New Courses for Spring 2010

CHECK OUT THESE EXCITING NEW COURSES BEING OFFERED THIS SPRING:

Postcolonial African Cities:
Development & Citizenship in the Era of Globalization
MDES W3951, Professor Rosalind Fredericks
This seminar considers postcolonial African cities in historical and geographical perspective. Drawing from diverse literatures, including geography, history, anthropology, cultural studies, and development studies, it offers an interdisciplinary approach to reflect on experiences of urbanization on the continent and the socio-economic, cultural, and political aspects of contemporary African urban life.

Arab Society & Culture
MDES G4244, Professor Soraya Altorki
This course is intended for upper division undergraduate and graduate students. It introduces the student to the major social and cultural issues of the Arab world, as examined through various theoretical perspectives in the anthropological and sociological literature. It is hoped that the course will provide the student with the analytical tools s/he needs to take more specialized courses on the general topic.

Islamic Law: Three Debates
MDES G4253, Professor Wael Hallaq
This seminar deals with three paradigmatic sets of questions in the history of Islamic law, each set representing and encompassing key themes pertaining to three important historical phases. Long-standing debates on the “origins” of the Shari‘a will be explored, as will the constitution of the formative period, which is variably claimed to stretch from two to four centuries. Scholarship on this period will be examined as ideology. In the second set of questions, squarely situated in the post-formative period (ca. 11th – 17th c.) we examine the relationship between and among social custom, juridical practice and formal legal doctrine, discussing in outline the structural mechanisms the Shari‘a has developed to accommodate legal change. Scholarship on this period and on what the features of this period came to represent in the overall constructed history of the Shari‘a will also be examined as ideology. In the third set of questions, we analyze so-called legal reform and the role of state in converting the Shari‘a to a modern institution that is qualitatively different from its pre-modern predecessor. Scholarship on the Shari‘a in the modern period will also be examined as ideology. Finally, but not necessarily at the end of the course, we will pose questions about the nature of interpretation and language in the construction of a paradigmatic idea (and history) of the Shari‘a.

Critical Approaches to Displacement, Memory & Music:
The Case of Armenians in Turkey
MDES W4324, Professor Melissa Bilal
This course aims at reconsidering the concept of "displacement" in multiple levels, especially focusing on music and memory. Its major objective is to develop critical perspectives to discuss the conditions of "being displaced" and "being at home" in relation to the minoritized groups' experiences within nationalized territories. Lectures will have a special emphasis on the Armenian community of Istanbul.

The Culture of Israeli Cinema
MDES G4542, Professor Uri Cohen
The goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the History of Israeli cinema whose interpretation and discussion will also be an in depth discussion of the main issues engaged by Israeli culture. Cinema provides an interesting vantage point to approach to Israeli culture, as it always expresses a social point of view and its history not only represents the major issues Israel has dealt with since its creation, but is in itself a history of the struggle for hegemony within Israeli culture and society.

Hindi-Urdu: An Overview
MDES W4613, Professor Frances Pritchett
A review and overview of the shared Khari Boli grammar, of both scripts, and of the linguistic and literary history of Hindi-Urdu. The course will solidify your knowledge, introduce you to new resources, and prepare you to do scholarly work in either script. Students will have a chance to plan and conduct a number of 'TBA' class hours according to their own interests; these classes are usually very enjoyable.

Middle East Research Colloquium
MDES G8101, Professor Timothy Mitchell
This course is open to all graduate students conducting research on aspects of the modern history, culture and politics of the Middle East. Students preparing a dissertation chapter, MA thesis, M. Phil examination field, PhD. prospectus or similar project will develop and present a draft of their work. We will choose additional readings to accompany each presentation, focusing on scholarship that informs or extends the issues addressed in the research. The aim of the colloquium is to enable students to clarify and test the questions that shape their work and to better situate it within current methodological and theoretical debates.


Home Faculty Programs Courses Languages Events News Affiliates Admissions		New Courses for Spring 2010 CHECK OUT THESE EXCITING NEW COURSES BEING OFFERED THIS SPRING: Postcolonial African Cities: Development & Citizenship in the Era of Globalization MDES W3951, Professor Rosalind Fredericks This seminar considers postcolonial African cities in historical and geographical perspective. Drawing from diverse literatures, including geography, history, anthropology, cultural studies, and development studies, it offers an interdisciplinary approach to reflect on experiences of urbanization on the continent and the socio-economic, cultural, and political aspects of contemporary African urban life. Arab Society & Culture MDES G4244, Professor Soraya Altorki This course is intended for upper division undergraduate and graduate students. It introduces the student to the major social and cultural issues of the Arab world, as examined through various theoretical perspectives in the anthropological and sociological literature. It is hoped that the course will provide the student with the analytical tools s/he needs to take more specialized courses on the general topic. Islamic Law: Three Debates MDES G4253, Professor Wael Hallaq This seminar deals with three paradigmatic sets of questions in the history of Islamic law, each set representing and encompassing key themes pertaining to three important historical phases. Long-standing debates on the “origins” of the Shari‘a will be explored, as will the constitution of the formative period, which is variably claimed to stretch from two to four centuries. Scholarship on this period will be examined as ideology. In the second set of questions, squarely situated in the post-formative period (ca. 11th – 17th c.) we examine the relationship between and among social custom, juridical practice and formal legal doctrine, discussing in outline the structural mechanisms the Shari‘a has developed to accommodate legal change. Scholarship on this period and on what the features of this period came to represent in the overall constructed history of the Shari‘a will also be examined as ideology. In the third set of questions, we analyze so-called legal reform and the role of state in converting the Shari‘a to a modern institution that is qualitatively different from its pre-modern predecessor. Scholarship on the Shari‘a in the modern period will also be examined as ideology. Finally, but not necessarily at the end of the course, we will pose questions about the nature of interpretation and language in the construction of a paradigmatic idea (and history) of the Shari‘a. Critical Approaches to Displacement, Memory & Music: The Case of Armenians in Turkey MDES W4324, Professor Melissa Bilal This course aims at reconsidering the concept of "displacement" in multiple levels, especially focusing on music and memory. Its major objective is to develop critical perspectives to discuss the conditions of "being displaced" and "being at home" in relation to the minoritized groups' experiences within nationalized territories. Lectures will have a special emphasis on the Armenian community of Istanbul. The Culture of Israeli Cinema MDES G4542, Professor Uri Cohen The goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the History of Israeli cinema whose interpretation and discussion will also be an in depth discussion of the main issues engaged by Israeli culture. Cinema provides an interesting vantage point to approach to Israeli culture, as it always expresses a social point of view and its history not only represents the major issues Israel has dealt with since its creation, but is in itself a history of the struggle for hegemony within Israeli culture and society. Hindi-Urdu: An Overview MDES W4613, Professor Frances Pritchett A review and overview of the shared Khari Boli grammar, of both scripts, and of the linguistic and literary history of Hindi-Urdu. The course will solidify your knowledge, introduce you to new resources, and prepare you to do scholarly work in either script. Students will have a chance to plan and conduct a number of 'TBA' class hours according to their own interests; these classes are usually very enjoyable. Middle East Research Colloquium MDES G8101, Professor Timothy Mitchell This course is open to all graduate students conducting research on aspects of the modern history, culture and politics of the Middle East. Students preparing a dissertation chapter, MA thesis, M. Phil examination field, PhD. prospectus or similar project will develop and present a draft of their work. We will choose additional readings to accompany each presentation, focusing on scholarship that informs or extends the issues addressed in the research. The aim of the colloquium is to enable students to clarify and test the questions that shape their work and to better situate it within current methodological and theoretical debates.