Tips from the culture desk: Plants, seeds, Islamic urbanism, metaphysical thinking

Check out the Panorama of the European Film if you haven't already - it continues for the whole week in Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said and Ismailia. The schedule is here, and some categorised recommendations are here. On Wednesday, Zigzag Live hosts lively reggae-infused local band Meshwar.

How Plants Travel by Hala Barakat + Seeds from the Zoo launch — Sunday

Archaeobotanist and food sovereignty researcher Hala Barakat will discuss how and why huge numbers of plants have been brought through Egypt throughout history, both due to natural causes and human intervention, with a focus on Egypt’s most important herbarium, located at Cairo University.

The talk coincides with the launch of Bryony Dunne’s self-published photo book Seeds from the Zoo, accompanying her exhibition They Usually Lie Around a Grotto, which continues at Townhouse until November 9. Dunne will also give a brief introduction to the show, which focuses on the Giza Zoo.

7 pm November 6 at the Townhouse Factory Space, Nabrawy Street, downtown Cairo. Free. Event here.

Resilient Rules talk and discussion at Megawra — Monday

An independent urban researcher and co-founder of Cairo From Below and MADD, which both work for inclusive and transparent urban planning, Ahmed Borham will explore the influence of the socio-cultural rules of Islamic Fiqh or legal theory on the design and construction of the built environment, and will show how this system made Arab-Islamic cities resilient and adaptive. The lecture will compare traditional and contemporary rules of the built environment. Borham’s talk is based on his master thesis, Resilient Rules: Culture and Complexity in Traditional Built Environment.

7 pm, November 7 at Megawra, Ashraf Street, next to Shagaret al-Dorr Mausoleum, Sayeda Zeinab. Free. Map here. Event here.

Metaphysical Thinking in the Wake of Catastrophe — Tuesday 

For this Theory and Practice workshop, American University in Cairo philosophy professors Robin Weiss and Surti Singh will moderate a discussion about thinking in an age of crisis. Beginning with Aristotle, the workshop will discuss how the old metaphysical possibility of reconciling order and chaos, life and death were transformed by the experiences of the 20th century. This loss of possibility will then be addressed through Theodor Adorno’s 1965 lectures Metaphysics: Concepts and Problems, and its implications for our own time. It’s recommended that you look at the readings in order to follow and be part of the discussion — they are available here.

5-7 pm, November 8, Oriental Hall, American University in Cairo Tahrir Campus (bring ID for entrance), downtown Cairo. Event here.

Egypt Photo Summit — starting Saturday

This event aims to bring together Egyptian photographers, filmmakers, designers, stylists, make-up artists, models, food stylists and ad agencies. Speakers include commercial photographers working with different genres, as well as editors and photojournalists — although the number of female speakers is significantly lower than their male counterparts. There are also portfolio reviews, walking tours, equipment sales, booths representing photography initiatives, and a media summit on November 13.

November 12-14, GrEEK Campus, Bab al-Louq, downtown Cairo. Tickets LE200 for the whole three-day event until November 6, can be purchased here. LE350 on the door. FB event here.