Michael Rakowitz: Backstroke of the West

Synopsis

Michael Rakowitz's Provocative And Compelling Multimedia Projects Confront American Perceptions Of Iraqi Culture. Whether He's Teaching Students How To Cook Iraqi Food Or Recreating The Thousands Of Items Destroyed Or Stolen During The 2003 Looting Of The Country's National Museum In Baghdad, Rakowitz Is Consistently Working To Address The Trauma Created By Saddam Hussein's Regime And America's War On Iraq. This Book Explores Ten Of Rakowitz's Most Renowned Works And One New Project. The Accompanying Texts, Drawings, And Personal Commentary Offer A Multi-faceted Commentary On The Artist's Entire Oeuvre. This Book Demonstrates Art's Ability To Engage And Confront The Viewer And To Generate Greater Understanding Across Cultural Divides--amazon.com. Backstroke Of The West : Thirteen Philosophies Of A Time Traveler / Omar Kholeif -- May The Arrogant Not Prevail -- The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist -- Culinary Ghosting : A Journey Through A Sweet And Sour Iraq / Ella Shohat -- Spoils -- Enemy Kitchen -- Return -- Dull Roar -- Parasite -- History's Just A Zombie Horror / Shumon Basar -- What Dust Will Rise? -- The Breakup -- The Worst Condition Is To Pass Under A Sword Which Is Not One's Own -- The Ballad Of Special Ops Cody. Omar Kholeif. This Book Is Published On The Occasion Of The Exhibition Michael Rakowitz: Backstroke Of The West, Organized By The Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago, Curated By Omar Kholeif, Manilow Senior Curator And Director Of Global Initiatives, And Presented In The Bergman Family Gallery At The Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago, September 16, 2017-march 4, 2018. Includes Bibliographical References.