Fall 2023 YouTubing the Middle East Syllabus Page 1
YouTubing the Middle East: Watching, Learning and Reflecting
MELC-M306
Indiana University
Short Description:
Through this platform, students will learn interesting facts about the Middle East. From renowned
poets reciting their poetry to documentaries about Middle Eastern countries to Middle Eastern
stand-up comedy, you will have a visual, intellectual, and educational trip to the Middle East.
Longer Description:
YouTube is viewed by half young Arabs on a daily basis. Saudi Arabia is currently the top user
of YouTube per capita in the entire world. This popular video-sharing platform has allowed many
in the region to express their opinions and promote their agendas. It has been used by Middle
Eastern fashionistas, vloggers, peaceful protesters, civil war fighters, dissenters, and even
terrorists. When it comes to politics, numerous videos were recorded and then shared by
international media to give a picture of what is going on in the Middle East. As the regimes had
been imposing media monopoly, the only way to override their control was for individuals to
create their own coverage and share their opinions via YouTube and other social media outlets.
This minimester will focus on Middle Eastern through YouTube by focusing on three areas: a
general introduction to the Middle East, to a country (war-stricken Syria) and a phenomenon (the
terrorist organization, ISIS, or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The format of the course allows
students to watch videos and reflect on their content critically by writing and recording their
responses to the YouTube documentaries or material. Please note that including any video in the
course does not mean we (you and I) approve what is stated in it.
Objectives:
1-Having an introductory survey of the Middle East through YouTube.
2-Exposure to different views about the region.
3-Critically engaging with the material by expressing opinion about it.
Disclaimers:
Fall 2023 YouTubing the Middle East Syllabus Page 2
Please note that the content is chosen to show diverse views about the Middle East and some of
it might be controversial. Other than the facts and information about the Middle East, I am not
endorsing some of the statements in these videos. So, use your critical thinking while watching.
Send me a question if you find something that does not sound right, so to speak. You can show
your disagreement with the content in your responses. Some links might be inactive, but I will
fix this issue upon notification by students.
Assignments and Grades
Late submission of assignments will result in dropping up to 10 points for each day.
Grading Scale: A: 93-100, A-: 90-92, B+: 87-89, B: 83-86, B-: 80-82, C+: 77-79, C: 73-76, C-: 70-72, D+: 67-69, D: 63-66, D-: 60-62.
1-Written and Recorded Responses (see below for more details): 80 %
2-Final Report: 20 %
In this report, you will search and list six YouTube videos covering or related to the Middle East
(in any aspect). They should NOT be from the videos that we have in the regular assignments.
You will annotate each one of them by writing 200 words (for each) describing the content and
why you think it is important in learning more about the Middle East. Please note that I might
put all or some of these reports in a place (Google Doc) where students can see the material and
hopefully learn from it in the future. For this reason, use a Microsoft Word, 12-point, single space
format and write your name only (no need for the other class information) when submitting your
portion.
Format:
Step one-Mention the number and the title of the video, for example:
Video #1: Arabs Love for Poetry
Step two-Put the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or the web address, for example:
Step three-Concisely annotate the video in 200 words.
Deadline: December 10.
Written and Recorded Responses (80 %)
The course days run from Monday to Friday for three weeks. Each day you will watch YouTube
videos. Your will respond to some videos by writing and recording.
• Write a response of a 200-300 describing and summarizing all the items you watched. Criterion:
Be precise and professional in stating the main points, information, or ideas presented in the
YouTube video. Write as if you are writing an encyclopedia description of the material, covering
all content but as precisely as possible. Your response must be based on watching the entire
YouTube videos. You can critique the material in terms of its presentation of information or
argument. You may (optional) do extra research related to some references in the videos.
• Record a video response, (2-3 minutes) stating what you have learned. Criterion: You can reflect
on what you have learned as concisely as possible, pointing out how it helped you understand the
Fall 2023 YouTubing the Middle East Syllabus Page 3
Middle East, and what ideas you want to share after watching it. The response is your opportunity
to engage with the assigned material by reflecting on it. While highlighting what interested you,
connections between the various YouTube videos can be made. You need to show that you are
engaged in the content and its ideas or information. You can critique the material, stating any
disagreement you feel like sharing.
• In your written and recorded responses, you need to cover all videos in a balanced manner. You
are not allowed to record the same written material you have submitted, as this will result
in voiding the grade for the recorded material.
