The events of September 11, 2001, and the war in Iraq have brought new attention to the Arab American community.   Surveying one hundred years of Arab-American literature, this course will approach formulations of the diverse and historically dynamic Arab American identities as they have been reflected in poetry, novels, short stories and autobiographies from the early twentieth century to the present.

Images: Left, Cater Jospeh family of Austin, Texas; right, Annie Swia Casseb family of San Antonio Texas (from The Institute of Texan Cultures).

We will also consider the themes of Diaspora and assimilation in this body of literature as it relates to formative historical events: the First and Second World Wars, the 1967 and 1973 Middle East wars, the oil embargoes of the 1970s, the Gulf War, the Middle East peace process, September 11 and the current war in Iraq.

No knowledge of Arabic will be required for this course.

Texts: Two packets available at Jenn's Copies on Guadalupe.