The Quest for Excellence: Towards a Cultural Renaissance?
Keywords: culture, heritage, diversity, globalisation, migration, tradition, values, pluralism, creativity, religion, cultural production, artist, Ismailis, community, jamats, interaction.
Abstract: What is the relationship between a religious community and "culture"? Can a diverse religious community identify with a single culture? In this article, the author examines the notion of "Ismaili Muslim culture", with its varied meanings and connotations. Exploring the roots of cultural diversity in the community, the article also surveys some of the cultural output of several Ismailis residing in the Europe and North America and assesses the possibility of a cultural renaissance for the 21st century.
Author
Professor Karim H. Karim
Professor Karim H. Karim was Co-Director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies from 2009 to 2011. He previously was Director of Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication in Ottawa, Canada. Prior to joining academia, Professor Karim held positions as a Senior Researcher and Senior Policy Analyst in the Department of Canadian Heritage, was a reporter for Inter Press Service (Rome) and Compass News Features (Luxembourg), and worked as a Religious Education Co-ordinator in the Ismailia Association for Canada.
