Cultural Treasures of the Middle East
Winter 2005 LSA Theme Semester
The Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies (CMENAS) is excited to present its LSA-sponsored Winter 2005 Theme Semester, “Cultural Treasures of the Middle East.” Working with the University Musical Society (UMS) on its Arab World Music Festival, CMENAS hopes to expose the UM and broader Michigan community to the cultures of the Middle East across time and across multiple ethnic, linguistic, and religious affiliations. In the post-September 11th world in which we live, there is an urgent need and value for students and community members to witness the myriad aspects of the peoples, cultures, languages, and arts of the Middle East in a broad sense. Thus, a stunning array of courses and special programming has been planned to offer testimony that transcends the political vicissitudes of current times and presents a compelling vision of the shared and diverse heritages of cultural performance in a terrain that is too often imagined as an unknowable threat. The theme title deliberately lays out the notion of Middle Eastern cultural traditions in the visual, literary, architectural, and performing arts as “treasures,” in order to provoke contemplations on the pervasive stereotypes surrounding this region. In addition, an explicit attempt has been made to embrace a wide variety of Middle Eastern cultural traditions, including those in Arab countries, Iran, Turkey, and Israel. The Theme Semester will highlight the rich cultural achievements and legacies of these Middle Eastern lands in music, drama and film, visual art and archaeology, architecture and urban landscapes, poetry and narrative tradition, myth and folk arts.
Centerpieces of the theme semester will be two exhibitions, one at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology and the other at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA). The Kelsey exhibit is titled This Fertile Land: Signs & Symbols in the Early Arts of Iran . Beginning February 4 and running through the end of September 2005, it will feature imagery of fertility and magical potency from the period immediately before the invention of writing. The exhibition will display major material from the Kelsey’s own permanent collections alongside loans from the Museum of Anthropology, recent excavations conducted for the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Musée du Louvre, the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, the Buffalo Museum of Science, and the Freer Gallery Archives, Smithsonian Institution. The UMMA exhibit is titled “The Art of the Written Word in the Middle East,” and will run from January 15 to June 5. Throughout the Islamic world, the art of writing traditionally has been regarded as the highest form of art. Thus, this special exhibition draws on the collections of the Museum, the Near Eastern Collections of the University of Michigan Library, and private holdings to explore the rich variety of forms and functions of writing inscribed on manuscripts, pottery, metalwork, and wood from North Africa to Afghanistan, in objects dating from the tenth century to the present.
The theme semester will feature many other events, including musical performances by Middle Eastern guest artists Sam Shalabi, Malouma, Hamza El Din, and Yair Dalal; a calligraphy demonstration by award-winning calligraphic artist Khaled Al-Saai; a public lecture and reading by renowned Israeli author David Grossman; films series from Egypt, Turkey, and Iran; and public lectures from numerous scholars of Middle Eastern architecture, cinema, literature, music, and both contemporary and ancient cultural traditions. For UM students, multiple courses will be offered across campus, including special courses in calligraphy, Middle Eastern cinema, and contemporary architecture in the Middle East. Additionally, “Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Reads”—a popular initiative to promote reading and civic dialogue by having many people read a common book—will offer Amin Maalouf’s Leo Africanus , a historical novel that chronicles the exile and travels in the Mediterranean and North Africa of Hassan al-Wazzan, a Muslim whose family, along with other Moors and Jews, were expelled from Spain after 1492.
For a full schedule of courses and events or for more information, please see the attached calendar, visit our web site, http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/cmenas/themeTerm/ (currently under construction), or write cmenas@umich.edu.
