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Farhat Afzal

Opinions, Academic Insights, and Literary Critiques

About Me

Farhat Afzal

Farhat Afzal is an architect and writer, currently pursuing an MS in Architecture degree at the University of Cincinnati. She has over six years’ experience in academic research, publications and large- scale exhibitions. Farhat likes to engage in discussions involving colonialism in South Asia and postcolonial inquiry about architecture in Dhaka, and present her views through expository writings. In her spare time, Farhat enjoys photographing old buildings, documenting her reading habits on Instagram and maintaining her blog at http://farhatafzal.com

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Book Reviews

Book Review: If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English

farhat
January 5, 2024January 5, 2024 No Comments

If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English tells the story of an American born Egyptian woman, who returns to Cairo following the revolution, and her relationship with one of the activists from the revolution, a photographer from the rural part of the country. They find each other interesting because of their differences, but it is the […]

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Architectural Writings

Reflecting on Alberti’s On the Art of Building

farhat
November 23, 2023November 23, 2023 No Comments

Leon Battista Alberti begins his treatise On the Art of Building in Ten Books by mentioning that architecture is made up of two elements: lineamentia or linear characteristics of a building, which is obtained from the mind; and matteria or materials of a building, which comes from nature. Additionally, with regards to the linear characteristics […]

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

farhat
October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 No Comments

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is easily one of the best books I have read this year. The story starts off at a very slow pace, when it introduces the protagonists, twin sisters Stella and Desiree who are light skinned and black. Eventually, the sisters run away from their hometown Mallard and then Stella decides […]

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Book Reviews

Book Review: Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid

farhat
October 8, 2023 No Comments

Such a Fun Age is a very timely and relevant portrayal of white savior narrative and the very subtle layers performative activism and woke culture. The writing style flows naturally and is written in a simplistic manner, despite its serious theme which deals with the nuances of race and class privilege. The plot centers on […]

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3d view
Research and Writings

Thinking Through Research

farhat
October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 No Comments

For me, research has always been related to an attempt to solve some problems. This is something that is addressed in J. H. Rolling’s essay on Arts-Based Research in Education. He mentions that research can create new knowledge that can solve a problem, or reconfigure a query surrounding that issue which leads to more research. The […]

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vitruvius
Book Reviews History and Criticism

Thoughts about Vitruvius’ De Architectura

farhat
October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 No Comments

In Books I to V of his treatise On Architecture, Vitruvius chalks out a detailed guideline for all the relevant knowledge an architect may possibly need in the practice of architecture. And this include both theory and practice. While talking about theory, he justifies the need for studying philosophy by saying that it provides answer […]

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book review
Book Reviews

Favourite Books Read in 2021

farhat
December 31, 2021January 1, 2022 No Comments

While we were still reeling from the after effects of the disastrous year that 2020 was, 2021 became the year for healing and more resilience. Amidst all the chaos, I am glad to have survived yet another year of highs and lows, and throughout all of this, I managed to read some remarkable books. Here […]

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dhaka_pollution
Cities and Urbanism

Air Pollution: An Invisible Disaster Looming Over Us

farhat
December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 No Comments

Bangladesh, along with other parts of the world, has witnessed an increasing amount of environmental disasters as a result of climate change. On the other hand, due to poor planning and lack of regulations,  more new hazards are on the rise in our cities. As the country turns fifty this year, it is high time […]

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representing_calcutta_swati_chattopadhyay
Book Reviews

Book Review: Representing Calcutta

farhat
November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 No Comments

To understand what it means to live and experience a city that is still reeling from the effects of colonialism, one does not need to look further than Kolkata. Unlike other Indian cities such as Ahmedabad or Chandigarh, Kolkata was not able to adapt the style of modernism that became the referential model for architecture […]

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bad blood theranos elizabeth holmes
Book Reviews

Book Review: Bad Blood, by John Carreyrou

farhat
March 21, 2021March 21, 2021 No Comments

It was a compelling and novel proposition. A young Stanford dropout wanted to develop a blood test analyzer that requires no syringe and only a drop of blood. And thus began Elizabeth Holmes’ journey with Theranos. Soon, her confidence and eagerness to revolutionize healthcare impressed congressmen, military officials and seasoned professionals to invest millions of […]

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