Middle Eastern Humanities: An Introduction to the Cultures of the Middle East
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 336
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Middle Eastern Humanities: An Introduction to Cultures of the Middle East combines the guided, step-by-step and interactive style of a textbook with a sophisticated and sympathetic approach to the cultural logics of tradition and innovation of the Middle East. The book will be useful for teachers and students, as well as those educating themselves about this critical region of the world.
Each chapter starts with an introduction by the author, an anthropologist and historian who writes and teaches about Syria, Islam, nationalism, gender, media and popular culture. Each chapter then includes readings by Middle Eastern and Western scholars, journalists and historical actors to deepen the point. Finally, study or discussion questions prompt the reader to apply the material to practical situations.
The book is divided into sections on methodology (the value of a humanities approach and debunking stereotypes), diversity and environment (geography, food and diverse lifestyles), Islam (its origins, practices and beliefs, family life and durabilities and vulnerabilities as a social system), cultural expressions (literature, art, science, music and dance traditions) and current hybrids (electronic media and popular culture in predominantly young societies).
Following a program used successfully in the University of Arizona's General Education program for a decade, this book prepares students and readers for a trajectory of further study, professional engagement or appreciation of the complexities of this critical region of the world.
PART 1 PRELIMINARIES
Chapter 1 The Humanities
Why Study Middle Eastern Humanities?
Losing the Liberal Arts ~ Valerie Saturnen
Top Ten Reasons to Study Humanities ~ Roberta Vandermast
Chapter 2 Stereotypes
On Stereotypes
Orientalism: A Brief Definition ~ Edward Said
The Meaning and Significance of Stereotypes in Popular Culture ~ Jack Nachbar and Kevin Lause
Among the Norse Tribes ~ Judith Gabriel
Arabs in America ~ Philip Harsham
PART 2 DIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
Chapter 3 Geography
Resources and Access
The Middle East ~ lan R. Manners and Barbara McKean Parmenter
The Struggle for Islamic Oil ~ Juan Cole
Chapter 4 Food
Agriculture and Civilization
The Muslim Gardens of Paradise ~ Clifford Wright
On the Flatbread Trail ~ Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid
A Harvest of Legume Research ~ Lynn Teo Simarski
Wine of Arabia ~ Paul Lunde
Chapter 5 Hospitality
Meat, Ritual, and Hospitality
Environment: Land, Animals, and Special Skills ~ Donald Cole
PART 3 ISLAM: UNITY AND POWER
Chapter 6 Messenger and Message
Muhammad's World
The Medium and the Message ~ Ingrid Mattson
Chapter 7 Islamic Practice
Orthodoxy, Orthopraxis, and Unity
Islamic Values and Social Practice ~ Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban
The Hajj ~ Ismail Ibrahim Nawwab
Fasting Days, Festive Nights ~ Sarah Gauch
Chapter 8 Islamic Fault Lines
Authority and Centrifugal Forces
The Other Islam ~ Vali Nasr
Chapter 9 Women and Family
A Gender Revolution?
Childhood in the Harem ~ Huda Sha'arawi
Weddings in Egypt ~ Patti Jones Morgan
PART 4 CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS
Chapter 10 Private and Public
Hijab and the City
The Kabyle House or the World Reversed ~ Pierre Bourdieu
The Magic of the Mashrabiyas ~ John Feeney
Fishawy's Café ~ Mae Ghalwash and Josh Martin
Hammam ~ Paul Lunde
Chapter 11 Representations
Surface, Space, and Science
The Flowering of lntellectual Life ~ Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom
The World of Mohammed Zakariya ~ Piney Kesting
Chapter 12 The Word
Orality and Literacy: The Power of Words
Tales in the 'Hood: The Last Hakawati ~ Barbara Nimri Aziz
Flat Number 6 ~ Elif Shafak
Chapter 13 Music and Dance
Spirituality and Sexuality
Flight of the Blackbird ~ Robert W Lebling Jr.
From Umm Kalthum to Arabpop ~ Andrew Hammond
La Danse du Ventre ~ Elias Antar
PART 5 CURRENT HYBRIDS
Chapter 14 Media Evolution
The Nation-State and Its Discontents
Prime-Time Ramadan ~ Sarah Gauch
Chapter 15 Old Culture, New Culture
Growing Up
Children of War ~ Deborah Ellis
Appendix A Map of North Africa and the Middle East
Appendix B Glossary
About the Author
Credits