Anthropology 3969/5969-02 (5934; 3637; 3638)
Love, Sex, and Family in the Middle East
Summer Semester 2005
Dr. Ewa Wasilewska

COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor:		Dr. Ewa Wasilewska

Office hours: 	By appointment only; please call the Department of Anthropology (581-6251) and leave your name, phone number, and class number.

Time:			Every Monday and Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Location:		Campus AEB 350

Important dates:	May 25, 05 – last day to drop classes
			May 31, 05 – last day to add classes
			May 31, 05 – last day to elect CR/NC option or to audit classes
			June 3, 05 – last day to withdraw from term length classes

Required Texts:	All required articles are on RESERVE in the Marriott library. They are listed in order of topics discussed under specific class meetings.
 
Optional Texts: 	Ewa Wasilewska: Love, Sex, and Family in the Middle East. Notes. 2005. (EW)
Notes can be purchased during the first three class meetings.

Course Description:	This course focuses on various aspects and attitudes toward love, sex, and family in the Middle East. It examines them since the earliest available written records until modern period. Special emphasis is paid to selection of marriage partners and societal expectations of young people. 

Course Requirements:	 
All students are expected to attend lectures and read required material. There will be three exams especially designed for the type of material covered by specific lectures and by required readings.  Each undergraduate student will be required to write a final research paper (10 pages plus bibliography) on the topic related to the class material. This paper must be turned in by the end of the term semester (August 3, 2005). 

GRADUATE STUDENTS

In addition to the requirements listed above, graduate students are required to write a research paper of ca. 20 pages (plus bibliography). Each topic must be discussed with the instructor first. It must be turned in by the end of the term semester (August 3, 2005). 

Meeting # 1 – May 16, 2005
The Middle East: geographical and historical introduction.

Readings for MEETING # 1
EW: H. #1

Eickelman, Dale F.: Anthropology, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In The Middle East and Central Asia. An Anthropological Approach. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1998. Pp. 1-26.

Soden, Wolfram von: Chapters I-III. In The Ancient Orient. An Introduction to the Study of the Ancient Near East. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1994. Pp. 1-20.

Readings for MEETING # 2:
EW: H. #2

Eickelman, Dale F.: Personal and Family Relationships. (whole chapter #7). Naming. Women, Men, and Sexuality (part of chapter 8). In The Middle East and Central Asia. An Anthropological Approach. Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1998. Pp. 147-199.

Haeri, Sharla: Introduction. Marriage as Contract. Permanent Marriage: Nikah. In Law of desire. Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran. Syracuse University Press: 1989. Pp. 1-48.

Ahmed, Leila: Women and the Rise of Islam. In Women and Gender in Islam. Yale University Press:1992. Pp. 41-63.

Meeting # 2 – May 18, 2005
Family as a formalized and/or traditional institution. Various types of marriages. 

Readings for MEETING # 3:
EW: H. #4

Al-Khayyat, Sana: The Pressure to Conform. In Honour and Shame. Saqi Books. 1990. Pp. 21 –56.

Guthrie, Shirley: Fertility, Health and Childcare. In Arab Women in the Middle Ages. Saqi Books: 2001. Pp. 41-64.

Meeting # 3 – May 23, 2005
Birth and childhood. A matter of honor.

TAKE HOME EXAM – to be turned in by June 1, 2005

	Readings for MEETINGS # 4, 5, 6:
EW: H. #4, 5, 6

Al-Khayyat, Sana: Choosing a Partner. In Honour and Shame. Saqi Books. 1990. Pp. 57 –78.

Guthrie, Shirley: Contraception and Abortion.  In Arab Women in the Middle Ages. Saqi Books: 2001. Pp. 64 --78.

Meeting # 4 – May 25, 2005
The marriage route: spousal selection and the first days “thereafter.” Part 1. 
Movie: The Mountain (34 minutes). PN 1997 M788 1991. 
Movie: A Summer in La Goulette. Tunisia 1996. (MEC collection).

Meeting # 5 – May 30, 2005
MEMORIAL DAY!

Meeting # 6 – June 1, 2005
The marriage route: spousal selection and the first days “thereafter.” Part 2. 
Movie: Leila. Iran. (MEC collection).
	
Readings for MEETINGS #7, 8:
EW: H. #7, 8.

Schumann, Ruth Antelme & Stephane Rossing: The Sexuality of the Human World. In Sacred Sexuality in Ancient Egypt. Inner Traditions. 2001. Pp. 50-68. 

Esposito, John L. and Natana J. DeLong-Bas: Classical Muslim Family Law. In Women in Muslim Family Law. Syracuse University Press: 2001. Pp. 12--37

Meeting # 7 – June 6, 2005
Dos and don’ts of the marriage life: procreation, adultery, gossip, seclusion. Divorce. 
Part 1.
Movie: Divorce Iranian Style. 

Meeting # 8 – June 8, 2005
Dos and don’ts of the marriage life: procreation, adultery, gossip, seclusion. Divorce. 
Part 2.
Movie: Yol. 
TAKE HOME EXAM – to be turned in by June 15, 2005

	Readings for MEETINGS # 9, 10:
EW: H# 9, 10

Al-Khayyat, Sana: Worlds Apart: Sexual Life for Women and Men. In Honour and Shame. Saqi Books. 1990. Pp. 79 -- 96.

Haeri, Sharla: Women’s Life Stories. In Law of desire. Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran. Syracuse University Press: 1989. Pp. 105-146.

Schumann, Ruth Antelme & Stephane Rossing: Uncommon Sexual Practices. In Sacred Sexuality in Ancient Egypt. Inner Traditions. 2001. Pp. 139-149.

Roth, Martha T.: Bestiality laws in the chapter on Hittite Laws. In Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. Scholars Press: 1997. Pp. 236-237. 

* Schumann, Ruth Antelme & Stephane Rossing: The Erotic Papyrus of Turin. In Sacred Sexuality in Ancient Egypt. Inner Traditions. 2001. Pp. 150-161.

*Varone, Antonio: Eroticism In Pompeii. The J. Paul Getty Museum. 2001.

* Warning! Sexually explicit material!

Meeting # 9 – June 13, 2005
All about sex. Part 1.
Movie: History of Sex. 
Movie: Man of Ashes. Tunisia. 2000. (MEC collection).

Meeting # 10 – June 15, 2005
All about sex. Part 2. 

Readings for MEETING # 11:
EW: H. #11

Esposito, John L. and Natana J. DeLong-Bas: Classical Muslim Family Law. In Women in Muslim Family Law. Syracuse University Press: 2001. Pp. 37-46

Wasilewska, Ewa: Nor Shall They Grieve: Death and Afterlife in the Qur’an: Part One. In The World & I. The Washington Times Corporation. September 2002. Pp. 153-161.

Wasilewska, Ewa: So the Soul Can Rest. Death and Afterlife in the Qur’an: Part Two. In The World & I. The Washington Times Corporation. October 2002. Pp. 156-169.

Meeting # 11 – June 20, 2005
Aging, death, and inheritance.

Meeting # 12 – June 22, 2005
 FINAL EXAM!

AUGUST 3, 2005 – research papers must be turned in.