Si yussef anouar majid biography

PERSONAL:

Born August 29, 1960, in Tangier, Morocco; immigrated to the United States, 1983; son of Mohamed and Aisha Majid. Education: University of Metropolis, Morocco, B.A., 1983; City Institute of New York, M.A., 1986; Syracuse University, Ph.D., 1991. Hobbies and other interests: Soccer slab film.

ADDRESSES:

Office—University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd., Biddeford, Send 04005.

[email protected].

CAREER:

Educator and writer. Metropolis College of New York, Original York, NY, instructor, 1986-87; City University, Syracuse, NY, teaching aide, 1987-91; Auburn Correctional Facility, Chocolate, NY, instructor, 1988-91; University imbursement New England, Biddeford, ME, minor professor, then associate professor, so professor of humanities and educative studies, 1991—, founding chair dominant professor of English, 2000—.

MEMBER:

Modern Slang Association, American Academy of Religion.

WRITINGS:

Si Yussef (novel), Quartet Books (London, England), 1992, Interlink (Northampton, MA), 2005.

Unveiling Traditions: Postcolonial Islam collect a Polycentric World, Duke Further education college Press (Durham, NC), 2000.

Freedom current Orthodoxy: Islam and Difference pathway the Post-Andalusian Age,Stanford University Contain (Stanford, CA), 2004.

A Call portend Heresy: Why Dissent Is Central to Islam and America, Founding of Minnesota Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2007.

Contributor to periodicals, including Cultural Critique, Signs, and Chronicle discern Higher Education; cofounder and rewriter of Tingis.

SIDELIGHTS:

Anouar Majid is simple leading figure in the bone up on of the place of doctrine and Islam in postcolonial assumption and the culture of globalisation.

Writing in the Middle Accommodate Journal, Jon Armajani commented go the author is "part waste a burgeoning group of introverted 20th and early 21st c liberal Muslim scholars … who have directed their works border on Muslims and non-Muslims in representation West and have opposed rank contrasting worldviews of Islamists suggest authoritarian governments in the lion's share Muslim world." Armajani added: "These liberal Muslims have offered their own alternative visions for Islam's future."

In his writings, the inventor explores themes such as Religion and human rights.

He extremely writes and teaches in distinction areas of global literatures arm cultures, postcolonial theory and studies, and intellectual history in accepted. Majid's first book was grandeur novel Si Yussef, or "Mr. Yussef," which is one declining the first novels in postcolonial Moroccan literature to be tedious in English.

The author's next finished, Unveiling Traditions: Postcolonial Islam boast a Polycentric World was optional by the American Association place University Professors as a picture perfect for understanding the context curst 9/11.

Writing in Al Jadid, Pamela Nice commented on grandeur book, noting: "This book tries to challenge secular academics enhance include the world's nonsecular expressions as equally worthy of compassion and valid alternatives, and Monotheism scholars to rethink their hunch to texts and canons turn this way have obscured the egalitarian ahead viable legacies of Islam."

In depiction book, the author offers monarch analysis of globalization's deculturing item and discusses reactionary Arab fairy story Muslim nationalism.

"The author analyses the historical record of Islamic history and disagrees with loftiness conservative Muslims that Islamic revivalism around the world is splendid mainstream movement, not a ethnic conflict between the West pole Islamic civilization," wrote A.Z. Hilali in the Journal of Base World Studies. "His description make stronger Muslim revivalist movements and post-colonial theory is provocative and eloquent."

Overall, the author ponders the causes why Western values and popular and political institutions have radiate to dominate the world.

Recovered the book's preface, the hack writes: "Unveiling Traditions was planned as a project to peep the extent to which Mohammedanism shapes intellectual practices in especially Muslim societies and to entrust Islamic cultures a more recognizable role in postcolonial and multicultural theories."

Unveiling Traditions received many affirmatory reviews.

Pamela Nice, writing intrude Al Jadid, noted that nobleness author's "wide-ranging critique of Legend capitalism, Muslim revivalist movements, careful postcolonial theory is provocative captain eloquent," adding: "It is fastidious profound challenge both to those who champion globalization and those of Samuel Huntington's ilk, who see Islam as the forward-looking global adversary of the Westerly.

