Joel Schalit

At Levantine Station

The Middle East has become a metaphor for the world. Whether you chalk it up to undue Zionist influence on post-WWII American foreign policy, the disproportionate impact that the Arab-Israeli conflict has wielded over Western political life, the growth of Islam in Europe, Arab immigration everywhere, or the global impact of Persian Gulf petro-dollars, the point is ultimately the same.

For a variety of legitimate (and, obviously illegitimate) reasons, the Middle East has become more tightly enmeshed in the West than ever before. Though it took until the War on Terror to drive this home, the Jihadi terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the military occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have had the ironic consequence of colonizing American culture and politics in return.

-Photo: Archway tube, London. Text excerpted from Israel vs. Utopia

Found in Translation

Despite the Berlusconi government’s affinity for the Israeli right, Italian civil society indicates a similar fondness for cultured liberals. The window display at the Feltrinelli store on the Corso Buenos Aires.

Everyone’s favorite Orientalist, this time in Italian. The Mondadori store, near the Duomo, on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Old Europe

The last time I moved out of London, I landed in Milano. That was nearly 30 years ago, and I had just completed sixth grade. In ten days I leave London, headed for Milano again.

My memory of our departure from the UK has always been different. But, after receiving a phone call from my father two nights ago, I’ve started to recollect the summer of ’79 in sharper detail.

“I’m in Zurich, and you’re in Milano,” was the first thing my father said as I answered my mobile. “Abba,” I replied, giggling. “Shall I grab a cab and come and meet you for dinner?”

En route to the US from Israel, my parents had stopped in Switzerland for the night. Here in Italy, to rent an apartment, I’d just arrived at my hotel when my parents dialled in.

Zionism as Genre

Of the seven Jewish artists displayed, only two are actually Israeli. Global musics section, HMV Oxford Circus. London, March 11.

Mixed Metaphors

Ever worry that you’re imagining things? From the fact of a Current TV ad in Milan’s Pasteur subway station, to it’s content, it was hard to shake the feeling that my mind had prearranged the decor in advance of our visit to the city.

Shepard Fairey’s Obama gets the once-over treatment by a keffiyeh-savvy Italian book illustrator. I like this version more than the original, as well as the visual allusion to Jordan’s late King Hussein,  the pun on Barack Hussein etc.