Leila Abdel Rahim

contact: leila.ar2011@gmail.com

 

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AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

. What:

Culture, literature, comparative methods in research, anthropology, systems of knowledge, creative writing

. Where:

in Western Civilisation, Russian (and Slavic) Culture, North East African society (but have lived on 5 continents and hence familiar with other places too).

 

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DEGREES

Ph.D. (with excellence) in Comparative Literature

University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2011) Dissertation: Order and the Literary Rendering of Chaos: Children’s Literature as knowledge, culture and social foundation.

External Examiner: Jack Zipes .

Published by Routledge 2013 under the title of: “Children’s Literature, Domestication, and Social Foundation: Narratives of Civilization and Wilderness“.

 

M.A. in Social Sciences with extra courses in anthropology (completed course requirements for a second masters in anthropology)

Stockholm University, Sweden (1996) Thesis: The Portrayal and Participation of Women in Russian Rock Music.

 

B.A. with thesis in Comparative Literature

Bryn Mawr College, PA, U.S.A. (1989-93) Thesis: Construction of Identity in Emergent Literatures: Nationalism Written in the Language of the Colonizer by Chingiz Aitmatov and Tahar Ben Jelloun.

 

EXTRA FIELDS:

Civil Engineering (3 years); Equivalent A-levels in additional maths and physics; Fine Arts (2 years); Graduate courses in sociology at l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Science Sociales in Paris (1993-94); Theatre, Avignon, France (summer 1993); Summer programme on Francophone literature and culture at University Laval, Quebec (1991); Administrative skills

 

LANGUAGES

Native fluency: English, Russian

Fluent: Arabic, French, Swedish

Comprehension of and reading skills in: Latin, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, German, and basic Japanese.

 

COURSES TAUGHT

.Young People’s Literature and Theatre, department of Modern Languages, UQTR (3 crédits, Autumn 2008)

.20th century American Literature, department of Modern Languages, University of Quebec in Trois Rivieres (UQTR) (3 crédits, Spring 2008)

 

 

HONOURS & AWARDS

Academic

. Thomas J. Watson Foundation fellowship (1993-94)

. Bryn Mawr College, Full scholarship, 4 years B.A. programme (1989-93)

. Alliance Française, Philadelphia scholarship for excellence in French (1991)

. Bryn Mawr scholarship for summer theatre programme in Avignon (1993)

. Bryn Mawr scholarship for study of Francophone literature and culture at Université Laval, Quebec (Summer 1991)

Painting National and International prizes

Sports National and international awards in show jumping. Member of the Sudanese National Equestrian (show jumping) team (1978-88)

 

PUBLICATIONS

Peer reviewed BOOKS:

• (May, 2013) Wild Children – Domesticated Dreams: Civilization and the Birth of Education. Halifax and Calgary: Fernwood Publishing.

Book Launch: Video, Sunday, 19th May, 2013

• (Forthcoming 2013) Children’s Literature, Domestication, and Social Foundation: Narratives of Civilization and Wilderness. New York: Routledge.

 

RESEARCH and AREAS OF EXPERTISE

. Order and the Literary Rendering of Chaos: Children’s Literature as Knowledge, Culture and Social Foundation. Doctoral research (2002-present)

. Early Child Development and Children’s Literature. Research conducted in Tver, Moscow, and the Golden Ring cities. Collected 1000s of slides on Soviet children’s stories, art, cartoons and children’s books in various languages. Wrote several essays on education – see publications below (1998-2002)

. Researcher based at CEIFO (the Centre for International Migration and Ethnic Relations Studies), department of Anthropology, Stockholm University (1996-98)

Conducted anthropological research on the following projects:

. Immigrant Women in the Swedish Labour Market (1997-98)

. The Encounter. Socio-medical anthropological research ordered by Socialstyrelsen (the Swedish Board for Health & Social Affairs) on the encounter of notions of health and illness between immigrants and social and medical workers in Stockholm (1996-1998).

. Cultural Identity of Muslim Women in Europe in Russia, France, Sweden, and Great Britain. Fellowship: Thomas J. Watson Foundation, R.I., U.S.A. (1993-94)

Intermittent investigations into nationalist movements in the former Soviet Union and East Africa (1986-93)

 

PUBLICATIONS (other)

Peer reviewed PAPERS and ESSAYS:

• “Narratives in Science as Tales of Wilderness and Civilisation“. Paper presented at the 29th Annual Qualitative Analysis Conference: Cultures of Narratives/Narratives of Culture, “Qualitative Research – Stories” section. Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s Campus, June 20-22, 2012.

• “A Leap into the Future Primitive: Anarcho-Primitivist Ontologies as New Directions in Anthropological Theory“. Poster session at the American Anthropological Association annual convention, Montreal, 17th December 2011.

• “From The Ontological Roots Of Knowledge To A New Sociology Of Being“. Paper presented in the section on New Directions in Sociological Theory (TS2-A). Canadian Congress for Humanities and Social Sciences, Fredericton, Canada, Friday, 3rd June, 2011: 10:30 am.

