Political Commitment in Modern Arabic Literature

This course will explore the history of and debates surrounding political consciousness and commitment in modern Arabic literature. We will trace the diverse literary strategies by which authors, living under difficult political circumstances, expressed their criticisms and envisioned social and political justice. Beginning in the mid-20th century and continuing to the present, we will read and discuss landmark works of Arabic fiction in translation, and the debates that surround them. Authors include: Etel Adnan, Sonallah Ibrahim, Sahar Khalifeh, Tayeb Salih, and Hasan Blasim.