Can we imagine a counterpublic founded and inhabited by Islamic and/or Middle Eastern women?

Can we imagine a counterpublic founded and inhabited by Islamic and/or Middle Eastern women?

Can we imagine a counterpublic founded and inhabited by Islamic and/or Middle Eastern women?

If so, what would that counterpublic look and sound like?

Women of Allah (1993-1997) Photographs by Shirin Neshat

Rapture (1999) Video by Shirin Neshat

Possessed (2001) Video by Shirin Neshat in collaboration with Sussan Deyhim

Turbulent (1998) Video by Shirin Neshat in collaboration with Sussan Deyhim

Turbulent, video mock-up:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2DNMG2s_O0

• Duel screen structure – highlights the gender binary, there are no mixing of the voices and spaces

• Men – performing for and celebrating each other, his song is cultural and historical, love song (to a woman, to the other men?)

• Woman – performing to no one, to herself; her song is non-verbal, a gesticulation related to her body (not religion), a sonic disturbance to the patriarchal order (Inshirah?)

• A counterpublic of Islamic/Middle Eastern women

• What kind of affect does her song produce? Among the men? Among us?

• What kind of action, ethics, and subject positions?