Listed in: Anthropology and Sociology, as ANTH-331 | Asian Languages and Civilizations, as ASLC-341
Formerly listed as: ANTH-31 | ASLC-41
Christopher T. Dole (Section 01)
(Offered as ANTH 331 and ASLC 341 [WA]) In an era where “terrorism” has eclipsed the nuclear fears of the Cold War and become associated with a radicalism that is portrayed as at once militant, anti-Western, and bound to a particular region (the Middle East) and religion (Islam), the task of this seminar--to examine the everyday realities of people living throughout the Middle East--has become all the more critical. Beginning with an historical eye toward the ways that the “West” has discovered, translated, and written about the “Orient,” this seminar will use anthropological readings, documentary film, and literary accounts to consider a range of perspectives on the region commonly referred to as the Middle East. Rather than attempting a survey of the entire region, the course will take a thematic approach and explore such topics as: Islam and secularism, colonialism and postcoloniality, gender and political mobilization, media and globalization, and the politics and ethics of nation building. As an anthropology course, the class will take up these themes through richly contextualized accounts of life within the region. While it is recognized that the Middle East is incredibly heterogeneous, particular attention will be given to the influence and role of Islam. By the end of the seminar, students will have gained a broad understanding of some of the most pressing issues faced within the area, while at the same time grappling with advanced theoretical readings. No previous knowledge of the Middle East is assumed.
Limited to 25 students. Fall semester. Professor C. Dole.
Section 01
Tu 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM CONV 302
Th 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM CONV 302
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied | Columbia University Press | Dodge | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Orientalism | Vintage | Said | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject | Princeton University Press | Mahmood | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in Bedoiun Society | University of California Press | Abu-Lughhod | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Refugees of the Revolution: Experiences of Palestinian Exile | Stanford University Press | Allan | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| New Desires, New Selves, Sex, Love and Piety Among Exile | New York University Press | Ozyegin, Gul | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of a Traveler's Tale | Vintage | Ghosh, Amitav | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Queer Beirut | University of Texas | Merrabet, Sofian | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.