Social Cultrl Hist ME N Afr

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

The course examines recent trends in social and cultural histories of the modern Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its first aim is to introduce and discuss the central questions, concepts, and methods in social and cultural studies, especially as they pertain to notions of function, structure, and ideology. Its second purpose is to assess the application and use of these methodological tools in empirical and interdisciplinary studies of the modern MENA. To this end, the second half of the semester will be dedicated to critical readings of recent works in MENA history with a focus on leading relevant themes such as class and mobility; social movements and change; social life and identity; gender, family, and kinship; representation, ideology, and mentality; textuality and orality; new media and communication.