The Fourteenth Annual Conference of The American Councilfor the Study of islamic Societies, held on May 2 and 3, 1997,at The Connelly Center, Villanova University, Villanova, PAThe American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies (ACSIS), isone of the oldest continuing organizations in the United States that focusesspecifically on Muslim states, societies, and the problems confrontingMuslim communities throughout the world. Composed of American andforeign scholars, non-Muslims as well as Muslims, ACSIS encompassesthe full range of humanities and social science disciplines. The representeddisciplines include the familiar areas of political science, history,linguistics, philosophy, religion, economics, anthropology, internationalrelations, and sociology; moreover, artists, musicians, media specialists,poets, folklorists, architects, agronomists, bankers, educators, and businessconsultants are involved in the Council‘s work. Along with this professionaldiversity, ACSIS has always taken special pride in providing aforum for younger and innovative students to present their ideas andresearch and encouraging them to publishTrue to these founding goals, the Board of Directors chose “Cultural,Artistic, and Popular Expressions in Islam” as the theme for this conference.Papers on Muslim works from the Americas, Europe, South Asia,China, Africa, and the heartlands of the ummah were solicited. The callfor papers also struck new directions for ACSIs-seeking music andperformance presentations, calligraphy, textile art, film and animation,calligraphy, cuisine, and other original formats different from the standardconfenmce panel modes. The Board also designated long-timemember Weston F. Cook, Jr. as program chair and organizer. Dr. Dale F.Eickelman of Dartmouth College, currently a scholar-in-residence at the ...