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Showing posts from May, 2020

Robert Spencer ‘ bestselling’ author of the worst book.

  For the department of English and Media studies. By Prof DR Sohail AnsariDead line: 20thMay Objectives: Making students the critical consumer of information. Initiating students into the art of academic writing. We learn that Robert Spencer is ‘’NY Times bestselling author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)" ‘Every author dreams of slapping “ New York Times  Best Seller” on their book jacket. For publishers, it means big exposure. For authors, it validates their popularity. For readers, it means that they’re in the know’. Sounds impressive, isn’t it? The word ‘best selling’ always disarmed me. I always felt dazzled by the ‘Bestselling authors’, believing them to be words- wizards, focused on the deeper aspects, and g oing beyond the Surface. Dr. Laura Miller, Professor of Sociology at Brandeis University and author of ‘ The Best-Seller List as Marketing Tool and Historical Fiction  tells  Hopes&Fears’ states: ...

Propaganda and defamation in the guise of entertainment and research.

‘The Satanic Verses’ ‘ The Truth About Muhammad ’ For the department of English and Media studies. By Prof DR Sohail AnsariDead line: 11thMay Objectives: Making students the critical consumer of information. Initiating students into the art of academic writing. The Satanic Verses NOVEL BY RUSHDIE ‘The Satanic Verses ,  magic realist  epic  novel  by British Indian writer  Salman Rushdie  that upon its publication in 1988 became one of the most controversial books in recent times. Its fanciful and satiric use of  Islam  struck Muslims as blasphemous, and  Iran ’s  Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini  issued a  fatwa  against the author in 1989, enjoining Muslims to kill not only Rushdie but also his editors and publishers. Violent demonstrations followed in  Pakistan ; copies of the novel were burned in  Britain , where several bookstores were bombed; and the work was banned in several countries. ...