Summer 2011 / Global Summer Program / University of California, Berkeley
_
This six-week Middle Eastern Studies course was principally concerned with the
politics of the Middle East and the region's changing position and portrayal in
the world. In an age marked by dramatic social and
technological transformation, the course offered students an innovative and integrated
perspective, combining insights from a range of disciplines, including political science, religious studies, international relations, media studies, and
international development.
Students participated in a series of lectures and multimedia workshops that exposed them to a wide spectrum of ideas and tools so they could develop the critical research faculties needed to document, analyze, produce, and communicate knowledge of the Middle East throughout the region and beyond. Students were expected to demonstrate an understanding of fundamental debates concerning the way the Middle East is studied and portrayed amongst both academic and non-academic sources/audiences. The objective was to prepare students to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various ‘schools’ of thought and media outlets, to identify underlying assumptions and biases, and to arrive at and defend their own conclusions.
Students launched (individual and group) multi-page websites to house all assignments and content produced over the course of the class.
Students participated in a series of lectures and multimedia workshops that exposed them to a wide spectrum of ideas and tools so they could develop the critical research faculties needed to document, analyze, produce, and communicate knowledge of the Middle East throughout the region and beyond. Students were expected to demonstrate an understanding of fundamental debates concerning the way the Middle East is studied and portrayed amongst both academic and non-academic sources/audiences. The objective was to prepare students to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various ‘schools’ of thought and media outlets, to identify underlying assumptions and biases, and to arrive at and defend their own conclusions.
Students launched (individual and group) multi-page websites to house all assignments and content produced over the course of the class.
Middle Eastern Studies 150 / Course Overview
_Weeks One Through Three:
Half of our class time was spent in lectures and discussions with Dr. Daniel Zoughbie (President and CEO of Micro-Clinic International), while the other half involved a series of media workshops with Tara Graham (International and Area Studies lecturer and Publications Director of the U.C. Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies). The lectures surveyed relevant political theory/debates relating to how the Middle East is studied and portrayed. The media workshops introduced students to different news platforms, the advantages/limitations of each, and the communication strategies and biases adopted by key Arab and Western media outlets. These workshops also provided tutorials on a number of web-based multimedia tools, with specific focus on helping students conceptualize and launch their own websites and blogs. Weeks Four And Five: In addition to ongoing workshop time, the class explored the influence of the Internet on expressions of Arab culture and the role of social media in the 2011 uprisings and mobilization efforts. Prof. Nezar AlSayyad (Chair, Center for Middle Eastern Studies at U.C. Berkeley), sociologist and freelance journalist Ryan Calder, and reporter Jon Jensen (Middle East correspondent for the GlobalPost) guest lectured during these weeks. At this time, students also began work on their final group projects. Each group researched global media coverage surrounding a specific country’s involvement in the so-called "Arab Spring." Over the remaining weeks, students investigated how mainstream/alternative/social media outlets report(ed) on story developments, identified the key players involved, and commented on the resulting public discourse/outcomes. Each group then designed a website to communicate their findings. Week Six: Mona Eltahawy, syndicated columnist and speaker on Arab and Muslim issues, lectured on the increasingly influential role of new media in the Arab world and its cultural implications. Students presented their final project websites and findings before a jury of scholars on the last day of class, Aug. 10, 2011. |
// About the Global Summer Program //
_Sponsored by the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), the Global Summer Program (GSP) is a unique opportunity
for outstanding students from the 10 leading research universities around the world to live and work together while
exploring a specific 21st century issue and/or region in greater depth. The program
also seeks to develop practical skills pivotal in both academic and
policy setting arenas. This year’s U.C. Berkeley course offering is co-sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.