Representations of the West in Arabic Culture

general courses

B1 level of English proficiency.

Classroom

The course focuses on discussing historical evolution and regional differentiation of perceptions and representations of the West in Arabic

culture and their implication for intercultural dialogue.

The course focuses on discussing historical evolution and regional differentiation of perceptions and representations of the West in Arabic

culture through reading excerpts from Arabic classical and modern literature in Polish or English translation, as well as studying the Arabic

popular culture. The basic Western concepts and theories of describing the alterity will be compared with the Arabic and Islamic tradition

and their implications for intercultural dialogue will be discussed.

(Selected literature)

Primary sources

America in Arab Mirror. Images of America in Arabic Travel Literature, 1668 to 9/11 and Beyond, K. Abdel-Malek, M. El Kahla (red.), Palgrave Macmillan, New York 2011.

Al-Aswani A., Chicago, I. Szybilska-Fiedorowicz (tłum.), Smak Słowa, Sopot 2010.

Fayyad S., Voices, H. Aboul-Ela (tłum.), Marion Boyars, London 1993.

Hakki Y., The Lamp of Umm Hashim, D. Johnson-Davies (tłum.), The American University in Cairo Press, Cairo 2006.

Al-Jabarti, Napoleon in Egypt, Moreh Sh. (tłum.), Markus Wiener Publishers, Princeton 2006.

Ibn Munkidh Usama, Kitab al I’tibar. Księga pouczających przykładów, J. Bielawski (tłum. i red.), Ossolineum, b.m. 1975.

In the Lands of Christians. Arabic Travel Writing in the Seventeenth Century, N. Matar (tłum. i red.), Routledge, New York-London 2003.

Lewicka M., Świat islamu, Europa i reformy. Prolegomena Ḫayr ad-Dīna AT-Tūnusīego, Wydawnictwo Naukowe UMK, Toruń 2017.

Salih T., Sezon migracji na Północ, J. Stępiński (tłum.), Smak Słowa, Sopot 2010.

Al-Tahtawi R.R., An Imam in Paris. Account of a Stay in France by an Egyptian Cleric (1826-1831), D.L. Newman (tłum. i red.), Saqi Books, London 2011.

Al-Shidyāq A.F., Leg over Leg, (tłum. i red.) H. Davies, New York University Press, New York-London 2013-2014.

Secondary sources

Abu-Lughod I., Arab Rediscovery of Europe. A Study in Cultural Encounters, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1963.

Chambers Claire, Britain Through Muslim Eyes. Literary Representations, 1780-1988, Palgrave Macmillan, b.m. 2015.

El-Enany Rasheed, Arab Representations of the Occident. East-West Encounters in Arabic Fiction, Routledge, London & New York 2006.

Euben Roxanne L., Journeys to the Other Shore. Muslim and Western Travelers in the Search of Knowledge, Princeton University Press, Princeton & Oxford 2008.

König D.G., Arabic-Islamic Views of the Latin West. Tracing the Emergence of Medieval Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2015.

Lewis B., The Muslim Discovery of Europe, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, London 2001.

Matar N., Europe through Arab Eyes, 1578-1727, Columbia University Press, New York 2009.

Nazmi A., The Muslim Geographical Image of the West in the Middle Ages, Wydawnictwo Akademickie Dialog, Warszawa 2007.

Said E.W., Orientalizm, M. Wyrwas-Wiśniewska (tłum.), Zysk i S-ka, Warszawa 2018.

Yared N.S., Arab Travellers and Western Civilization, S.D. Shahbandar (tłum.), Saqi Books, London 1996.

Student:

K_W04: has basic knowledge in the range of theory of humanities (literary studies or linguistics or history) necessary to understand chosen cultural aspects

K_W05: has detailed and organized knowledge of literature and writings of Arab countries; can name and characterize most important phenomena/trends/literary texts/writings of Arab countries

K_W16: demonstrates basic grasp of contemporary cultural life of Arab countries

K_U01: is able to search for, analyze, evaluate and use information from different sources

K_U04: is able to use the knowledge of history of Arab countries to analyze and interpret events taking place in the modern world

K_U06: is able to read, analyze and interpret literary texts and other works of culture (film, press, social writing) and appropriately place them in their cultural context

K_U10: can indicate most important intellectual problems, dilemmas, aesthetic preferences taking shape inside the culture of Arab countries

K_K03: is prepared to establish relations and cooperate with representatives of other cultures

K_K05: is prepared to make others aware of the cultural distinctness and its religious, philosophical, traditional and historical roots and its significance for understanding modern world

K_K06: sees the need of dialogue between cultures

K_K07: is aware of significance the culture of Arab countries have for the culture of the world

K_K08: acts in aid of sharing and promoting cultural and linguistic heritage of Arab countries

Control of attendance. Max. two absences (4 hours) are allowed in a semester. In case of absence due to illness, a medical certificate should be submitted within seven working days from the last day of the leave specified in the certificate.

Continuous assessment of diligence

Final written test