Spring 2009

MES 322K • ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IN LITERATURE AND FILM

Course Description

This upper-division undergraduate course will examine literary and cinematic representations of elements of the Israel/Palestine conflict by the most important Israeli, Palestinian, and "Arab Israeli" writers and filmmakers. In a discussion-intensive course, students will be exposed to diverse perspectives of the conflict. Some of the central questions we will investigate are: What effect can literature and film have on the conflict? Conversely, what effect has the conflict had on literature and film? Do authors and filmmakers on any side of the conflict have a moral obligation to represent it, or to represent it in a particular way? What is the author or artist's role in places at war? No knowledge of Hebrew or Arabic is necessary.

Grading Policy

Please see requirements.

Texts

Ghassan Kanafani, from Men In the Sun Mahmoud Darwish, from Unfortunately, It Was Paradise Anton Shammas, Arabesques Emile Habiby, The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist Sayed Kashua, Let It Be Morning Ronit Matalon, Bliss Orly Castel-Bloom, Human Parts David Grossman, The Smile of the Lamb A. B. Yehoshua, "Facing the Forests" S. Yizhar, Hirbet Hiza'ah

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