Class meetings: MWF 1:30-2:20, Old Main 324

Office: Old Main 338; hours MWF 10:30-11:20

Telephone 575-6624 (O)

E-mail tsweden@comp.uark.edu

Armbrust, Walter. Mass Culture and Modernism in Egypt. Cambridge University Press.

Buonaventura, Wendy. Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World. Saqi Books.

Danielson, Virginia. The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthûm, Arabic Song, and Egyptian Society in the

Douglas, Allen and Fedwa Malti-Douglas. Arab Comic Strips: Politics of an Emerging Mass Culture.

Nieuwkerk, Karin van. "A Trade like Any Other": Female Singers and Dancers in Egypt. University of

Schade-Poulsen, Marc. Men and Popular Music in Algeria. University of Texas Press.

Plus selected articles, on reserve in the Anthropology Department reading room (Old Main 332).

Critical Essays (6) ------------------------ 30 points (5 points each)

Book report ------------------------------- 15 points

Exams ------------------------------------- 45 points

Participation ------------------------------ 10 points

Total 100

1. CRITICAL ESSAYS: 6 short papers, approximately 1 typed page, based upon the key readings assigned for the previous 1-2 weeks. (There are 7 possible dates for critical essays, so you can skip one.) The purpose of these essays is to (a) encourage you to keep up with the readings, (b) develop a synthetic understanding of course materials, and (c) raise issues for discussion that are pertinent to these materials. Be sure that your papers do not simply repeat arguments or discussions brought up in class.

2. BOOK REPORT on an anthropological or sociological study of gender/sexuality. To be chosen by the student, from a list of books supplied by the instructor. A handout on book reports will be passed out later.

3. EXAMS: Three one-hour exams, essay format. (45%)

4. PARTICIPATION: Participation in class discussion is expected and will be considered in assignment of final grades. Class lectures and discussions will cover material that supplements the readings, so please come to class—even if you are unprepared. KEEP UP WITH READINGS! (10%)

ALL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED, DOUBLE SPACED.

Writing Guidelines: All work written for this course should be of a level appropriate to college students. Mechanics and grammar DO count. Please type and proofread carefully. Everyone can improve their writing skills--even great writers.

Your goal is to develop an argument, which consists of the following components: a claim, reasoning to support that claim, evidence to support it, conclusion about the claim.

• Try for a strong opening, the better to lure the reader.
• Situate particular statements or points from the book within the author’s overall argument. This serves to contextualize your focus (i.e., avoid taking the arguments out of context).
• Support your argument with some examples from the text (and other relevant materials) to illustrate what you mean to say.
• Briefly identify the work(s) and author(s) under discussion within your text, so we’ll know what text you’re addressing (underline or italicize Book Titles, put quotations around "Article Titles").
• Locate quotations (give page number; if unclear from context, give author and title).
• As a rule, put punctuation inside quotations: "xxxxx." "xxxx," "xxxx?" "xxxxx" (p. x).
• Do you make a point? Avoid leaving your readers in confusion, or in "so-what?" land.
• Push your analysis and explore the implications of your argument (for anthropology, for everyday life, for issues of nature/culture, etc.).
• Wrap up the end of your paper by tying it back to your starting point. This will confirm your thesis point, reminds the reader of what you aimed to address, and shows how far your argument has taken you.
• Proofread your essay. Try having someone else read it aloud to you and listen for clarity, persuasiveness, awkward sentence structure, poor grammar, etc.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Unexcused late assignments will automatically have 10% deducted from the grade, and must be turned in by the end of the week they were due. An additional 10% will be deducted each week thereafter.

Grading, attendance, make-ups, etc. Final grades will be determined on the basis of total points earned on papers, exams, and active participation in class. There will be no makeup exams. If a student needs to take a makeup, this will consist of a 15-page library research paper on a subject assigned by the instructor. Regular attendance is expected, and excessive absences may result in the student being dropped from class. I will make every effort to hold class in inclement weather.

Academic honesty Provisions of the Code of Conduct of the University (pp. 320-28 of the 1999-2000 University Catalog) will be followed in this course.

WK 1 August 23-27 Umm Kulthûm

WK 2 August 30-September 3 Umm Kulthûm II

WK 3 September 8-10 Modernism, Mass Culture

WK 4 September 13-17 Modernism, Mass Culture II

DUE: Critical Essay #2, Monday Sept. 13 (on Armbrust)

WK 5 September 20-24 Movies

MIDTERM 1, Monday, Sept. 27

WK 6 September 29-October 1 Belly Dancing East & West

WK 7 October 4-8 Belly Dancing East & West II

WK 8 October 11-15 Female Entertainers in Egypt

WK 9 October 18-22 Female Entertainers in Egypt II

MIDTERM 2: Monday, October 25

WK 10 October 27-29 Comix

WK 11 November 1-5 Comix II

WK 12 November 8-12 Rai

WK 13 November 15-19 Rai II

WK 14 November 22-24 Transnationalized Middle Eastern Pop Culture

WK 15 November 29-December 3 Transnationalized Middle Eastern Pop Culture II

WK 16 December 6

Final exam: Sat. December 11, 12:30-2:30