Syllabus

      Tuesdays & Thursdays                                                                                                                        Carl Ernst

Course Description

This course will be a new kind of introduction to Islam, which instead of beginning with classical texts will start from the premise that the practice of religion is defined by contemporary national contexts. Governments limit and regulate the freedom and expression of religion, through constitutions, courts, income tax regulations, and immigration laws. National history, ethnic background, economic class, colonial experience, rural/urban locations, and gender are further variables that affect the way religion is understood and articulated. No previous knowledge of Islam is assumed, but students must be willing to engage critically with the common media stereotypes of Islam that revolve around images of violence and suppression of women.  This course will look at the multiple ways that public forms of the Muslim religious tradition have been expressed in a variety of national contexts, using Iran, Indonesia, and the U.S. as the main case studies. Students will do individual research projects on countries of their choice, including a book report on a novel from that country. The course will include a number of films from UNC's vast collection of films on the Middle East and Islam, with a special emphasis on films concerning Muslim women.  Course activities will include the use of a web page with on-line texts, and discussion forums and e-mail listservs to facilitate communication.

Course Requirements

• Two short papers on the country chosen by the student:
1. a study of the role of Islam in the constitution and legal system of the country;
2. a study of a novel from that country. Click here for some suggested novels.
• One research paper on a topic of the student's choice..
• Take-home final exam.

Required Reading

• Abrahamian, Ervand.  Khomeinism; Essays on the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993. ISBN 0520085035; 17.00
• Brooks, Geraldine. Nine Parts of Desire; The Hidden World of Islamic Women.  New York:  Doubleday & Company, Incorporated, 1996. ISBN 0385475772; 12.95
• Eickelman, Dale F. and James Piscatori, ed. Muslim Politics. Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 1996. ISBN   0691008701; 14.95
• Esposito, John L. and John Voll. Islam & Democracy; Religion, Identity & Conflict Resolution in the Muslim World.  New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN 0195108167; 17.95
• Kepel, Gilles. Allah in the West; Islamic Movements in America & Europe.  Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1997.  ISBN 0804727538; PRICE: 15.95
• Lawrence, Bruce. Shattering the Myth: Islam Beyond Violence. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998           (pre-publication version available on-line).

Please notify Richard Musselwhite of any problems with these pages.