HUM160 — Middle Eastern Humanities
3 , 3 lecture periods 0 lab periods Introduction to the values, traditions, and development of Southwest Asian and North African culture and civilization. Includes principal achievements in art, architecture, and literature of the “Middle East,” as well as contemporary art, music, film, cuisine, and popular culture of the region. Also examines Islamic civilization and the socio-cultural history of the modern Middle East, with an emphasis on the Arabic, Persian, Turkish/Ottoman, and Kurdish humanities tradition through a de-colonized lens. Also includes the geopolitical significance of the region as a pillar of the Global South, as well as its implications for the 20 th and 21 st century United States and the “Western” World, including transnational cultural exchange; Diaspora communities and culture; media representation, and the Muslim-American experience. Describe the cultural heritage (history, literature, art, and architecture) of Southwest Asia and North Africa, as it emerged with the introduction of Islam as a world religion. Explain cultural patterns of the modern “Middle East” and relate them to current events in the world and the United States. Critically examine and distinguish between the culture and humanities tradition of Arabs, Persians, Turks, and Kurds. Explain the socio-cultural, economic, and political significance of the region within the global context, as well as its implication for the United States. Effectively communicate and mobilize information about
Prerequisites: WRT101, WRT101S