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More than two decades have passed since the late scholar Edward Said published "Orientalism," his pivotal study of how colonial biases colored the Western view of Asians and Arabs as mysterious and dangerous "others." Lately, Said's text seems more relevant than ever, as author and critic Fred Plotkin tells us today. Plotkin discusses a new exhibition at the Dahesh Museum of Art featuring Asian-influenced scenery and costumes from La Scala, and he looks at Orientalism's influence in recent stagings of "Samson et Dalila" and "Salome." Also on the show: Every year the ancient city of Fes, Morocco, plays host to one of the world's great musical events, a sacred music extravaganza featuring Jewish, Christian, and Muslim musicians. The festival recently launched a U.S. touring edition, and today, Billboard magazine columnist Anastasia Tsoulcis, joins us with a review of a recent Los Angeles performance.
Additional Resources:
» Dahesh Museum of Art: Staging the Orient:
  Visions of the East at La Scala and The Metropolitan Opera
» Fes Festival of Sacred Music US Tour site