Scholar to speak on Muslims and American popular culture

Hussein Rashid, founder of Islamicate L3C, a consultancy focusing on religious literacy and cultural competency, will share his research on Muslims and American popular culture at Elmhurst College. Rashid writes and speaks about music, comics, movies and the world of blogs.

A fellow with the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, Rashid will present "The Uncanny Muslim: Real and Imagined in America," as this year's al-Ghazali lecture at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, in the Founders Lounge of the Frick Center on campus, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst.

Rashid works with a variety of foundations, nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for content expertise on religion broadly, with a specialization on Islam. His work includes exploring theology, the interaction between culture and religion, and the role of the arts in conflict mediation. He also is working with the Children's Museum of Manhattan as a content expert for its "America to Zanzibar" exhibit.

Rashid has a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern studies from Columbia University, a master's in theological studies focusing on Islam, and master's and doctoral degrees in Near Eastern languages and cultures, focusing on South and Central Asia, from Harvard University.

Admission to his lecture is free. For information, visit elmhurst.edu.