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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS/PL 331"
COURSE NAME: "Media in the Arab World"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ibrahim Al-Marashi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 1:30 PM 3:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 220 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the various media systems, both news and entertainment, from the southern Mediterranean all the way to Iran through screenings of films and television programs from the region. The topics to be covered include the motion picture industry, news and entertainment media, including satellite TV, magazines, newspapers, internet, and alternative media and their role in the perception and practice of Middle Eastern politics and culture. Special emphasis will be put on questions of gender as well as the use of the media by social movements and the ways these transform the  institutional arrangements between the media, publics and governments, both nationally and transnationally.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The events of October 7, 2023 demonstrated that the conflict between Israel and the Axis of Resistance, Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis is not only fought over territory and in the air, but in realm of information and cyberspace. This conflict rages in the Arab world's ecosphere, which we will examine in this course.  In this course, we focus on media from  Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt, as well as Arab media produced by groups like ISIS and Al-Qaida. We will be watching films and video clips films from the region (translated into English of course).  The topics to be covered include the motion picture industry, news and entertainment media, including satellite TV, magazines, newspapers, internet, and alternative media and their role in the perception and practice of Middle Eastern politics and culture.  A significant portion of the course will deal media and gender in the region, as well as the events following “the Arab Spring” and how they transformed the institutional arrangements between the media, publics, and governments, both nationally and transnationally. This course also examines the interplay between Middle Eastern terrorism, the media, publics, and the political process. We will look at how the media shapes and is shaped by terrorism, and the concepts and theories relating to terrorism and the news production process, the agenda-setting nature of the news media, the interrelationship between journalists and public officials, media and terrorism.

No previous background of the Middle Eastis necessary.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

In terms of mass media, particularly political communication, students will learn:

1.      The interplay of media, publics, Islam, and the political process.

2.      The roles of media systems in national identity formation.

3.      Regional and national media’s responses and adaptations to globalization.

4.      The role of gender and pop culture in political communication in the region.

5.      How the mass media affect the perception and practice of regional politics.

6.      How different media sources provide political information in the Middle East.

7.      The institutional arrangements between the Middle East governments and the media.

8.      Critically analyze mass mediated terrorism, and how terrorism and the media were transformed by the rise of internet, satellite television, and the 24-hour news cycle. 

9.      Analyze how new media technologies also provide a means for diasporas outside of the Islamic world to engage in the narratives employed by transnational terrorist groups.

10.   Analyze terrorism and the internet -based discourse of terrorist groups and the visual iconography and imagery displayed on websites. 

11.   Internalize how Al-Qaida and The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria communicates.

12.   Conceptualize groups like Hizbullah & Hamas and the Media and how they created their own satellite channels that can broadcast globally?  What kind of messages do these two groups send and who are their audiences?

In terms of understanding Film:

1.      Learn how films communicate historical and political ideas, themes and symbols.

2.      Understand film mechanics, Protagonist/Antagonist, Climax, Resolution, Themes, and Thesis, and how they communicate historical and political and meaning

3.      How do film characters, symbols, and cinematography represent greater historical and political movements, trends or themes

4.      Understand how film forms popular historical memory of key events in Middle Eastern political development

5.      Understand how the “Hollywood system” functions and its relation to films produced in Middle Eastern films produced in national settings 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participationClass participation includes attending class (attendance will be taken), participating in classroom discussions, COMING TO THE FILMS and demonstrating the completion of the readings.20
Quizes4 quizzes, 40
FinalI will give a study guide40

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

WELCOME SESSION: GLOBALIZATION & THE MEDIA

Introduction to Globalization in the Arab World 

THEORIES OF MASS MEDIA 

Read 1.1

AL-JAZEERA vs SOCIAL MEDIA

A pan-Arab satellite channel, new means of communication, and the public sphere in the Southern Mediterranean

Read 2.1 Al-Jazeera and Social Media

Al-QAIDA AS A MEDIA PRODUCER

Non-state actors and transnational Islamist networks

Read 3.1 Al-Qaida

WEEK II

SYRIA

The Syrian media system before and after the civil war

Read 5.1 Syria

Quiz 1 on the readings including “1.1 Globalization,” “1.1 Modernity,” “2.1 Al-Jazeera & Social Media,” “3.1 Al-Qaida”

WEEK III

ISIS & THE ISLAMIC STATE AS A MEDIA SYSTEM

Non-state actors and transnational Islamist networks in Syria, Iraq, Italy, and the world

Start Reading 6.1 ISIS

IRAQI MEDIA

EGYPT

The Egyptian media system before and after the Arab Spring

LEBANON

The Lebanese Media System & Hizballah’s Media Empire

Read 8.1 Lebanon

WEEK IV

Screening of WEST BEIRUT

Quiz 3 on “7.1 Egypt,” “8.1 Lebanon,”

PALESTINE

Media system in a state that has yet to form & Hamas’ Media Empire

Read 9.1 Palestine

Screening of PARADISE NOW

 

WEEK V

Screening of WALTZ WITH BASHIR

Quiz 4 on “9.1 Palestine”  “10.1 Israel”

ISRAEL

The Israeli media system

Media after October 7, 2023

Read 10.1 Israel

Final Exam