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Space, Identity and Power in the Middle East

Banu Gökarıksel

Recent uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) drew worldwide attention to certain spaces such as Tahrir Square in Cairo where people from various backgrounds came together to challenge the existing political order. The case of Tahrir Square as a crucial space for the Egyptian revolution is not the only one. There are many similarly politically significant spaces in MENA that have shaped the region and its people’s histories. There are also many other not so obviously political spaces that are nevertheless essential for the making of identities, for reproducing or overturning established power relations, and for exploring new possibilities. The study of such spaces can reveal a lot about MENA societies, politics and cultures. The seminar aims to examine a series of spaces that are essential to politics, identity and culture in MENA today. Through our examination of these spaces we will develop an understanding of MENA’s complex and changing political and cultural geography. We will enrich our discussions with films, graphic novels, and literature and visit an Ackland Art Museum exhibit and participate in a conference called “Re-orienting the Veil” on campus.

Syllabus