Haris Durrani, a sci-fi writer and Princeton historian, delves into the enduring relevance of Dune's lore. He discusses the 2021 film's strengths and weaknesses, focusing on its cultural representation and ties to Middle Eastern history. The conversation highlights themes of imperialism, messianic beliefs, and environmental issues. Durrani also critiques different portrayals of jihad, emphasizing the need for authentic Muslim voices in storytelling. The intersection of Islamic architecture and sci-fi elements rounds out this fascinating exploration.
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insights INSIGHT
Islam in Dune
Frank Herbert's Dune projects Islamic beliefs and Middle Eastern culture into the future.
This contrasts with many sci-fi stories that sideline religion or focus on European Christian perspectives.
insights INSIGHT
Pervasive Islam
Islam is a pervasive element throughout the Dune universe, influencing various aspects of the world.
Herbert explores a speculative vision of Muslim life 20,000 years in the future, syncretized with other faiths and cultures.
insights INSIGHT
Internal Islamic Debates
Dune’s exploration of internal Islamic debates, like the history of Prophet Muhammad and the Mahdi, makes it unique.
This nuanced approach contrasts with typical sci-fi's limited or absent religious perspectives.
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Technologies of the Self is a quirky coming-of-age tale that delves into the complexities of identity, culture, and faith. It follows Jihad, a young American Muslim navigating his mixed heritage in New York City. The narrative weaves together themes of family, religion, and personal identity, offering a nuanced portrayal of the second-generation immigrant experience.
The sabres of paradise
Lesley Blanch
Lesley Blanch's 'The Sabres of Paradise' is a definitive biography of Imam Shamyl, the 'Lion of Daghestan', who led the Muslim tribes of Daghestan and Chechnya against Russian conquest from 1834 to 1859. The book is a result of six years of research and offers a vivid portrayal of the region's history, culture, and the charismatic leader's life. It explores themes of resistance, faith, and the complexities of historical conflict.
Dune
Frank Herbert
Dune, written by Frank Herbert, is set in a feudal interstellar society where noble houses control planetary fiefs. The story follows Paul Atreides, whose family is tasked with ruling the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of melange, a substance crucial for extending life and enhancing mental abilities. The novel delves into the intricate politics, religion, ecology, and technology of this futuristic world, as various factions vie for control of Arrakis and its valuable spice. Paul, with his unique abilities and training by the Bene Gesserit, becomes a key figure in this struggle and eventually assumes the role of a messianic leader among the native Fremen people[2][5][4].
Rund and Ramtin speak to sci-fi writer and Princeton historian, Haris Durrani, about why the lore of Dune still proves so relevant and the ways in which the 2021 film succeeds and fails to convey its messages.
"Dreams are messages from the deep." Those are the first words that appear on the screen in Denis Villeneuve's 2021 film, Dune, a cinematic adaptation of the iconic 1965 sci-fi book by Frank Herbert. The book contains dreams within dreams. Dreams of a future humanity in all of its flawed complexity. Dune takes place about ten thousand years from now with humanity having spread across the galaxy, populating planets and evolving in myriad mysterious and fascinating ways. But Herbert's vision isn't unrecognizable to our contemporary eyes. In fact, unlike many other similar sci-fi stories, Dune projects Islamic belief and philosophy into the future, placing it right at the center of future events. It uses Middle Eastern history to paint a dream of a future which is both futuristic and ancient, exhilarating and full of tension. It is a story about the perils of imperialism, messianic beliefs, and environmental degradation. It is a story about us.
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