New Courses in MESALC
(Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures)

MESA 304
ANTH 304

North Africa in France / France in North Africa
Anna Lim
T 15:30-18:00
This course traces the complex and often controversial relationship between France and North Africa, exploring both French "presence" in North Africa under colonialism, and the later North African "presence" in France through what is generally referred to as "post-colonial migrations." We will interrogate the meaning of "decolonization" and the subsequent construction of mutually exclusive categories "French" and "North African," and ask how the colonial past and the relationship between North Africa and France are conceived by both North Africans and the French. We will pay particular attention to the case of Algeria, which, under colonialism, was considered part of French national territory and where French nationality had been extended to all native-born inhabitants. We will also look at how the ideological construction of a secular France and a Muslim North Africa factored into issues of citizenship under colonialism, and continue to play out in framing the current debates over immigration. This course will combine lecture and seminar formats.

PERS 424

Advanced Readings in Sufi Texts
Youli Ioannesyan
TR 12:00-13:15
The course is intended to help advanced learners of Persian to develop skills in reading and understanding original texts on Persian Islamic Mysticism (Sufism) both prosaic and poetic. It also introduces students into the world of Persian mystical thought and the language of Persian classic literature.  Special attention will be given to understanding Persian philosophic terms and poetical expressions. The whole course is text based: students will be provided an opportunity to gain experience in reading the following works of prominent Persian Sufi authors: Al-Ghazali’s "Elixir of Happiness", Muhammad Parsa Bukhari’s (Naqshbandiyyih Sufi order) "Treatise on Holiness" and Jalaluddin Rumi’s “Mathnavi”.  

SAST 250

Introduction to South Asian Civilizations
Richard Cohen
TR 15:30-16:45
We will explore South Asian civilizations through their classic texts and great works of architecture and painting. The syllabus begins with a brief survey of the earliest known South Asian civilization, the so-called Indus Valley Culture. We then proceed to the Vedic period, reading samples from the earliest known South Asian texts. From there we look into the best of the Buddhist and Jain classics, followed by a study of the earliest attempts at sculpture and religious architecture. Next come the foundational classics of Indian philosophy, yoga  and social laws, followed by samples from the two great Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the latter being the longest poem ever written anywhere, and containing folk themes that have traveled far and wide and down through the centuries to modern times. After sampling texts from the Hindu puranas and examples of the finest Sanskrit love poetry, along with a short survey of the high points of Hindu temple architecture, we will experience the voices of medieval poets and poetesses who help to form and strengthen the limbs of devotional religion.  Classics from Indo-Persian texts from the hands of Khusraw and Bedil, as well as Sufi allegories and Urdu ghazals, as well as the great buildings of the Mughal dynasty will introduce us to the important contributions Islam has given to South Asia. Modern South Asian classic texts will round out the course, including readings from such greats as Tagore, Premchand, Iqbal, Manto, Gandhi and Nehru.

SAST 260

Bollywood Dreams: A Survey of Indian Cinema
Richard Cohen
MW 14:00-14:50
Indian cinema has its beginnings around a century ago with the first screenings of film in Mumbai (Bombay) around 1905. We will survey the early decades of the Indian film industry (ca. 1910 – 1940), then begin to focus in more detail on films made after independence arrives in 1947.  The important landmark films from the 50s through the 90s will be discussed, with particular attention given to their artistic, social and political elements. The work of such innovative directors as Mehboob, Satyajit Ray, Guru Dutt, Shyam Benegal and Mani Ratnam will be presented. The role of music in Indian film making will be covered, as well as the phenomenon of star quality and “darshan.” There will be bi-weekly screenings of films.