Meets with F307.  This course introduces the Middle East and the
various facets of lore associated with it. It is composed of four (4)
segments:
I. Introduction: The field of folklore as it applies to "The Middle
East"
--What is meant by "folklore" and its relation to
other 			levels/categories of Middle Eastern cultures.
--Peoples and cultures of the Middle East
--A brief overview of Middle Eastern Religions

II: Areas, Fields, and Genres of Middle Eastern Folklore:
	   --Introducing such concepts as: Oral Literature, Verbal
	Art, Folk Beliefs, Rituals, and Religion, Mythology,
	Festivals, Folklife Studies, Material culture, Folk 	Art,
Folk Architecture, etc.
III. In-depth Treatment of Select Forms, Fields, and Genres.
	   Emphasis is placed on Verbal, Social, and Mental/affective
aspects of lore:  The folk narrative and its genres, The major
anthologies (e.g., 1001 Nights, Kaleelah wa Dimnah, etc.); the
proverb and the      riddle; folk poetry and narrative poetry; folk
healing rituals, etc.
	   (You may treat any Middle Eastern group, or emphasize
other facets of lore that may not receive sufficient coverage in
class presentations).
IV. Your Own Work/Research in a Middle Eastern Field, Country, or
Social Group of Your Choosing.
(E.g., Pharaonic Egypt, Jewish tales from Yemen,
Zoroastrians, rug-weaving, dancing, etc.)
Requirements: Interest in the Middle East, traditional culture and
folklore, and willingness to think.
Textbooks:
H. El-Shamy. Folktales of Egypt ... with Middle Eastern and African
Parallels (U. of Chicago Press, 1980).
Hasan El-Shamy. Tales Arab Women Tell: And the Behavioral Patterns
they Portray. (Indiana University Press, 1999).

Gaston Maspero, Popular Stories of Ancient Egypt. Edited by Hasan El
Shamy, with "Introduction [the first large Scale Classification by
Tale Type and Motif." (ABC CLIO, 20002).
Other materials: Handouts: "The outline of culture," "Culture Areas
of the
Middle east," "TEXTS" etc.
Examinations: 2 exams--(Take home)
Paper: One term paper.
*Work with Arabic texts (classic or dialectical) can be arranged on
individual bases for students interested in the language aspect of
the data treated.
Fulfills a COAS Arts and Humanities, and is on List A of the COAS
Culture Studies requirement.