Comments on: Beyond the burqa…with Bluetooth

By: “It’s interesting to have a burqa” « Muslimah Media Watch

“It’s interesting to have a burqa” « Muslimah Media Watch — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:01:04 +0000

[...] the burqa has crept up again in a new and mind-boggling way. A few months ago, I wrote about the Charming Burka, an art piece that used Bluetooth technology to take people “behind the burqa” by [...]

By: Krista

Krista — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:04:00 +0000

coffee catholic: Yeah, my head was buzzing too. And I totally agree that his definition of the “western lifestyle” was pretty confusing!snowdrop: Haha, I would LOVE to see someone use this and actually select a photo of herself in a burqa as the picture that shows up. She could subvert the subversive clothing! Brilliant!

By: eyes serene

eyes serene — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:09:00 +0000

Assalamu alaikom,Interesting, if you ignore the whole burqa part. Naturally, that’s impossible, but you’ve written well about that side of it.Man, the lines between online and “real life” are becoming more blurry every. A pocket avatar! Who woulda thunk it??

By: Celeritas

Celeritas — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:59:00 +0000

I sort of get the Freud thing in producing the technology and using the burka in this way although its pretty weird. I think the thing is that the alternative would be unacceptable to Westerners and especially feminists. Undressing an attractive woman in a v-neck top would result in underwear and nakedness which is still unacceptable to most people in the West. Unveiling the burka however is seen as a preferable and positive move showing that Orientalism is alive and well.It makes me think of the reverse, a Western woman wearing a bikini sending an image of her more covered up or a Muslim sister in a hijab projecting an image of her in a niqab. You could also send out automatic messages, you could use a bluetooth activated hijab or thobe to send out dawah messages or images.

By: SnowdropExplodes

SnowdropExplodes — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:15:00 +0000

I suppose it’s always possible for “Charming Burka” users to send a picture of themselves in a burqa, as their self-identity. It would also be possible, I imagine, to send a picture of oneself as a man in a sharp suit (or with rather more skin showing!)But I agree, it seems to be a device whose conception is more about Western fears of the “faceless” burqa-wearer than about what women actually feel or express. Or a way for men to get free softcore porn.

By: Coffee Catholic

Coffee Catholic — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:42:00 +0000

I’m totally lost… I can’t even begin to understand this “Charming Burka” thing! With my rather limited intelligence I’ve gathered that this is just another way to objectify women. Also, this yearning for the Western lifestyle can be dreadfully misleading because there are *many* lifestyles wrapped up within the term, “The West.” Everything from prostitutes to women in burkas! There is no one way to define the “western lifestyle” and to try and do so is a big mistake in my opinion. So exactly what facet of “the western lifestyle” are these Charming Burka users after?? This article left my head buzzing with utter confusion!! Instead of focusing on fake personalities on cell phones why not stop and have a live conversation with someone?? What ever happened to that facet of the Western Lifestyle?