Politics of Culture: Ethnographic Fieldwork in the UAE

(3 Credits)

What is the role of culture in political life? Why do modern states organize all aspects of daily life from holidays and public rituals to citizens’ language, dress, leisure, and social comportment? How does culture legitimize political power? This colloquium examines the relationship between politics and culture through ethnographic fieldwork. Students will read primary texts on ethnographic methods and on cultural theories of power, while utilizing Abu Dhabi’s vibrant cultural institutions, public spaces, and community settings to practice fieldwork techniques. In these sites, students will conduct participant observation and interviews, take field notes, and produce reflective writing. Class seminars will tie together the readings, discussions, and hands-on fieldwork experience. Drawing on their ethnographic research, students will develop an original analysis of how cultural symbols reinforce the state’s political vision in the UAE and beyond.