Spring 16 Arab Identities and Gender Roles in Conflict Zones in Film and Literature

Course meets MWF 1:30-2:20

• This course focuses on the processes of self-definition by Arab men and women in the Middle East and North Africa with relation to
o national and religious identities,
o social stratification,
o sexuality/homosexuality, and
o gender roles.

• Students will learn about the social, economic, and political contexts of the films and literary works representing the Maghreb, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the Gulf countries, and Yemen.

• This course fosters a better understanding of Arab societies and the hybrid identities that negotiate their presence and space within.

• Students will
o engage in a video-conference dialogue with students in the American University in Cairo, Egypt,
o attend an Arab film during CMU’s International Film Festival, and
o interview native speakers of different Arab countries to further their learning of Arab culture.
Conducted in English.

Satisfies General Education Requirements (Critical Thinking).

Email Professor Nevine Abraham nabrah@andrew.cmu.edu