Reimagining a Region: A Cultural History of the Middle East

The modern history of the Middle East is marked by cultural and political transformations which have brought about a cascade of ideological movements from liberalism to socialism to political Islam, each influencing the recent historical experiences of this religiously, ethnically, and linguistically diverse region. From the end of empire to the rise of nationalism, from uprisings to revolutions, the Middle East continues to be made and remade. Evolutions in culture and society are embedded within this recent history and can be seen in television and film, literature, music and dance from Iran to Morocco and everywhere in between. This course explores the Middle East through the lens of cultural history, as it intersects with questions of nationhood and the politics of identity.