Neoculture producer ANASTASIA ASHMAN launched this web enterprise in Fall 2009
+BITTERSWEET, LIMINAL LIFE: Coming, going, never quite arriving.
The psychic limbo — and identity adventure — of these globetrotting, multicultural, hybrid times is expat+HAREM’s sweet spot. Our neoculture.
WE’LL HELP YOU FIND YOUR GLOBAL NICHE: a psychic solution to your global identity crisis.
+++++
expat+HAREM, the global niche is a community site inspired by the cultural embrace and self-exploration of acclaimed expatriate literature collection TALES FROM THE EXPAT HAREM: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey.
DETAILS: media coverage, academic uses, and awards for the anthology coedited with Jennifer Eaton Gökmen, compiling the work of 32 international Expat Harem writers.
THE ACCIDENTAL ANTHOLOGIST: One editor’s story behind the book.
COMMON INTEREST AND EXPERIENCE DEFINES US:Our most important bonds are no longer solely decided by geography, nationality or even blood. When we find where we uniquely belong in the world we’ve found our global niche.
expat+HAREM, the global niche embodies the Expat Harem concept — localized foreigner, outsider on the inside — while speaking to intentional travelers, identity adventurers and global citizens of all kinds.
You’re invited to contribute your perspective on the crossroads and dichotomies of our hybrid lives:
- modern existences in historic places
- deep-rooted traditions translated in mobile times
- limiting stereotypes revisited for wider meaning
- the expat mindset as it evolves from nationalism to globalism
+++++
+ANASTASIA M. ASHMAN
CULTURAL WRITER+PRODUCER
expat+HAREM, the global niche synthesizes numerous strands of my life’s work, experience and interests.
Expat Harem editors featured by Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show
COUNTERCULTURE+CLASSICS+POP-CULTURE: My kaleidescopic productions capitalize on a countercultural upbringing in Berkeley, California, thirteen years of expatriatism (Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul) and a decade in mainstream/pop-culture American media and entertainment (NYC, LA). Plus, a liberal arts education and Bryn Mawr degree in classical archaeology!
produced Global Nomad Salon, Four Seasons Hotel, Istanbul
WOMEN+CULTURE+TRAVEL+HISTORY: My multimedia entertainment projects often focus on women, culture, travel — and history. I like to illuminate PERSONAL DYNAMICS, from one family to entire hemispheres. I hope to pin-point and put into context truths about how IDENTITY is formed through culture, and lives in our cultural thoughts and actions.
GLOBAL SALONISTA: In Istanbul, where I’ve lived with my Turkish husband since 2003, I am the producer of the Near East’s 1st Global Nomad Salon in association with Janera.com. The Economist calls this worldwide series of intellectual dinner parties “jetsetters with a conscience.” In 2009 I became a founding member of TEDGlobal, the international conference of “ideas worth spreading” in Oxford, UK.
Expat Harem launched by media mogul Arzuhan Yalçındağ
with Turkish fashion designer Atıl Kutoğlu
ART+CULTURE+SOCIETY WRITING has appeared worlwide including Asian Wall Street Journal, Village Voice, National Geographic Traveler and Cornucopia, the magazine for connoisseurs of Turkish culture.
UPCOMING MEMOIR: A forensic tale of friendship between two women writers spanning 25 years — this life and the afterlife.
ENHANCED EBOOKS: In development, based on the screen adaptation of my Expat Harem wedding tale “Like An Ottoman Princess” about bridging my radical West Coast family and traditional Near East in-laws at a palatial Istanbul wedding.
at TEDGlobal2010 with Sunny Bates and Bill Liao
PODCAST WALKING TOURS in development, to complement other story delivery methods for the soap opera life story of a 6th century Byzantine princess who spurred an emperor to create an architectural wonder of the world.
Illustrator wanted for GRAPHIC NOVEL FOR iPHONE/iPAD based on a black comedy screenplay. With the story’s author Jennifer Lawler, I cowrote the script about star-crossed lovers who also happen to be mercenaries — and 17th century English scholars.
produced speaking event for Turkish novelist Elif Shafak
SOCIAL MEDIA PROPONENT+DIGITAL WORLD CITIZEN: On my top-10 Istanbul Twitter feed I share resources for readers and writers, cultural creatives and forward thinkers of all kinds, global nomads and thoughtful travelers. I’m cofounder of a group for creative entrepreneurs in social media, and a member of the private neo-Internet marketing group Third Tribe (that’s my affiliate link to join, thanks for considering using it!). The changes in technology and evolution of the publishing world make writers into producers, directors and engineers of content.
In July 2010 named in “Top 20 Women for Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter” by Forbes.com.
with US Ambassador for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer
CURRENT THINKING/HIGHLIGHTS: For the latest thoughts see my FOUNDER’S DESK posts here at expat+HAREM. Here’s a short cut to notable quotes about Turkey, expatriatism, global nomadism, digital citizenry, cultural psychology, hybrid identity, and other issues close to my heart…
Contact me by email or find me elsewhere on the web.
WELCOME BACK. Identity adventurers like you make this global niche what it is -- so, thanks! If you register at Disqus -- free, takes 30 seconds -- we can 1) match a face to your thoughts here at expat+HAREM, and 2) follow your voice across the web. Tip: Once you register, click on the avatar of an earlier comment to 'claim' them all!
dynamic+CONVOS