The University of Texas at Austin Fall 2011 Department of Middle Eastern Studies Course: Aljazeera: the Voice of the Voiceless Prerequisites: None Instructor and Moderator: Mohammad A. Mohammad Office: WMB 5.142 Email: [email protected] Meetings: Lecture: 12:30‐2:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, MAI 220C Office Hours: MW 1:00‐2:00 Or by appointment “If there's one channel in the Arab world much talked about, alternately lauded and bashed by various commentators in both the West and the Arab world, it's Al‐Jazeera. Pre‐September 11 (and pre‐bin Laden tapes and exclusive Afghanistan coverage) western writers largely praised the channel for its open and independent coverage; the Arab world, although they were hanging on every talk show, often denounced the channel as being pro‐Israel, pro‐West, anti‐Arab. But with the airing of Al‐Jazeera's exclusive bin Laden videos, the tables were turned. The US administration pressured the emir of Qatar to "rein in" the channel, while Arab viewers praised the Al‐Jazeera as "the voice of truth" about the war in Afghanistan.” The Arabic channel has been described as “CIA agent”, “Zionist agent”, “Alqaeda agent”, “anti‐Semitic”, and many other contradictory charges. With the exception of Qatar and Lebanon, the channel’s offices were closed at one time or another in all the Arab countries. Currently, its bureau chief in Morocco is on trial for some transgression. In the relatively short period of ten years, Aljazeera emerged as the most watched media outlet in the Arab world. It is today one of the most valuable media trademarks in the world. Why is that? The course will attempt to answer this question. Aljazeera is not broadcasting from Mars to Martians. It is an Arab channel broadcasting to Arab audiences. In this course we will explore the difficult question: who are the Arabs? Even a partial understanding of the answer will shed a great deal of light on Aljazeera. Thus, we look at language, history, culture, society, and, of course, politics. We will also study some of Aljazeera’s programs translated into English. This course is student centered. This means that students are expected to be active participants in class. All assignments will have a writing component. ACADEMIC GOALS 1, Students would gain an in‐depth knowledge of the Arab culture; 2. Students would be able to analyze critically news reports about the Middle East; 3. Students would gain a good knowledge about the historical make up of the Arab World; Reading Material: Hugh Miles Al‐Jazeera: The Inside Story of the Arab News Channel That is Challenging the West. Course Packet will be uploaded on Blackboard Videos: Control Room Suggested But Not Required: Josh Rushing, Mission Al‐Jazeera: Build a Bridge, Seek the Truth, Change the World. Marc Lynch, Voices of the New Arab Public: Iraq, al‐Jazeera, and Middle East Politics Today Khalil Rinnawi, Instant Nationalism: McArabism, al‐Jazeera, and Transnational Media in the Arab World . Mohammed El‐Nawawy and Adel Iskandar, Al‐jazeera: The Story Of The Network That Is Rattling Governments And Redefining Modern Journalism Updated With A New Prologue And EPilogue. COURSE WORK AND GRADING Participation (30%) Students are expected to come to class having read the material assigned for that day. Participation is assessed based on the frequency and quality of the questions and comments raised in class. Oral Presentations (20%) Students will present to the class research on any topic relevant to the content of the course. The presentations will be scheduled during Weeks 7 and 14. Assignments (40%) There will be 3, 2‐3‐page assignments required in this class. These short assignments spread throughout the semester are meant to test students’ comprehension of the material assigned. Papers will be evaluated on their accuracy of information, analytical skills, attention to detail, organization, and writing. The assignments will be reaction papers to materials read and/or covered in class. Lectures, films, etc. presented by Signature Course adminstration.Students are required to attend at least one lecture and report in writing about it. Extra credit will be garanted to attending more than one lecture. (10%) Grading Scale: Average Grade Letter Grade Average Grade Letter Grade 93‐100 A 73‐75 C 89‐92 A‐ 69‐72 C‐ 86‐88 B+ 66‐68 D+ 83‐85 B 63‐65 D 79‐82 B‐ 60‐62 D‐ 76‐78 C+ 0‐59 F Attendance You are allowed two unexcused absences. Excused absences include religious holidays, family emergencies, and illnesses. If you need an absence to be excused, contact me before the absence or as soon as possible afterwards with appropriate documentation. Being absent, for whatever reason, does not excuse you from handing the assigned homework. Each unexcused absence will result in two percenatge points being deducted from the final grade. Honesty Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the university. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. Special Needs The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact of the Office of the Dean of Students at 471‐6259 as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Important Dates For all important University dates, refer to: http://registrar.utexas.edu/calendars/10‐11/index.html Writing Center: I strongly encourage you to use the Undergraduate Writing Center, FAC 211, 471‐6222: http://uwc.utexas.edu/home). The Undergraduate Writing Center offers free, individualized, expert help with writing for any UT undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop‐in basis. Any undergraduate enrolled in a course at UT can visit the UWC for assistance with any writing project. They work with students from every department on campus, for both academic and non‐academic writing. Whether you are writing a lab report, a resume, a term paper, a statement for an application, or your own poetry, UWC consultants will be happy to work with you. Their services are not just for writing with "problems." Getting feedback from an informed audience is a normal part of a successful writing project. Consultants help students develop strategies to improve their writing. The assistance they provide is intended to foster independence. Each student determines how to use the consultant's advice. The consultants are trained to help you work on your writing in ways that preserve the integrity of your work. .