• “Genealogies of Wilderness and Domestication in Children’s Narratives: Understanding Genesis and Genetics in the Untangling of Identity“. Part II of my doctoral dissertation. The Paulinian Compass, Vol. 1, No. 4; July 2010, St. Paul University, Manila.

• “Conscience, Consciousness and Scientific Knowledge or the Evolution of Idiocy: Problems of Natural and Cultural Selection“. Conference: PENSER LA CONSCIENCE AUJOURD’HUI : UN POINT DE VUE ANTHROPOLOGIQUE SUR LA QUESTION – annual conference, department of Anthropology, University of Montreal, 17th April, 2009.

• “Definitions and Implications in Children’s Books: from Christopher Robin’s Scientific Expotition with Piglets, Rabbits, and Winnie the Pooh to the Violent Science of Harry Potter and the Order of the Chosen Wizards”. Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii 9th-12th January 2009

• “Learning in the Age of the Smart Machine or the Proportionate Relationship between Intelligence and Empathy: from Case Study to a Theory of Practice in Anthropology of Education”. Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii 4th-7th January 2009.

• “Foucault’s Precursor: Nikolaj Nosov on Questions of Discipline and Health in Neznajka’s Trilogy“. AATSEEL Annual Conference: 27th-30th December 2008, San Francisco.

• “Revealing and Concealing: Architecture and Knowledge in Children’s Books“. Masking and Unmasking: an interdisciplinary conference, Duke University (September 2008).

• Conference: CHILDHOODS 2005, Oslo University, Norway. Presented 3 papers (29^th June – 3^rd July 2005):

* “Crime and Punishment in Children’s Literature”

* “On Objects, Love, and Objectifications“

. also published in The Paulinian Compass. St. Paul University; Manila: Vol. 1, Issue #2, June 2009

. also published at “THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF RADICAL DISSENT“

* “Modernism and Education: Revised Perspectives”

. also published in The Paulinian Compass. St. Paul University; Manila: Vol. 1, Issue #3, Fall 2009

. also published at “THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF RADICAL DISSENT“

• Conference: Off to See the Wizard: Quests for Memory and Culture in Children’s Literature, at Monroe College, Rochester, NY. Presented paper (19^th March 2005). Title: Order & the literary rendering of Chaos in children’s literature.

 

Appearances in media:

• AnOther Story of Progress – a documentary film on civilisation and resistance by Thomas Toivonen.

 

 

Talks and Presentations:

• “First there was the Word, then Came Civilisation: How Fiction Structures the Reality of Predation and Violence” a talk at Shakti Mountain climbing gym, Montreal, Saturday, 29th June, 2013, at 6:30 pm.

• “Qu’est-ce que l’économie civilisée? Recherche sur le principe ontologique de l’effondrement économique et écologique” at HEC, Montreal, Monday, 13th May 2013.

• “Treyvon Martin, Anna Brown, Shaima Alawadi and Civilized Racism” – discussion of the medicalisation of the oppressed and the civilised “othering” by means of constructs of illness and health. Interviewed by Ron from Deep Green Philly, 29th March 2012.

. “How Ivan the Fool Defeats Civilized Pedagogies” - a Brown Bag Lunch Seminar series: Community, solidarity, and popular education: Confronting the national security state. Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University, 12:00pm Wednesday 8th February 2011.

. Anarchy Radio, University of Oregon, Eugene, KWVA. Tue. 7th February 2012. Wylden Freeborne introduces me on the 20th minute mark.

. “The Failure of Civilized Occupy“ – Interview for Deep Green Philly on 8th December 2011 . Excerpt submitted for Occupy Philly Media on 10th December 2011.

. “Primitivism 101” on Deep Green Resistance Philly, 4th May 2011.

. “Will Civilize for Food“ on BURN radio podcast, 26th September 2010.

. “Naked Wildness” on BURN radio podcast, 6th September 2010.

. “Radical Sustainability, Beyond Green Capitalism: Anarcho/a-Primitivism, Feminism and Christianity in Conversation for an Endangered World” – guest on a panel with John Zerzan and Ched Myers, organised by the In the Land of the Living Collective, held at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Friday 1^st – Saturday 2^nd April 2011.

. “Tell these Stories to your children” – a 90 minutes shared panel with biblical scholar Wes Howard-Brook at the conference “In the beginning: Anarchism, Christianity, and the roots of resistance“, Portland, OR 6th-7th August 2010.

. Respondent to “Race, Racism, and the Nation-State: A Christian-Anarchist Perspective” presentation by Nekeisha Alexis-Baker, Jesus Radicals Conference, Portland, OR; 6th August 2010.

. Proposed, presented, and led the Open Forum discussion, titled: “Anarchy for All: Expanding the Horizons of Practice Beyond Privilege”.

