of Culture section analyzes the dynamics of shame and honor in the Persio-Afghan setting, the traditional need for patronage and its modern relevance, the mystical longing for God as reflected in the ghazals of Hafiz, and romantic love in traditional and modern love stories. The Traditional Art section covers calligraphy, woodworking, and ceramics, the unique layout of the traditional city, and archeological heritage. The Performing Arts and Fine Art section explores the development of music, fine art, and film in Afghanistan. A final section called Potpourri features Afghan authors who help span the chasm between east and west, a selection of modern cultural initiatives, the infamous folk character Mullah Nasruddin, the role of women in art and literature, and cartoons and comedy. "This is a book to give all of us a more profound understanding of the rich culture and ancient heritage of a place many only know as a place of war. Images of Afghanistan will change the way you see this country." -Lyse Doucet, Presenter and Correspondent, BBC World News

Dr Loewen has been living and working among the peoples of Afghanistan and Iran since 1981. He is a top expert in his field, having earned a PhD in Persian Literature from the University of Toronto (2001). Previously, he earned his Master's degree in Persian Literature from Islamabad, Pakistan, with his thesis written in Persian. He is the director of Safari Consultants, a project for culture and publishing in Afghanistan, under Op Mercy. An accomplished speaker, he lectures internationally on Middle Eastern and Central Asian cultural topics. He holds seminars on leadership for Afghans in universities, NGOs, and government institutions-in the Dari language. His length and breadth of experience have enabled him to build many relationships with prominent Afghan artists and writers.

Dr McMichael, an American family medicine physician, moved to Kabul during the Taliban era. She is the editor of Enjoy Afghanistan, a popular orientation manual for expatriate workers, and the author of Pocket Medical Dari and Pocket Medical Pashto, language survival guides for expatriate health workers. She has written more than 50 radio dramas on women's issues and public health topics. For two years, she led a four-day orientation course for expatriates new to Afghanistan. She and her husband, Todd, continue to live and work in Afghanistan.