The Latest from Shana Cohen
Cultural Creativity: Catalyst for Social Development
Originally posted July 2010
The term “creativity” is not reserved solely for the art industry. It can be applied to describe a working methodology within various fields, even science. The word “creativity” refers to someone who sees or solves things in a non-traditional manner or who adds a new perspective to well-established ideas, familiar dilemmas, or rigid constructions. Creativity is a central resource in every society because it allows for the development of new visions.
The Feasibility of the "Turkish Model" for Egypt
The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012
The Feasibility of the "Turkish Model" for Egypt
The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012
The Feasibility of the "Turkish Model" for Egypt
The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012
The Feasibility of the "Turkish Model" for Egypt
The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012
Living the Dream
Originally posted July 2010
I have always dreamed of working in the media field, even though it is a difficult career for Syrian women, especially those from the countryside. Fortunately, I grew up in Damascus, the capital city, and a city where people of diverse religious backgrounds have always managed to coexist. Opportunities offered for women in the cities, however, are still conditioned by their social class, education, and sometimes even their religious background.
Education: Bedrock for Social Change
Originally posted July 2010
The Art of Survival
Originally posted July 2010
What does it mean to be a woman and creative in the Arab world?
For mere biological reasons, I am a woman and by birth I am an Arab. As for my work, I am a journalist and filmmaker. I am not sure whether “creative” accurately describes my work, and I am uncertain whether creativity means the same thing across different cultures. Can we describe some work somewhere as “creative” just because it belongs to a profession that is categorized as “creative” in western cultures?
Supporting Syria through Media Training
Originally posted July 2010
Giving Voice to the Voiceless
Originally posted July 2010
I am a documentary filmmaker of Iraqi origin and have lived in London for a long time. I worked for many years as a film editor on documentaries and dramas and was working toward my ultimate goal, which is to make a fiction feature film, when the first Gulf War erupted in 1991.
Thinking Outside the Box
Originally posted July 2010
The word “creativity” has many connotations. A creative person is always expected to produce something new and even revolutionary, which makes creativity an unpredictable process. I sometimes feel creativity pouring into my efforts as a filmmaker. Yet, other times I feel that I can no longer come up with fresh ideas, leading me to doubt my talent and even to reconsider my career in the film industry. Nevertheless, filmmaking remains fascinating work and continues to be my passion.
Revisiting Arab Women’s Diasporic Art Practices in 1990s London
Originally posted July 2010
Discovering Life in Painting
Originally posted July 2010
I was born in Damascus in 1975. My father is an engineer and a music lover. He used to listen to Jazz and Rock music and play as a drummer in a band. I grew up with 1960s and 1970s tunes. My mother, however, is a Sociology and Child Psychology graduate — a real intellectual who appreciates literature and arts. She is also a determined woman with a strong personality, high principles, and immense affection for me and my two younger brothers. I have always felt that our house was full of love, caring, and freedom.