Winter 2005 Theme Semester Courses
| Title Section Instructor | Term Credits Requirements | |
| AAPTIS 262 - Introduction to Islam Section 001, LEC | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 4 Reqs: HU Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| AAPTIS 269 - Introduction to Turkish Civilizations Section 001, LEC Instructor: Hagen,Gottfried J; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 4 Reqs: HU Other: Theme | |
| AAPTIS 285 - Introduction to the Art and Architecture of the Islamic World Section 001, LEC From The Dome Of The Rock To The Taj Majhal: Introduction To The Arts Of The Islamic World Instructor: Simpson,Marianna Shreve | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Reqs: HU Other: Theme | |
| AAPTIS 331 - Introduction to Arab Culture and Language Section 001, LEC Instructor: Bardenstein,Carol B; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 4 Reqs: RE, ULWR, HU Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| AAPTIS 364 - Selected Topics in Near and Middle Eastern Studies Section 002, LEC History of Egyptian Cinema. Meets March 16-April 19. (Drop/Add deadline=March 23). Instructor: Armbrust,Walter | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1-3 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| AAPTIS 462 - The Rise of Islam Section 001, LEC Instructor: Bonner,Michael David; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| AAPTIS 474 - An Introduction to Modern Armenian Literature Section 001, LEC Instructor: Bardakjian,Kevork B; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Reqs: ULWR Other: Theme | |
| AAPTIS 486 - Topics in Modern Arabic Literature in Translation Section 001, LEC Autobiography in Modern Arabic Literature Instructor: Shammas,Anton | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| AAPTIS 488 - History of Arabic Literature in English Section 001, SEM Instructor: Legassick,Trevor; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| AAPTIS 491 - Topics in Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish, and Islamic Studies Section 002, SEM Islam in Global Politics Instructor: Cole,Juan R; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
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| AAPTIS 491 - Topics in Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish, and Islamic Studies Section 003, SEM Terrorism, Islam & the Media Instructor: Pintak,Lawrence E | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| AAPTIS 493 - Comparative Perspectives of the Middle East and North Africa Section 002, LEC Intro to Arabic Calligraphy. Meets January 27-February 22. (Drop/Add deadline=Feb. 2). Instructor: Alsaai,Khaled Jaber | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1 Graduate Credits: 1 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| AAPTIS 493 - Comparative Perspectives of the Middle East and North Africa Section 003, LEC Intro to Arabic Calligraphy. Meets January 24-February 24. (Drop/Add deadline=Jan. 28). Instructor: Alsaai,Khaled Jaber | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1 Graduate Credits: 1 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| AAPTIS 591 - Topics in Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish, and Islamic Studies Section 001, LEC The Prophet Muhammad in Islam: History, Literature, Culture Instructor: Hagen,Gottfried J; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| ACABS 592 - Seminar in Ancient Civilizations and Biblical Studies Section 002, SEM Writing Origins, Literacy, and Archives in the Ancient Near East Instructor: Michalowski,Piotr A; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| AMCULT 210 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies Section 001, LEC Introduction to Arab American Studies. Instructor: Naber,Nadine C | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Reqs: RE, SS Other: Theme | |
| AMCULT 301 - Topics in American Culture Section 001, LEC Arab Feminisms: Homelands and Diasporas Instructor: Naber,Nadine C | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1-4 Other: Theme | |
| ANTHRCUL 409 - Peoples and Cultures of the Near East and North Africa Section 001, LEC Instructor: Shryock,Andrew J; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| ANTHRCUL 558 - Current Issues in Ethnology Section 001, SEM Gender & Health: Ethnographic Approaches. Instructor: Inhorn,Marcia C; homepage | WN 2005 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| ANTHRCUL 658 - Special Topics in Ethnology Section 001, SEM The New Middle Eastern Diasporas Instructor: Shryock,Andrew J; homepage | WN 2005 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
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| ARMENIAN 416 - An Introduction to Modern Armenian Literature Section 001, LEC Instructor: Bardakjian,Kevork B; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Reqs: ULWR Other: Theme | |
