Arabs today. Modern culture, customs and politics 3600-SJW-ATMCCP-OG

Who are Arabs of the 21st century? How do they perceive themselves? What do they bring to the globalized world? What do they value and what do they deny in the West? What values have they cultivated for centuries? Who and what shapes their attitudes - preachers, politicians, media? These are the main questions that we will try to answer during interactive classes. The lecturer will describe key social, moral and political problems in the word and image. She will refer to fashions and trends regarding various spheres of life. She will also characterizes the needs of a consumer who is attached to the principles of the Muslim religion. It will be provided an opportunity to reflect on the borders - art, acceptance of diversity, transformation of the world over which Allah watches over. The lecturer will describe the profiles of Arabs known all over the world, encourage the Participants to search for up-to-date information on the events and phenomena observed in the Arab world individually, to make their own analysis of media reports. The group will be required to read press articles, social media content, watch recordings of e.g. advertising campaigns, excerpts from speeches made by politicians and interviews with influential representatives of the Arab world.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Remote learning

Prerequisites (description)

Sharing knowledge about contemporary dimensions of socio-cultural and political life in the Middle East and North Africa. Allowing Participants to discuss and exchange views. Inspiring Participants to further following events in the Arab-Muslim world. Enriching the classes with learning the basics of modern standard Arabic.

Course coordinators

Magdalena Nycz-Waller

Learning outcomes

The Student will gain knowledge in the following range of topics:

1. Does the contemporary Arabic culture exist?
2. A brief history of the Arab world.
3. Contemporary authorities in the Arab world and their image.
4. Islam in the 21st century.
5. The contemporary elite of the Arab world.
6. Arabs in the West, the West towards Arabs.
7. Media in the Arab world.
8. Language modifications.
9. Superstitions and modernity.
10. Sexual minorities.
11. The role of women and feminism.
12. Consumer culture and Islam.
13. Selected profiles of literary heroes. Contemporary problems included in the poetry.
14. Where is the Arab world heading? Problems with identity, demography, influences of globalization.
15. Basics of modern standard Arabic.

Assessment criteria

activity in classes 50%

final work (presentation or essay on one of the topics given by the lecturer) and conversation with the lecturer on the developed topic 25%

written test of basic language competences 25%

2 unexcused absences allowed per term

Bibliography

Supplementary literature and links to useful articles will be provided to the Participants on an ongoing basis during the course.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3600-SJW-ATMCCP-OG in USOSweb