Film Screening: The Silk Road of Pop

Cornell University presents a screening of a movie following the live of a young Uyghur woman in China looking for life's answers through music

Directed by Sameer Farooq, this documentary "The Silk Road of Pop" tells the story of Ay, a young music fan. Apprehensive about her own life choices as a young Uyghur woman in China and curious about the outside world, she turns to music for answers and is drawn to musicians who mirror her struggles in their songs.

The film follows the trails left by Ay's interest in music, documenting her influences and portraying her musical idols. A breathtaking journey unfolds, leading to traditional musicians uncovering the age-old roots of the Uyghur music culture in Kashgar, metal bands combining local folk music & Western hard rock in their wild performances, and hip-hop crews honing their skills in the smoky basements of communist block towers.Introduction by Mostafa Minawi (Ottoman and Turkish Studies Initative, Cornell University).

This event is free and open to the public.