• If you use outside references, or find a description you want to utilize minimally, cite them
properly to avoid plagiarism. You need to quote what is not your own writing.
Daily Tasks:
- Write a response of a 200-300 describing and summarizing all the items you watched (according to the
criterion listed in the syllabus).
- Record a video, (2-3 minutes) stating what you have learned from the items (according to the criterion
listed in the syllabus).
Tentative Syllabus:
Please note that you only need to read the assignments in Canvas, where you submit your
responses.
Week 1:
Travel experience:
The Arab World, Heritage and Civilization:
Conan O'Brien Confronted by Pro-Palestine Activists,
Conan Goes Hooka Shopping:
A Saudi, an Indian and an Iranian walk into a Qatari bar:
28 Persia's Forgotten Empire:
Basic Beliefs of Islam:
Call for Prayer in Cairo:
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Why The Umayyads Matter:
The Abbasid Caliphate:
History of the Islamic Golden Age:
On Reading the Koran, Lesley Hazleton:
The Ottomans - PBS documentary:
The Crusades:
Week 2:
Misconception of Middle Eastern Culture and Religion:
Reel Bad Arabs:
Edward Said and Orientalism:
Edward Said On Orientalism,
An Introduction to Edward Said's Orientalism:
Implicit Bias
Film: Yacoubian Building,
Women and the Arab cinema:
I8&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
Arab world is transfixed by Turkish soap operas,
Nizar in Songs:
A song by Kathem and Sarah Brightman:
Mahmoud Darwish, “I Long for my Mother's Bread”
A Syrian actor representing the Syrian Poet Nizar Qabani and some of his poetry:
(The first video is a promotional video by the government showing Damascus, whose center
was relatively saved from the war)
Fall 2023 YouTubing the Middle East Syllabus Page 5
The Syrian Oral History Project: Relevance, Approach, and Examples
Bashar al-Assad speaks to Swiss television:
r5sDeY
Week 3
(Food) Iranian:
Turkish:
Gulf:
Syria:
(Sports) Mohamad Salah:
Qatar and World Cup 2022:
Bitter Rivals:
Comedy in the Middle East,
Basem Yousef:
Max Amini:
How Life Has Changed in the Middle East Over 58 Years:
The Study of Terrorism - Professor Bruce Hoffman:
The State of Terror, ISIS Documentary
The Islamic State by Vice:
state/559ea2a9884e6b677d5e2b25
Interview With Captured Isis Commander | Stacey Dooley: Face To Face With Isis
Manwar Ali Inside the mind of a former radical jihadist:
#t-872
After ISIS Defeat:
A Future for Syria:
5s&ab_channel=PositiveNegativesOrg
John Esposito at "ISIS, Radicalization, and the Politics of Violence
Fighting ISIS (VICE):
(Please share your thoughts on the readings, material, and the course in general via the online
course evaluation. Any comments for improving the course will be highly appreciated).
Academic integrity: As a student at IU, you are expected to adhere to the standards
detailed in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct (Code). Academic
Fall 2023 YouTubing the Middle East Syllabus Page 6
misconduct is defined as any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of
the institution. Violations include: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference, violation
of course rules, and facilitating academic dishonesty. When you submit an assignment
with your name on it, you are signifying that the work contained therein is yours, unless
otherwise cited or referenced. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for
either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. In addition, posting or
downloading answers to quizzes/exams or assignments from online sources is
considered academic misconduct. All suspected violations of the Code will be reported
to the Dean of Students and handled according to University policies. Sanctions for
academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment, reduction in your
final course grade, and a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. If you
are unsure about the expectations for completing an assignment or taking a test or
exam, be sure to seek clarification from your instructor in advance.
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other courses is not permitted. Violations of this policy will be reported to the Dean of
Students as academic misconduct (violation of course rules). Sanctions for academic
misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment for which the notes/study
guides or assignments are being uploaded, a reduction in your final course grade, or a
failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. Additionally, you should know that
selling a faculty member’s notes/study guides individually or on behalf of one of these
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technology and IU intellectual property policies; additional consequences may result.
Online course materials: The instructor teaching this course holds the exclusive right
to distribute, modify, post, and reproduce course materials, including all written
materials, study guides, lectures, assignments, exercises, and exams. Some of the
course content may be downloadable for students who may only have intermittent
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intellectual property. While you are permitted to take notes on the online materials and
lectures posted for this course for your personal use, you are not permitted to re-post in
another forum, distribute, or reproduce content from this course without the express
written permission of the instructor.
