Sections of the module

Week	Issue / Problem	Assigned reading
1	Translation: textual and Cultural Otherness: How should I read these? Western Theories and Arabic fiction: Is "Orientalism" a Western Concept? Is "Feminism" Relevant to Arab Women? Is the "Arab World" a real space? Who are "Arab Women"? Is the Arab World Muslim? etc...	Essays by Golley, Kedem-Friedrich, Khalidi, Peirce, Ray, Haddad. Short stories by Al Shaykh & Warner
2	The Violated Female body (specific issues to be decided by your critical contributions to the e-blog)	Fragments of Memory & The Fall of the Iman
3	The Privatisation of Women (specific issues to be decided by your critical contributions to the e-blog)	Sabriya & The Story of Zahra
4	Woman's voice (specific issues to be decided by your critical contributions to the e-blog)	The Honey & The Fall of the Imam
5	Woman's body and the body of the nation (specific issues to be decided by your critical contributions to the e-blog)	Gazelle Tracks & Maryam's Maze
6	The Politicised Female Body: women and war (specific issues to be decided by your critical contributions to the e-blog)	The Honey, The Fall of the Imam, The Story of Zahra
7	Women and modernity: Stasis vs Kinesis (specific issues to be decided by your critical contributions to the e-blog)	The Seven Veils of Seth, Gazelle Tracks, The Fall of the Imam & Just like a River
8	Issues / Problem to be drawn from the e-blog contributions	Midaq Alley
9	Issues / Problems to be drawn from the e-blog contributions	Pillars of Salt
10	Poster Presentations

 

Teaching method

The module is taught in weekly seminars of 2 hours. Seminar discussion revolves around a particular issue or problem and will require full participation by all students. We will explore these issues in relation to the assigned reading as well as the various films that will be screened throughout the term.

Assessment

This module will encourage you to think about literary texts from a variety of perspectives. I will ask you to engage in 3 different types of writing which will allow you to demonstrate your creative, critical and original approach to the novels. Regardless of which Masters degree or particular pathway you have chosen, you will be asked to submit the following pieces of assessment: A Research Essay, A portfolio of Critical Writing and A Poster.

The Final Mark of the module will be based on the research essay, BUT, the portfolio and the poster are required components which you must pass in order to pass the module. Read more

Films

Week	Film titles will be confirmed at the start of term
2	The Lemon Tree
3	Atash
4	Incendies
5	The Yacoubian Building
7	Under the Bombs
8	Miral
9	Tbc

The Warwick Database of Arabic Resources (Warwick DAR) contains additional information and links to useful sources