OVERVIEW

The course consists of 36 hours, equivalent to 6 credits, and offers a critical overview of representations of religion and the phenomenon of religious fundamentalism in novels by authors from various Arab countries. Through the analysis of works by writers such as ‘Alā’ al-Aswānī, Khālid Khalīfa, Ğabbūr al-Duwayhī, Khālid al-Berrī, and others, the course will examine narrative strategies, symbolism, and the underlying messages in these texts. Particular attention will be paid to the historical contexts and the cultural and political factors influencing Arab literature. Lectures, critical readings, and interactive discussions will guide students in exploring the roots of fundamentalism in Arab society and its literary representation.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims to explore the profound interplay between Arabic literature and social dynamics, examining how literary texts reflect, denounce, or influence the cultural, political, and historical structures of society. Through the analysis of works from diverse cultural and regional contexts, the course seeks to investigate crucial themes such as identity, inequality, religious fundamentalism, social and political conflicts, as well as historical transformations. The objective is to develop a critical understanding of the role of literature not only as a mirror of society but also as a tool for interpreting and promoting cultural change.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

- Examine the complex interactions between religion, politics, and society in the Arab world, delving into the role these dimensions play in shaping and influencing the phenomenon of religious fundamentalism.

- Foster an interdisciplinary approach, integrating knowledge from literature, history, sociology, and religious studies to address the subject with a critical and holistic perspective.

- Deepen students’ understanding of contemporary Arab literature, through the analysis of significant works by leading authors addressing the theme of religious fundamentalism.

- Develop critical tools for literary analysis, focusing on the identification of central themes, narrative techniques, and symbolism, and their connection to historical and socio-political contexts.

- Enhance students’ mastery of standard Arabic vocabulary, phraseology and syntactic structures, through the reading and analysis of literary texts in the original language.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

- Understand the complex dynamics between religion, politics, and society in the Arab world.

- Critically analyse literary texts and relate them to the historical and socio-political contexts in which they were written.

- Analyse how Arab writers depict religion and religious fundamentalism, assessing their impact on society.

- Produce written analyses and oral presentations demonstrating their ability to apply the knowledge gained in the course, through well-structured arguments supported by textual evidence.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and seminars. Texts and audiovisual materials, such as films and documentaries, will be provided in class. Students will be asked to participate in class discussions, to read and comment on several texts, both in Italian and in Arabic, as well as to prepare summaries and oral presentations.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course provides an introduction to the debate on the relationship between religion, state, and society in the modern and contemporary eras, focusing on the evolution of Arab Islamist movements from the 19th century onwards and the impact of religious fundamentalism, particularly on society and culture. During the lectures, narrative works by authors from various Arab countries will be analysed, considering their historical and socio-cultural contexts. The course will pay special attention to the following aspects:

- The relationship between religion, power, and society according to the thought of major Islamist movements.

- The impact of Islamism on social issues, with a particular focus on the Islamic vision of society, the condition of women, social justice, relations with others, and the status of minorities.

- The representation of religion in modern and contemporary Arab literature.

- The portrayal of religious fundamentalism through the analysis of the following works:

• Children of the Alley (Awlād ḥāratinā - Nağīb Maḥfūẓ - Egypt);
• Voices (Aṣwāt - Sulaymān Fayyāḍ- Egypt);
• The Yacoubian Building (‘Imārat Ya‘qūbyān - ‘Alā’ al-Aswānī - Egypt);
• Azazeel (‘Azāzīl - Yūsuf Zaydān - Egypt);
• Life is More Beautiful Than Paradise (al-Dunyā ağmal min al-ğanna - Khālid al-Birrī - Egypt);
• No Knives in the Kitchens of This City (Lā sakākīn fī maṭābikh hāḏihi al-madīna - Khālid Khalīfa - Syria);
• The Vagrant (Šarīd al-Manāzil - Ğabbūr al-Duwayhī - Lebanon);
• The American Quarter (Ḥay al-Amrīkān - Ğabbūr al-Duwayhī - Lebanon);
• Frankenstein in Baghdad (Frankištayn fī Baġdād - Aḥmad Sa‘dāwī - Iraq);
• Mama Hissa’s Mice (Fi’rān ummī Ḥiṣṣa - Sa‘ūd al-San‘ūsī - Kuwait).

N.B.: Students must read at least two works of their choice (novels or anthologies of short stories or poems), translated from Arabic into Italian or English, and must be able to present and analyse them in depth in the exam.

- The syllabus is the same for non-attending students. Bibliographical material and texts covered during the course will be available on Aulaweb.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography

Essays:

- Guazzone Laura , Storia ed evoluzione dell’islamismo arabo, Milano, Mondadori Università, 2015.

- Hourani Albert, Storia dei popoli arabi, Edizioni Mondadori, 2017.

- al-Musawi Muhsin , Islam on the Street: Religion in Modern Arabic Literature, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009.

Novels:

- al-Berry Khaled, Life is More Beautiful Than Paradise: A Jihadist’s Own Story, tr. Humphrey Davies, American University in Cairo Press, 2009.

- al-Sanousi Saud, Mama Hissa's Mice, tr. Sawad Hussain, Amazon Publishing, 2019.

- Aswani Ala, The Yacoubian Building, tr. Humphrey Davies, American University in Cairo Press, 2004.

- Douaihy Jabbour, The American Quarter, tr. Paula Haydar, Interlink Books, 2017.

- Fayyad Soleiman, Voices, tr. Hosam Aboul-Ela, Marion Boyars, 1993.

- Khalīfah Khālid, No Knives in the Kitchens of this City, tr. Leri Price, Oxford University Press, 2016.

- Mahfouz Naguib, Children of the Alley, tr. Peter Theroux, Anchor, 2016.

- Saadawi Ahmad, Frankenstein in Baghdad, tr. Jonathan Wright, Penguin, 2018.

- Ziedan Youssef, Azazeel, tr. Jonathan Wright, Atlantic Books, 2013.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

NASSER AHMED ISMAIL AHMED (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons will be held in the second semester 2025/2026 according to the university teaching timetable.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination: the examination will last approx. 15 minutes for each student. It will consist of a number of questions on the various topics dealt with during the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The student’s learning will be evaluated based on a clear, accurate and comprehensive presentation of the historical and literary topics of the course. The student's ability to place the movements, authors and texts in the history of modern and contemporary Arabic literature as well as their ability to analyse the works chosen will also be evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the lecturer and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.