DHUM 25A46 - Dynamics of Postcolonial Arab Cities: Place as Memory, Experience and Practice

Utilizing both academic research and literary/artistic expression, the course will contribute towards gaining critical and dynamic analytical perspectives on urban transformations in the Arab region, especially in newly-formed cities-turned-capitals like Amman and Kuwait. The course will visit precolonial societies in the region, their precolonial interactions and modes of communal existence, and then consider the effects of colonialism, border-drawing, and postcolonial identity construction and its enduring effects in modern cities whose inhabitants go through various degrees of identity questioning, alienation, and conflict. The course will also look at the effects of authoritarianism, neoliberalism, commodification, and self-centered consumerism on urban transformations and malformations.

None, but it is preferred that students have general knowledge of Arab / Middle East politics, society, and (colonial) history.

A combination of seminar style teaching (main approach) and a workshop discussion approach to enhance student participation.

+ In-class participation (10%): Required readings will be discussed in class.

+ Presentation (40%): 10-minute presentation during the last 3 sessions, topics communicated beginning of semester, delivered mid semester, presented end of semester.

+ City-Memory narrative (50%): Students will search personal archives for objects related to their cities and city-experience to produce a “narrative” in the form of a creative exhibition item, with research as a key element. Deliverables: Exhibition item, didactic panel, 2,000-word article. Objects decided by midsemester, projects delivered end of semester.