Not only a GIP
...because of two links, but I do want to show off the beautiful Ashes to Ashes icon kathyh made for me. Oh Shaz and Ray. Oh amazing Danny Boy scene, how do I love you, let me count the ways.
Now, I also just read a fascinating interview with with Alexander Siddig, aka Siddig El Fadil (whom if you're a DS9 fan like myself you first associate with his role as Julian Bashir), conducted by the novelist Jamal Mahjoub. Both being of Sudanese/English origin, they discuss cultural identity, how their perceptions of themselves shifted through their lives, especially in the 9/11 aftermath (" In terms of my identity, the childhood need to be English no longer exists. And the forcibly adult Arabism, I’m very aware that it’s happening"):
The Accidental Arab
Choice quote, discussing his role in Spooks (in the second season):
JM: Your character in Spooks, Ibhn Khaldun, was quite complex-a reformed terrorist, a freedom fighter now committed to trying to stop the violence. You come across the channel clinging to the back of a train in a very elegant white suit.
AS: That was the beginning of a particular crusade of mine. The first of a series of characters in which I have tried to explore that element of academic Arabs who are disenfranchised by the modern militant wave, whose ideas of Islam have been completely usurped by a much more vocal youth and the various clerics. To me, he represents old Islam, where you can shake someone’s hand or have a whiskey and talk about whatever.
JM: So, a familiarity with the West while remaining rooted in Arab culture?
AS: That character was a godsend, because it enabled me right away to portray various aspects of an Arab man who was readily credible. He came out of a new identity I was looking for, trying to take a snapshot of this guy before he disappears. He was my father. He was your father. He was the father of all the generations that had a liberal upbringing and didn’t make a lot of money.
And a Doctor Who fanfiction link: eledhwen covers the 2009 specials in drabbles, a hundred words for each of them, with her usual brilliance here.
Now, I also just read a fascinating interview with with Alexander Siddig, aka Siddig El Fadil (whom if you're a DS9 fan like myself you first associate with his role as Julian Bashir), conducted by the novelist Jamal Mahjoub. Both being of Sudanese/English origin, they discuss cultural identity, how their perceptions of themselves shifted through their lives, especially in the 9/11 aftermath (" In terms of my identity, the childhood need to be English no longer exists. And the forcibly adult Arabism, I’m very aware that it’s happening"):
The Accidental Arab
Choice quote, discussing his role in Spooks (in the second season):
JM: Your character in Spooks, Ibhn Khaldun, was quite complex-a reformed terrorist, a freedom fighter now committed to trying to stop the violence. You come across the channel clinging to the back of a train in a very elegant white suit.
AS: That was the beginning of a particular crusade of mine. The first of a series of characters in which I have tried to explore that element of academic Arabs who are disenfranchised by the modern militant wave, whose ideas of Islam have been completely usurped by a much more vocal youth and the various clerics. To me, he represents old Islam, where you can shake someone’s hand or have a whiskey and talk about whatever.
JM: So, a familiarity with the West while remaining rooted in Arab culture?
AS: That character was a godsend, because it enabled me right away to portray various aspects of an Arab man who was readily credible. He came out of a new identity I was looking for, trying to take a snapshot of this guy before he disappears. He was my father. He was your father. He was the father of all the generations that had a liberal upbringing and didn’t make a lot of money.
And a Doctor Who fanfiction link: eledhwen covers the 2009 specials in drabbles, a hundred words for each of them, with her usual brilliance here.