Anthropology of the Middle East: Performance, Culture, and Resistance

How do traditional oral stories, performance arts, and local narratives serve as powerful tools for political expression and social resistance? This course offers an accessible introduction to the anthropology of the Middle East and North Africa through the lens of cultural performance and verbal art. You will explore how historical Western representations have shaped perceptions of the region, and learn to analyze oral epics, sacred chants, and folktales as dynamic, living traditions. By reading these cultural studies, you will understand how communities navigate modernization, political power, and censorship through creative expression, including modern digital platforms. What you'll learn: - Analyze the historical impact of Western representation and Orientalism on Middle Eastern cultural studies. - Examine traditional verbal arts, including oral epics, folktales, and sacred narrative performances. - Understand how performance acts as an oblique medium for political expression, social critique, and resistance. - Explore the role of ritual and sound through the study of Koranic chant and poetic recitation. - Investigate how modernization, globalization, and digital media transform traditional performance spaces. The course begins with foundational anthropological concepts and historical critiques of representation before moving into deep readings of specific oral traditions, performance styles, and modern digital adaptations. It is designed for beginners, requiring no prior background in anthropology or Middle Eastern studies—just a curiosity about culture, language, and power. Begin your reading journey today to uncover the rich, complex connection between performance and politics in the Middle East.