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Let me tell you a story. Something we're not supposed to talk about--not even in hushed whispers amongst ourselves. Many of the famed Islamic Art historians of earlier generations focused mainly on the pictures in the books because they couldn't read the words.
While working on my dissertation in the British archives, I found correspondence of some colonial era scholars seeking someone who knew "Oriental" languages. There was a much sought after numismatic specialist who read Arabic & Persian; he helped them write their "classic" books.
Many school children grow up reading the story of Rostam and Sohrab, the tragic tale of the hero who unknowingly killed his own son in battle. Granted the illustrations are magnificent, but so is Ferdowsi's poetry.
An important facet of "diversity" initiatives is that a younger generation of scholars with cultural literacy are now working in US & European universities & museums-- Islamic Art specialists who integrate linguistics & history into their art historical curation & scholarship.
