THE LUMINOUS SCOPE is a virtual “portal” (website) into the unseen parts of North Africa and the Middle East which will highlight individuals making a positive social impact in the fields of the arts, human rights, education, the environment and women’s issues via short videos, photographs, soundscapes and an interactive blog. It will also include history and language information and will be designed as an artful, educational tool for both personal and classroom use with the aim of encouraging dialogue, understanding and collaboration between people. I will also be keeping a “personal” blog on the site which will highlight my daily travel experiences as a single, American woman traveling alone and will focus on idiosyncratic cultural rituals and communication.
HOW
I will travel to all twenty two countries of the Arab League as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey sometimes solo and sometimes with a small (1- 3 person film crew) under the guidance and mentorship of an advisory committee made up of a wide variety of artists, journalists, writers, environmentalists and change makers who are either from or working in the actual countries of interest, or who have some related expertise and who dedicate their lives to improving conditions and perceptions in these areas. … This summer I plan to travel to Egypt and Tunisia on the first leg of the journey.
WHO
My name is JENNIFER MACDONALD and I am a Sundance award winning filmmaker, writer, mother, Arabic linguist and former cryptologist with a passionate desire to illuminate the lives and cultures of people who are largely marginalized or stereotyped by mainstream media.