M?NA2506 – Mass Media in the Middle East
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course will explore the role of mass media in the Middle East and their impact on society and cultural debates. The course is designed to assist students in understanding the evolving mass communication media in the Middle East, with an emphasis on Arabic language media. It draws on existing scholarship in the field of history, literature, social sciences, popular culture and visual cultures, and it privileges a historical and cultural approach. Indeed, the implementation of digital media, that has attracted much academic attention in the last decades, will be studied as the last development of a longer media history that dates back to the 9th century. We will start the spread of print technologies after several centuries of a flourishing manuscript culture in the 19th century; the emergence of audio-visual media (radio, TV, film) in the 20th century; we will conclude with the emergence of Internet technology in the 21st?century.
Students will be exposed to and engage in discussions about various media theories, issues, forms and practices. A broad range of topics will be covered including the history and development of the Arab press, the role played by radio and television in the national-building process, the relationship between cinema and literature, the rise of satellite television and the Al-Jazeera phenomenon, and the advent of digital media. Media will be analysed in relation to the rise of specific genres, such as cultural journalism, soap operas, reality shows, autofictional blogs and YouTube comedies. Special attention will be paid to the role that media has played in the momentous changes which shook the region, such as the 1919 revolution in Egypt and the Arab Spring uprising. Equally of interest is the relationship between media and language, questions of access and gender, and how media practitioners deal with censorship and authoritarian regimes.
The teaching will be focused on Arabic language media, but alternative readings may be arranged for students interested in Persian or Turkish-language media.
Learning outcome
After having followed this course, you will have:
- learned about important media issues and trends in the Middle East.
- evaluated the role media play in Middle Eastern culture and politics, in relation to specific historical events.
- familiarized yourself?with a growing and diverse body of literature and scholarship and a variety of approaches to studying Arab media.
- read, watched and analysed examples of media content from the Arabic mediascape in Arabic or in translation.
- addressed open questions related to the mass media and Middle East, such as questions of access, gender, censorship, cultural and political change.?
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
A good knowledge of English is necessary, and a knowledge of a Middle Eastern language is preferred, but not mandatory.
Teaching
The teaching is divided into lectures and seminars over the course of 10 weeks. There will be group presentations during the seminars. Class attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended.
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Compulsory activity
- Written assignment: portfolio draft
- Assignment in class: 3 quizzes
The portfolio draft will be provided with commentaries after the first submission, in order for the student to improve it.?
You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignments and the submission deadline in Canvas.?
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to familiarize?yourself with the requirements for the compulsory activities.
Approval of the portfolio draft of the term paper is only valid for the current semester. If you retake the course, you must submit a new draft in the semester in which you are taking the exam.?
Approval of the three quizzes remains valid for current semester, and the next two semesters the course is offered.?However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
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Access to teaching?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.?
Examination
Portfolio?
The assignment should consist of 8-10 pages. One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count.
Detailed information regarding the exam will be announced in Canvas.?
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English and Norwegian, and you may submit your response in English, Norwegian or another Scandinavian language.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are ill when submitting a portfolio exam or have another valid reason for not taking an exam, you can apply for a postponed submission deadline.?
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.