ARBC 1502: Global Arts/Humanities: Modern Arab Culture

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

This Global Theme course uses the methods and insights of the social sciences to explore the central question of what it means to be a citizen of the world. Through the study of one or more different peoples, societies or cultures across the globe, students will be able to better understand themselves as part of a complex, interconnected world. ARBC 1502 provides students with an intricate account of how "identity" is conceived and narrated in contemporary Arab cultures. It features a range of English-translated works by prominent scholars, Arab literary figures, and filmmakers that explore several critical narratives surrounding the main theme of this course, i.e., identity, citizenship, and belonging. Special attention will be given to history, family, gender relations, and social change to discuss the main theme previously mentioned. Taught in English. Section information text: What does it mean to be an Arab in a postcolonial era marked by divisions across nations and communities? How is it possible to envision one’s citizenship in a region globalized but fractured through nationalist, religious, class-based, gendered, and sexualized anxieties? In what ways have literary and cultural producers captured the nuances of personal and communal concerns in the Arab world? These questions are central to this course, which provides students with an intricate account of how “identity” is conceived and narrated in contemporary Arab cultures. This course also helps the students develop the ability to become aware of differences between Arab and western cultures focusing on similarities and differences and appreciate such differences, develop empathy of Arabs who live by different values, experiences, and goals, ask questions about unfamiliar situations / topics in the Arab culture and Arab worldview, and deconstruct the constructs of Others to see beyond the stereotypes about Arabs. This course also focuses on students’ growing interconnectedness with the Arab world and how they are being socially, economically, culturally, and politically interdependent and students’ ability to reflect and develop awareness of their own community membership of the Arab world. The course features a range of English-translated works by prominent scholars, Arab literary figures, and filmmakers that explore several critical narratives surrounding the main theme of this course, i.e., identity, citizenship, and belonging. Special attention will be given to history, language, family, gender relations, and social change to discuss the main theme previously mentioned. The class is taught in English.

Average GPA: 3.45

Grade distribution records: 155 students across 5 terms.

Grade distribution

Based on 155 student grade records across 5 terms and 1 professor.

Instructors

• Noha Ghali 155 students, Average GPA 3.46