Universität Wien

141002 SE Cultural and Scientific History of the Arab World (2023S)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first lecture will take place on the 24th of March. You will get exercises for the two lectures that were cancelled per E-Mail.

  • Friday 10.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 17.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 24.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 31.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 21.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 28.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 05.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 12.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 19.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 26.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 02.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 09.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 16.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 23.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Friday 30.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course introduces students to a selection of advanced texts to enhance their understanding of textual analysis and linguistic expression and to develop their knowledge of literary historical and critical approache combines classical and modern genres of Arabic literature, introducing students to intersections in theme and aesthetics, and the central place of pre-modern literary heritage in the emergence of modern literature. Students will be introduced to a wide range of poetry and prose, studying their contexts and how they might be read comparatively. In this respect, they will be expected to engage with a variety of historical and theoretical and critical readings in addition to their reading of the primary material. We will also read pre-modern texts, from poetry to animal fables to philosophical fantasies, in which animals convey moral messages, reflect attitudes to nature and culture, and embody broader Islamic views on cosmology and the place of humans within the world. More broadly, the course aims to expand students’ knowledge of the different registers of literary Arabic, improve their ability to understand complex grammatical constructions, and develop their understanding of interpretive techniques. Set texts, excerpted from longer works and covered in each participatory seminar-style lecture, form the basis of the course content, and will be provided on Moodle. For pre-modern and contemporary works, students are expected to read the texts in full in translation, whenever possible

Assessment and permitted materials

1 presentation, 1 final paper, as well as active participation in class (including preparing weekly readings for translation and discussion)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

intermediate to advanced knowledge of Arabic; attendance is compulsory

Grading
Participation, translations, class prep 30%
Class presentation 10%
Seminar/research paper 60%

Examination topics

Assessment will be by way of participation, class presentation and final paper.

Reading list

I. Goldziher, “Le dénombrement des sects mahométanes,” in Revue de l’histoire des religions (RHR), vol. 26 (1892), pp. 129-137.

H. Ritter, “Philologika: III. Muḥammedanische Häresiographien,” in Der Islam, vol. 18 (1929), pp. 34-55.

S. M. Wasserstrom, “Islamicate History of Religions?” in History of Religions, vo. 27 (1988), pp. 405-411.

J. van Ess, Der Eine und das Andere: Beobachtungen an islamischen häresiographischen Texten (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2011).

Für weiterführende Literatur siehe Moodle.

Association in the course directory

MA ALT: WM-3, AS-2
MA NEU: WM-2

Last modified: Th 09.03.2023 21:49