PDF Karsh: Beyond the Camera by David Travis in Arts-Photography

Description

From their conquest of Palestine in 1917 during World War I; until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948; the British controlled the territory by mandate; representing a distinct cultural period in Middle Eastern history. In Embodying Hebrew Culture: Aesthetics; Athletics; and Dance in the Jewish Community of Mandate Palestine; author Nina S. Spiegel argues that the Jewish community of this era created enduring social; political; religious; and cultural forms through public events; such as festivals; performances; and celebrations. She finds that the physical character of this national public culture represents one of the key innovations of Zionism-embedding the importance of the corporeal into national Jewish life-and remains a significant feature of contemporary Israeli culture. Spiegel analyzes four significant events in this period that have either been unexplored or underexplored: the beauty competitions for Queen Esther in conjunction with the Purim carnivals in Tel Aviv from 1926 to 1929; the first Maccabiah Games or "Jewish Olympics" in Tel Aviv in 1932; the National Dance Competition for theatrical dance in Tel Aviv in 1937; and the Dalia Folk Dance Festivals at Kibbutz Dalia in 1944 and 1947. Drawing on a vast assortment of archives throughout Israel; Spiegel uses an array of untapped primary sources; from written documents to visual and oral materials; including films; photographs; posters; and interviews. Methodologically; Spiegel offers an original approach; integrating the fields of Israel studies; modern Jewish history; cultural history; gender studies; performance studies; dance theory and history; and sports studies. In this detailed; multi-disciplinary volume; Spiegel demonstrates the ways that political and social issues can influence a new society and provides a dynamic framework for interpreting present-day Israeli culture. Students and teachers of Israel studies; performance studies; and Jewish cultural history will appreciate Embodying Hebrew Culture.