I think it is truly amazing that in some point of human history, such religious cultures - Islam, Judaism, and Christianity could actually co-exist together. It is just amazing to imagine this in modern times, especially due to the conflict erupting in the Middle East.
Dr. Menocal was trying to emphasize this point in her lecture, through the study of Al-Andalus/Sefarad Spain. Through this lecture she tied in the context of the famed Don Quixote and how history and literature, specifically fiction are connected.
A very important discovery I found out through this lecture, I think, is that Don Quixote was written originally in Arabic, which I never even thought to consider. This point right here, again displays the remarkable connection of different cultures. She also showed a picture of a 13th century synagogue that reveals how Arabic culture shapes a Jewish community.
Furthermore, she mentioned that out of exile (I think relating maybe when the Muslims were exiled), came wide ranges of tyrannies, but also the redemptive power of exile causes great poetry. Through all the controversy and the ruins produced by history’s wars came intellectual creativity in the form of poetry.
On another note, I thought the lecture was difficult to understand at some points, and it would probably help if I was more informed on Medieval Spain, etc. Dr. Menocal talked in depth and rather quickly in order to get everything in that she had to say. Also when she answered questions at the end, she went off on a tangent that was never focused. She could have talked for the entire night, if the time allotted.
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I like how you mentioned that poetry stems from exile because it reminded me of Sanders's 'Writing From the Center.' In some cases, good writing comes from exile, while in other cases, it comes from the home. It seems that in this case, those outcasts who returned from exile were able to write beautiful poetry, possibly about the experiences that they had. I thought this was an interesting point, and one that I did not think of during the lecture.
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