Much has been written about the “exotic” Orient. From travelogues, to works of fiction, to films, to travel brochures, most texts invite us to read about the “mysterious” Orient and to experience its magic. For many of us, these sources shape our idea of the Orient. However, few of us ask: How did the “Orient” become exotic? Has it always been magical? Is this a natural state or is it actually a “constructed” image? This course seeks to help students develop a critical approach to fiction, travel writing, and film. Students will learn to place literary texts within a certain line of inquiry, and articulate their contribution through close reading and analysis. To this end, we will be looking at the discourse of Orientalism that continues to shape our perception of the “other” in our contemporary world. More specifically, we will be looking at British and French travel literature and fiction on 19th and 20th century Egypt. We will examine how knowledge was produced about Egypt under the French and British occupations, in order to construct a specifically different racial identity for Egyptians and, therefore, to justify French and British colonial projects. As a counterbalance, we will also read pieces written by Egyptians recounting their perceptions of the West and of Europeans. Texts include Ahdaf Soueif, The Map of Love (1999); Gustave Flaubert, Flaubert in Egypt: A Sensibility on Tour; H. Rider Haggard, Cleopatra (1889), Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile (1937), Edward William Lane, The Manners and Customs of Modern Egyptians (1836), a course pack, and two films. Course requirements include regular attendance, a demanding reading schedule, quizzes, active in-class participation as well as participation on Go-post, team presentations, response papers, and a final paper.

Texts:

• Henry Haggard. Cleopatra. Volume 1.Elibron Classics. paperback. [9781402160028]
• Edward William Lane. An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians. paperback. [9781402186554]
• Gustave Flaubert. Flaubert in Egypt: A Sensibility on Tour. Penguin Classics. [9780140435825]
• Ahdaf Soueif. The Map of Love. Anchor Books. [978-0385720113]
• Agatha Christie. Death on the Nile. Penguin. [9780425200469]

A course pack