NES 4708 - Cosmopolitan Alexandria

(crosslisted)
(also JWST 4708)(GB) (LA-AS)

Spring. 4 credits.

D. Starr.

Alexandria, the Egyptian port city, has a long history of rich cultural interaction. In this course we will examine literary and artistic representations of modern Alexandria, which have played an important role in creating, disseminating and immortalizing the city as a cosmopolis. Readings and discussions will interrogate the relationship between the city’s cosmopolitan character and its colonial history. We will read works by: E. M. Forster, Constantin Cavafy, Lawrence Durrell, Fausta Cialente, Edwar al-Kharrat, Ibrahim Abdel Meguid, André Aciman, and Harry Tsalas. We will also discuss Youssef Chahine’s semi-autobiographical Alexandria films.