| Photo by Jane Scherr |
Ira Lapidus Interview: Conversations with History; Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley
| Photo by Jane Scherr |
Page 7 of 7
If you were advising students who have an interest in Islam and dealing with the Islamic world, do you have any advice for them to how to prepare for that future?
Be prepared for anything. Don't expect anything to stay the same.
As you mentioned before, we live in an increasingly integrated global society, and I think students should know at least one foreign language well, and be able to function in a foreign environment, whatever one they choose. They should prepare themselves for the possibility of internationally related careers through whatever discipline they want -- political science, history, sociology, public health, conservation of resources. There are all kinds of options, but I think all the options will increasingly have a global dimension.
Is there any particular lesson that they might draw from your intellectual odyssey, if they were to watch this tape?
What lesson would I like them to draw?
Yes, or do you ... ?
Now you're pushing me over the edge. Yes. Open-mindedness to how truly rich the world is, not to close it down by thinking it has to fit in a few boxes.
I can't resist the urge in the few minutes remaining to link your interest in photography to your interest in the Muslim world. I know you take photographs of windows, shopping windows, and then in that view, see multiple perspectives. In fact, you say on your website, "What I see in these pictures is my childhood, roaming the streets of New York, finding a city of pleasures, drama and excitement, full of towering skyscrapers, trendy people ..." and on and on. So it's a kind of a kaleidoscope of unexpected images. Isn't that really what you found in the Islamic world? Is that fair, or is that stretching it?
No, actually, you've explained it to me.
I see, okay.
Because I couldn't have answered your question. But yes, that quote goes on to say, you also find the tawdriness and dirtiness, and even misery in city life, too. That is a fair image. I want to put into an image something of a complication and variety of the world. The way that I go at it is I'm looking into a window, but I'm really taking a picture of what's in there, meshed with what's back of me, which is a cityscape, a city environment.
To reveal the situational complexity.
That's right -- in one image.
Well, on that note, which combines these different facets of your multitalented life and your intellectual odyssey, Ira, I want to thank you for being here today, and talking with us about Islam.
Thank you, Harry. This was very stimulating for me. They're certainly wonderful questions.
Thank you. And thank you very much for joining us for this Conversation with History.
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