. Response to Critiques of Avatar on Questions of Scientism and Racism – text plus radio talk

.” Literacy of the Oppressed: Structural Violence and Children’s Books“. Lecture delivered as a guest speaker for the course EDEC 249: Global Education and Social Justice, Prof. Aziz Choudry, Department of Eduction, McGill University; 1st October 2009

. Digby Highschool: two 45 minute talks addressed to 11th and 12th grades; 2nd September 2009

. “A Lullaby for the Planet: Undressing Ourselves for a Viable Parenthood“. New Heaven, New Earth conference; Memphis, TN. 15th August 2009 (video will soon be available: for a review, see issue 4 of In the Land of the Living by Andy Lewis)

. Open Forum: Layla AbdelRahim and John Zerzan respond (total time: 1hour and 51 minutes).

. Interviewed by Andy Lewis for Issue #4 of In the Land of the Living

. Anarchy Radio talk show hosted by John Zerzan, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, talked about the domestication of children and children’s literature: 17th February 2009

. In the Motherhood, CKUT radio talk show, hosted by Trixie Dumont; McGill University, Montreal, QC. Discussed J. Wall’s memoir, The Glass Castle”: 19th March 2008

. In Praise of the Wild: Discussion of Jeanette Walls’ “The Glass Castle“; a response essay to the radio discussion; 21st March 2008.

Stockholm University (1995-97):

. “Gender & Islamic representations by literary authors and western anthropologists: Fazil Iskander, Chingiz Aitmatov, Tahar Ben Jelloun, and others.” . “Terms are germs – a critique of concepts and terminology in International Migration & Ethnic Relations studies.” . “Introduction to the particularities of Chilean and Eritrean Migration to Sweden.” . “Ethnicity, gender, and human rights: two case studies.”

Participation in conferences and workshops:

. Stockholm University: Crime Prevention Association, Stockholm (April 1998) . Transformation of the Pluralist City, IMER (International Migration & Ethnic Relations Centre), Bergen, Norway (May 1997)

. Sheba – an international conference on black minorities in Europe, Driebergen, Holland (March 1994)

. London Black Women’s Health Project, London (April 1994)

“Tattoos of Alienation“, by Layla, Bryn Mawr Bulletin, Bryn Mawr, PA. (fall’95)

Reporter on war in North East Africa – Sudan Times (1987-88) 3 hour interview with guerrilla leader Col. John Garang in South Sudan was broadcast on BBC and Voice of America (August 1987)

 

 

Essays

. Avatar: An Anarcho-Primitivist Picture of the History of the World plus

a response on scientism and racism on Radio Anarchy, 26th January 2010.

. In Praise of the Wild: addendum and reflections

. The Nature of Mind Destruction.

. On Objects, Love and Objectifications.

 

 

Drama and other writing

. Naked Supper (drama)

. Red Delicious (drama) also published as e-book in: In the Land of the Living

. Ladies and Gentlemen, We’ve Got Him (drama)

. Kaleidoscope; Collected Essays on Literary Theory and Culture

 

 

EMPLOYMENT

. Part Time Lecturer Department of Modern Languages, University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres (UQTR) (January 2008)

. Researcher (1993-present)

. Private Consultant on pedagogical and cultural integration questions; e.g.: autonomous building of free learning curriculum, parenthood/childhood, adoption issues (2000-present)

. Academic Consultant & Editor -Tver InterContact, Tver, Russia. An exchange undergraduate programme in collaboration with Tver State University (1998-99)

. Editor – Maik Nauka Interperiodica, Moscow. A monthly journal on genetics (1998-99)

. Researcher – Ceifo (Centre for International Migration and Ethnic Relations), Department of Anthropology, Stockholm University (1996-98)

. Teacher of English, French and Russian languages to Keio University, Fujiswawa, Japan professors and students. Organized private classes and used interdisciplinary methods (references available upon request) (1994-95)

. Arts Editor The Spur a bi-monthly newspaper, Montgomery College, MD, USA (1988-89)

. Office Manager WADS (Water Assessment and Development Project, Sudan) at the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Khartoum. Settled Sudanese, Ethiopian and Eritrean refugee camps and worked on the first geo-hydrological map of Sudan (1987-88)

. Political Reporter Sudan Times, Khartoum (1987-88)

. Private tutoring English & Russian to professionals in Educational and Musical domains (1984-88)

. Administrative responsibilities at various “development” projects and businesses in Sudan – EDI (Energy Development International), WADS (Water Development Sudan), Reading & Bates, Toyo Menka Kaisha and Hilton (1982-87)

. Librarian at the Russian Dept. Library, University of Khartoum – two years (I was 15 years old)

Various jobs from the age of 10 years.

 

 

 

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

.Science

.Creative Writing

.Film and Theatre

. Dance: classical ballet, contemporary, Indian

. Animation: author and artistic consultant for both, the English and the Russian versions of: Pisanka: The seed of life, chosen at the animation film festival, Portugal, October 2005

.President of the Russian Cultural Club at Bryn Mawr College, 1991-93

.Equestrian: member of the Sudanese National Show Jumping team for over 10 years

.Travel: Travelled extensively in North East Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, North and Central America, Australia, and East Asia

. Travel Blog.

 

REFERENCES

Available upon request