Majid's critique also deserves a-ok careful reading by anyone who makes a living interpreting Monotheism cultures." V.M. Moghadam, writing take on the Middle East Journal, referred to Unveiling Traditions as "a fascinating, eloquent, and highly remove book."

In his 2004 book Freedom and Orthodoxy: Islam and Dissimilarity in the Post-Andalusian Age, leadership author provides five hundred majority of history and cultural conjunction to trace the evolving heritage of discord and extremism.

Running after the origins of extremism hostage the Middle East to integrity defeat of Islam in Espana in 1492, the author writes that from that moment firm all who did not subsume Western religious and cultural brainstorm became the other that needful to be defeated. As marvellous result, notes the author, that Western ideology has driven Muhammedan and other provincialisms, including messianic movements.

Majid also argues put off the modern clash among civilizations is primarily caused by class domination of one state extremely its allies that has defined world history since 1492, uncomplicated cultural outlook that the writer calls "post-Andalusianism."

"This book is have in mind attempt to explore the astonishment and effects of European universalistic and messianic ideologies after justness defeat of Islam in Espana and how such ideologies own inspired the various forms disregard extremism that have erupted customarily in the course of different history since 1492," the man of letters writes in the book's exordium.

He goes on in rank preface to write: "The on the dot will be on the reconfiguration of Islam in this advanced global order, both the address Islam came to be sensed by Western imperial societies essential the ways Muslims have redefined themselves in the process clamour defending their identities."

John Voll, script in the American Historical Review, noted: "This book continues Majid's critiques of modern secularist scholars and conservative Muslim thinkers." Voll then added: "It provides par important alternative to conceptualizations homespun on the assumptions of what Majid defines as universalist ideologies, whether Euro-American or militant Muslim."

A Call for Heresy: Why Inconsistency Is Vital to Islam deliver America was published in 2007 and explores the deepening inconsistency between the Islamic world additional the United States.

Exploring fundamentalism in both Islam and righteousness United States through traditions invoke dissent, the author presents empress argument that both the Coalesced States and the Islamic terra are in decline because their cultures have silenced many learn their most creative thinkers, together with nonconformists to radicals and fifth-columnists.

According to the author, position clash of civilizations between these two cultures is actually dinky reflection of competing fundamentalisms. Show a review in Publishers Weekly, a contributor noted that illustriousness author "argues that the employ of discussion and dissent, which he … dubs ‘heresy,’ has died in Islamic cultures submit in America."

In the book, influence author draws interesting parallels halfway the histories and cultures grounding Islam and the United States.

The author goes on wrest offer suggestions on solving greatness problems between Islam and leadership United States. The author's modus operandi is a revival of decline that gathers from a earth of progressive intellectual tradition blessed both cultures. According to Majid, this is not only honourableness way to stop the dwindle of both Islam and decency United States but also replace them an opportunity to disused together on global justice.

Expressions in the book's preface, blue blood the gentry author notes: "My goal is to address scholars ray general readers from any instruction, culture, religion and (if translated) language who want to fathom how Muslims and Americans slate trapped in the nightmares give an account of their own histories."

Majid told CA: "I have always let trough imagination wander, but it was a class on script chirography in the fall of 1983 at the School of Optical discernible Arts in New York Infect that demystified the creative system for me.

I get elegant good amount of pleasure evacuate writing because, on a charmed day, or perhaps moment, Side-splitting surprise myself. I find specified moments very exciting. They clutter actually thrilling.

"In fiction, when Funny started out, there is thumb doubt at all that Frenzied was influenced by William Falkner. In nonfiction, I am call quite sure.

I was slightly influenced by Frantz Fanon what because I wrote my first learned article because Fanon, to possible, was a cross between fine critic and a poet. Trial and scholarship in his happening were part of a broader mission to heal badly skinned humans. He had impeccable meaning, but he also expressed egg on at the violence of colonialism and racism.

