Topics in Israel Studies (280-4-1)
Topic
Leisure and Popular Culture in 20th Century Palest
Instructors
Maayan Hilel
Crowe Hall, 5-155
Office Hours: Thursday 5:00 - 6:00
Dr. Maayan Hilel is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Jewish & Israel Studies, and Assistant Director of the Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies at Northwestern University. She is a historian of the modern Middle East specializing in the cultural and social history of Palestine / the Land of Israel. Her book manuscript explores the emergence of modern leisure culture in Palestine's urban centers during the formative years of British rule (1918-1948). Relying on relational history, it examines intercommunal relations and cultural transformations within Jewish-Zionist and Palestinian-Arab societies. Through archival research in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, her research focuses on the ways in which members of marginalized social groups such as women, children, workers, and villagers participated, experienced, and interpreted major historical changes that unfolded at that time.
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-331: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
This course focuses on leisure and popular culture in Palestine and Israel during the first half of 20th century. Considering both Jewish and Arab societies, this course examines the emergence of new leisure sites and activities and probes how local and global events shaped the cultural life of the local population. Throughout the course we will discuss cafés, cinemas, beaches, nightlife, theatre, sports, radio, drugs, and alcohol consumption as new forms of leisure and examine how they were influenced by broad processes of modernization and urbanization, the emergence of national identities and the evolving conflict between the Arab and Jewish communities. The course combines a wide range of primary sources as well as cultural products of Jewish and Arabs writers, moviemakers, and artists. Through course readings, lectures, discussions, and collaborative assignments, students will confront the many ways in which leisure has had a foundational impact on ordinary people's daily lives and the formation of collective identities in Palestine and Israel.
Learning Objectives
-Acquire in-depth knowledge of Palestine and Israel's cultural history.
-Increase the understanding of the complex and multi-faceted relationship between Jews and Arabs.
-Shape informed opinions upon a contested historical period and encourage critical thinking in relations to it.
-Encourage active engagement in class discussions and in critical evaluation of primary and secondary sources.
-Develop writing, collaboration, and interpersonal communication skills.
Evaluation Method
Attendance & class participation: 30%
Mid-term paper: 30%
Final project: 40%
Class Materials (Required)
Materials will be provided by the intructor.
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area