The topic which I propose to investigate in my independent study is the portrayal of women in Muslim literature. I intend to read a number of novels (see list at the end of the proposal) written by authors of both genders and from different countries within the Middle East and North Africa and to discuss the ways in which women are portrayed within them. I will research the authors' history as well as the historical and cultural backgrounds of the countries from which each author originates. (This research will be conducted primarily through book-length studies and academic articles.) I will discuss the ways in which each individual's culture has possible affected his/her work and analyze differences and similarities resulting from these differing backgrounds. I intend to use a number of sources for my research, both electronic and traditional.
Dr. Ben Leubner has agreed to be my faculty advisor. As I am in Morocco, all communication will be done via e-mail. Weekly progress will be reported and checked through a blog which I will continuously update throughout the semester. The blog will consist of research regarding the individual authors and their countries, notes and important details from the readings, and ideas and outlines for the final paper. The final paper will be turned in via e-mail by December 15th and will consist of a minimum of 20 pages. Citations will be done in MLA format, and a complete bibliography noting my sources will be included at the end of the paper. These requirements for the paper have been set with the aim of my producing work of graduate level quality and possibly publishable merit.
Upon my return from Morocco, I will give a public presentation of my research project, which I will organize in conjunction with Professor Leubner.
Novels:
Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan-America, Male): A Thousand Splendid Suns
Tahr Ben Jelloun (Morocco, Male): Sand Child
Sadegh Hedayat (Iran, Male): Blind Owl
Shahrnush Parsipur (Iran, Female): Touba and the Meaning of Night
Fatima Mernissi (Morocco, Female): Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood
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