The article, "The 'Middle East?' Or.../Arabic Literature and the Post Literature Predicament," was very interesting to me. My favorite section of this article was the Arabic Literature part. Mainly because I really enjoy learning about new and different cultures, their customs and differences between the rest of the world, especially other cultures in general. For example, I found it interesting that Arabic Literature the earliest group of fiction writers were in the 1920s. They belonged to the upper or middle-class and quickly developed a taste for European music, art, and literature.
Arabic narratives are known to have reached their full prime artistic maturity during the 1920s. This development occurred in Egypt by a group of writers who were actively involved in launching an "Authentic National Egyptian Literature."
I found it positively surprising that gender is not a key component in which they analyze and depict the problems and antics in Palestine. In 1982, for example, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon was led by women. Unfortunately, this does not mean the women and men are viewed as equals yet. In some literature these women are stereotyped as "unattractive, low-class," and even named to be "mad women." All demeaning and low characteristics to get such a gender. On the other hand, if this invasion would have been led by men it probably would have had a much different connotation.
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I love to learn about other cultures, too! That is why I think this class is going to be so interesting! And the Middle East contains many sub-cultures as well, which makes for even more to learn about!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I didn't bother to consider it, but I think you're right about the depiction of the women who led the invasion of Lebanon versus how men would have been characterized. In many cultures, leadership by women is often subverted by attempts to demean the women (because everyone knows the worth of their accomplishments and sense of self hinge on their attractiveness). It is more likely that men would be remembered as brave, as fighting for what was viewed by some as rightfully theirs, not as madmen.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely surprising because most of the knowledge I have about Arabic women is that they are always submissive to the men around them. The article defintely shows that there is some progress being made for women and although it may still take awhile, it is still not as bad as what it used to be. I think if the stereotypes can go away that people may better be able to understand everyone from a culture and more people have to try and get the word out about the people and not just some of the bad things that they are associated with.
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