| ASIAN 455 - Topics in Asian Studies Section 001, SEM Islam in Global Politics. Instructor: Cole,Juan R; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| CLARCH 385 - The Western Meditteranean in the Bronze and Iron Ages Section 001, LEC Instructor: Blake,Emma Cameron | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| CLCIV 456 - Egy Aft Phar Section 001, LEC Instructor: Gagos,Traianos | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| COMM 439 - Seminar in Journalistic Performance Section 006, SEM Terrorism, Islam & the Media Instructor: Pintak,Lawrence E | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| COMM 439 - Seminar in Journalistic Performance Section 007, SEM Media & Globalization Instructor: Pintak,Lawrence E | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| COMM 439 - Seminar in Journalistic Performance Section 008, SEM Media & Globalization Instructor: Pintak,Lawrence E | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| HISTART 285 - Introduction to the Art and Architecture of the Islamic World Section 001, LEC From The Dome Of The Rock To The Taj Majhal: Introduction To The Arts Of The Islamic World Instructor: Simpson,Marianna Shreve | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Reqs: HU Other: Theme | |
| HISTORY 278 - Introduction to Turkish Civilizations Section 001, LEC Instructor: Hagen,Gottfried J; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 4 Reqs: HU Other: Theme | |
| HISTORY 334 - Selected Topics in Near and Middle Eastern Studies Section 002, LEC History of Egyptian Cinema. Meets March 16-April 19. (Drop/Add deadline=March 23). Instructor: Armbrust,Walter | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1-3 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
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| HISTORY 498 - Topics in History Section 001, LEC Islam in Global Politics Instructor: Cole,Juan R; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| HISTORY 536 - The Rise of Islam Section 001, LEC Instructor: Bonner,Michael David; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| HJCS 472 - Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature, II Section 001, REC WAR: Violence and Counterviolence from the Bible to Contemporary Culture Instructor: Tsoffar,Ruth; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| HJCS 477 - Modern Jewish Thought Section 001, LEC Instructor: Ginsburg,Elliot K; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| JUDAIC 478 - Modern Jewish Thought Section 001, LEC Instructor: Ginsburg,Elliot K; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| MENAS 334 - Selected Topics in Near and Middle Eastern Studies Section 002, LEC History of Egyptian Cinema. Meets March 16-April 19. (Drop/Add deadline=March 23). Instructor: Armbrust,Walter | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1-3 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| MENAS 491 - Proseminar on the Arab World Section 002, SEM Islam in Global Politics Instructor: Cole,Juan R; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| MENAS 493 - Comparative Perspectives of the Middle East and North Africa Section 002, LEC Intro to Arabic Calligraphy. Meets January 27-February 22. (Drop/Add deadline=Feb. 2). Instructor: Alsaai,Khaled Jaber | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1 Graduate Credits: 1 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| MENAS 493 - Comparative Perspectives of the Middle East and North Africa Section 003, LEC Intro to Arabic Calligraphy. Meets January 24-February 24. (Drop/Add deadline=Jan. 28). Instructor: Alsaai,Khaled Jaber | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1 Graduate Credits: 1 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| MENAS 591 - Interdisciplinary Middle East Topics Seminar Section 005, SEM Gender & Health: Ethnographic Approaches. Instructor: Inhorn,Marcia C; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
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| MENAS 591 - Interdisciplinary Middle East Topics Seminar Section 006, SEM The New Middle Eastern Diasporas Instructor: Shryock,Andrew J; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| MENAS 591 - Interdisciplinary Middle East Topics Seminar Section 007, SEM History of Egyptian Cinema. Meets March 16-April 19. (Drop/Add deadline=March 23). Instructor: Armbrust,Walter | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Minicourse, Theme | |
| REES 405 - Topics in Russian and East European Studies Section 001, SEM Islam in Global Politics | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 1-4 Other: Theme | |
| RELIGION 204 - Introduction to Islam Section 001, LEC | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 4 Reqs: HU Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| RELIGION 478 - Modern Jewish Thought Section 001, LEC Instructor: Ginsburg,Elliot K; homepage | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme, WorldLit | |
| WOMENSTD 343 - Special Topics in Gender and Ethnicity in the U.S. Section 001, SEM Arab Feminisms: Homelands and Diasporas Instructor: Naber,Nadine C | WN 2005 Undergraduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
| WOMENSTD 605 - Interdisciplinary Approaches on Women's Health Issues Section 001, REC Gender & Health: Ethnographic Approaches. Instructor: Inhorn,Marcia C; homepage | WN 2005 Graduate Credits: 3 Other: Theme | |
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