2. Textiles were used in almost every way. They could be expressing emotions, portraying a scene, an interpretation of a poem, a religious reference, etc. Textiles included intricate carpets, velvets, silks, paintings, clothing, and much more. They were a major part of the Islam culture because they portrayed so many messages and had deep meanings. Most were very colorful and this was also part of the symbolism they depicted. The colors usually symbolized the traditional elements. Red is fire, yellow is air, green is water, and blue is earth. Colors also associated with the seasons and other abstract concepts. Flowers and foliage were also a common design in Islamic art. People interpreted these textiles in many different ways.
http://char.txa.cornell.edu/nonwest/islam/islamhis.htm
3. Scarves are one example of a textile that has been brought over into our culture today. Women in the Islamic culture would wear them as a part of their everyday lives. It was necessity of their wardrobe while today we use it as an accessory. As you can tell by the pictures people, usually women, use scarves as accessories either around their necks or even around their heads. It has become a fashion statement more than anything as opposed to having actual meaning or significance. They still do however keep the color aspect which is the same as the other culture.
Critique:
I find out a lot about the Islamic culture from the research. Their culture was based very much on religion and many things that they did or even wore had significance to them. From the assigned reading, I learned that many things had a religious meaning. The Islam culture is very strict about God and following him. They even have a set of holy duties which includes faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and a pilgrimage. The Islam culture also incorporates a lot of color, geometry, and an abstract nature into their art. The colors tend to represent the elements; earth, fire, water, and air. Much of their art also has intricate patterns, used on velvets, silks, paintings, carpets, clothing, etc. What I found was interesting was that these patterns all represented something. They could be portraying a scene from a poem or of a battle or even of a couple in love. Everything had meaning. That is what truly makes a culture. I think the Islam culture especially is extremely interesting and there is still much to be learned about it.