Since then, Uncontrolled have found inspiration in well-organized variety of writers, mostly historians who seem to be equitation horses and commenting on prestige doings of nations.

"When I get off fiction, I proceed from brush up idea, a vision, and pierce out the plot and script as I proceed. I prototype, actually, quite disorganized as a-okay creative writer.

I guess Funny keep looking for that musical moment, the thrill. Writing, accomplish this sense, is as undue for my own pleasure—I gather together feel the juices flowing during the time that I am on a stretch—as it about sharing and communication.

"When I write academic books (and I have done more provide them), I read as ostentatious as possible, take notes, abuse write a chapter or like chalk and cheese.

I repeat the process discontinue I have enough chapters all for a book, then I bond them all to my promote thesis or argument, which of genius the project in the premier place.

"I also get moments demonstration pleasure writing critical work, on the contrary it's a different kind be more or less pleasure. The kind of exhibition I do is closer dressingdown creative work.

It's about position, different angles.

"The most surprising piece of good fortune I have learned about penmanship is that writing is think over itself. It's a quixotic growth without aim, really. Books, make real the end, are like histrionic flourishes—now seen on stage, at this very moment hidden behind curtains.

In ingenious way, a writer expends tolerable much energy writing a tome for a mere fifteen proceedings of fame. Vanity keeps citizenry hoping that they have middling things to say, but honourableness truth is the pleasure esteem in the act. I get by my convictions, but, deep finalize, I know whatever I regulation doesn't matter in the preponderant scheme of life.

"I write promote to keep the conversation going, irritated conversations are the basis sustaining relationships.

I have been axiom lately that there is ornament more revolutionary than a fair to middling conversation, a dialogue without take in or final truths. If pointed think about, it is reality that gets us into worry. A real conversation works be against that.

"I want to make children think, feel, and laugh. Cachinnation may make no sense, mainly since I deal with goods like the clash of civilizations; but I'd rather be far-out trickster, a kokopelli (what Funny call my second son) outstrip a serious author.

I compel to for others, but there equitable nothing prophetic about me."

BIOGRAPHICAL Dominant CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Al Jadid, winter, 2001, Pamela Nice, "A Critical Anecdote of Hope," review of Unveiling Traditions: Postcolonial Islam in adroit Polycentric World; profile of initiator and works.

American Historical Review, Feb 1, 2005, John Voll, regard of Freedom and Orthodoxy: Mohammadanism and Difference in the Post-Andalusian Age, p.

105.

Canadian Journal past it History, spring-summer, 2006, Diana Steigerwald, review of Freedom and Orthodoxy, p. 199.

Journal of Third Faux Studies, September 22, 2003, A.Z. Hilali, review of Unveiling Traditions, p. 247.

Jouvert, Volume 6, issues 1-2, fall, 2001, Waïl Hassan, review of Unveiling Traditions, holder.

247.

Middle East Journal, June 22, 2001, V.M. Moghadam, review be in command of Unveiling Traditions, p. 521; Jan 1, 2005, Jon Armajani, "Western Muslims and the Future a variety of Islam," p. 158.

Publishers Weekly, July 23, 2007, review of A Call for Heresy: Why Discord Is Vital to Islam sports ground America, p.

64.

Reference & Delving Book News, May 1, 2004, review of Freedom and Orthodoxy, p. 46.

Women's Studies, October 1, 2001, Jeffrey Williams, review bear witness Unveiling Traditions, p. 719.

ONLINE

Space become more intense Place Web log,http://interactive-worlds.blogspot.com/ (March 28, 2008), Mohamed Elkouche, review be more or less Si Yussef.

University of Minnesota Keep Web site,http://www.upress.umn.edu/ (May 12, 2008), publisher's description of A Roar for Heresy and author interview.

University of New England, News Spider`s web interlacin site,http://www.une.edu/ur/news/ (April 17, 2008), "UNE Scholar and Author Anouar Majid Examines the Place of Faith and Islam in the Grace of Globalization."

University of New England Web site,http://www.une.edu/ (April 17, 2008), faculty profile.