Time Schedule:
Naomi B. Sokoloff
C LIT 323
Seattle Campus
Novels and short stories, from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Discusses relationship of Western literary genres to an oral literary tradition, as well as issues like colonialism, gender relations, narrative technique, native and non-native languages.
Class description
Literature of Emerging Nations: Israel/Palestine
5 credits
Instructors: Prof. Naomi Sokoloff and T.A. Amal Eqeiq
This course examines the role that literature has played in the shaping of Israeli identity and of Palestinian identity. Materials covered include selections of fiction, poetry, essays, film and popular music, all of which provide students an opportunity to consider Palestinian culture and Israeli culture in light of the concept of “emerging national literatures.” The course is team taught by instructors with expertise in Hebrew studies and in Arabic studies.
This is a W course.
Student learning goals
Students will acquire knowledge of Israeli and of Palestinian culture and identity, through texts produced in Hebrew and Arabic. All readings will be in English translation.
Students will discuss the following topics: memory and collective experience; contested nationalisms; diaspora and homeland as themes and as centers of literary activity; canon formation; relations between highbrow, middlebrow, and popular culture; colonialism/anti-colonialism/post-colonialism; cultures in contact and bilingualism; gender and national literatures.
The course is designed to strengthen writing skills and students will have opportunities to provide peer review and to revise and rewrite their assignments.
General method of instruction
2 lectures (one hour each) and 2 quiz sections (one hour each) per week.
Both instructors will present lectures and both instructors will lead discussion in quiz sections.
Recommended preparation
No prerequisites
Class assignments and grading
Reading, writing assignments, and several quizzes.
