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SnapshotsfromtheStraitofGibraltarDigitalTranscriptionsofCulture,Architecture,andReligion
ProgramDirectionandAcademicContenttobeprovidedby
Dr.CateBlouke(EnglishDepartment)andDr.TrinaJones(Religion)
CourseOverview:FromtheAlhambraPalacetotheancientmedinaofFez,flamencodancingtoArabiccalligraphy,thisinterimexplorestheuniqueaspectsoftheregionstretchingfromSouthernSpaintoMorocco–throughthelensofourcameras.Afterlessonsindigitalphotographyandpre-triporientation,we’lltakeofffortwoweeksofexploration,creatingtravelblogstoreflectontheexperience.
We’llspendourfirstweekinsouthernSpain,basedinthePlazaSantaAna--atthecenterofGranada.WithaneyetowardtheIslamichistoryandinfluenceintheregion,we’lltourtheAlhambrapalace,takedaytripstoAlbayzinandSacramonte,visitthefamousmosqueofCordoba,andtakeabiketourofSeville.We’llthenwindourwaytoMoroccoaftertouringtheRockofGibraltar,crossingtheStraitbyferry,andlandinginTangier.OurMoroccanexplorationswillbebasedinRabat(thecapitalcity),andfromtherewe’llexploreMoroccancultureviaitsancientarchitecture,aclassincalligraphy,ahennademonstration,andvisitstonumerousimportantculturalsites.
Thethrough-lineforthecoursewillbedigitalphotographyandinterculturalwriting,andstudentsneednothavesophisticatedequipmenttoparticipate.
Forquestionsormoreinformation,pleaseemailDr.Blouke:[email protected]
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Objectives:Bytheendofthiscoursestudentswillbeableto:
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Takeeffectivephotographs—consideringelementsofcompositionsuchaspointofview,balance,andsymmetry
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Navigateanumberofdigitalplatformsandengagewithonlineenvironmentstocreaterhetoricallyawarecompositions
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Craftaparticularnarrativeidentity/ethosthroughtravelwriting/blogging•
Identifyanddescribeculturalcontexts•
DescribeandanalyzeAmericannotionsofSpanishandMorroccancultures•
Reflectonsocialaspectsofclimateandgeography
Assignments:•
Studentswillcreateablogandcomposeaminimumof6postsof500words(navigatedigital
platforms,craftidentity,createrhetoricallyawarecompositions)•
StudentswillcreateanInstagramand/orFlickraccounttopostphotographsfromeachlocation(take
effectivephotographs,navigateplatforms)•
Generateafinalportfoliothatreflectsonculturaldifferences,AmericannotionsofIslamicidentity,
andaspectsofclimateandgeography
EstimatedCost:$5,025(includesinternationalairfare,lodging,transportationtoandfromtheairport,on-sitetransportation,somegroupmeals(lunchesareonstudents'own),allfees/ticketsforpre-arrangedeventsandmuseums,andinternationalinsurancecoverage)
AdditionalExpenses:$380(somemeals,localtransportation,passport)
ProgramPartners–IESAbroadDr.BloukeandDr.JoneshavepartneredwithIESAbroad,astudyabroadorganizationwithmorethan125centersaroundtheworld.IEShassemesterprogramsbasedinbothSpainandMorocco,andthey’vehelpedusdesignthiscustomizedtrip-drawingontheirexperienceandcontacts,andprovidinguswithlocalguidesandfacilities.TheIESAbroadCenters(inGranadaandRabat)arefully-staffedlocalofficesreadytorespondquicklyandprofessionallytostudentandfacultyneeds.Anon-sitecoordinatorwillbedesignatedspecificallyasthepointofcontactforstudentsandfacultyontheprogramateachcenter.Thison-sitecoordinator,inpartnershipwithotherstaffattheIESAbroadCenters,helpstomanagelogisticsincludingaccommodations,fieldtrips,culturalactivities,andday-to-dayadministration.Thiscoordinatorwillalsohandleon-siteemergenciesandmanagestudentacademic,health,anddisciplineissuesinconjunctionwiththeIESAbroadDeanofStudentsOfficeinChicago.IESAbroadwillprovideinformationtotheSchool’sstudentsconcerningculturalactivitiesandavailablelocalresources,suchaslibrariesandathleticcenters,intheprogramlocations.
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SamplingofSiteVisitsandActivitiesinSpainandMorocco:
Granada,SpainAlhambraFortress-AUNESCOWorldHeritagesite,theAlhambra"isGranada’s–andEurope’s–lovelettertoMoorishculture,aplacewherefountainstrickle,leavesrustle,andancientspiritsseemtomysteriouslylinger.Partpalace,partfort,partWorldHeritagesite,partlessoninmedievalarchitecture,theAlhambrahaslongenchantedanever-endinglineofexpectantvisitors.Asahistoricmonument,itisunlikelyitwilleverbesurpassed."(FromLonelyPlanet)
AlbayzinandSacromonte-We'lltakeaguidedtouroftheseareasofGranada.AlbayzincomprisestheArabquarterandthemedievalMedina,andSacramonteoffersviewsofindescribablebeauty(includingthecavehousesthatadornthearea).Onourtour,we'llpayparticularattentiontotheurbanstructureoftheoldMuslimcity,itstransformationintoaChristianspace,andrecentOrientalizedidealizations.
Cordoba-onthisdaytrip,we'llvisittheGreatMosque-oneoftheoldeststandingstructuresfromthetimeMuslimsruledAl-Andalus.TheMosque-CathedralofCordobaisoneofthemostimportantmonumentofalltheWesternIslamicworld.Theevolutionofthe“Omeya”styleinSpainisresumedinthehistoryoftheMosqueofCordoba,aswellasotherstylessuchastheGothic,RenaissanceandBaroqueoftheChristianarchitecture.We'llalsotakeawalkingtourofthecity.
Seville-We'lltakeadaytriptoSeville,wherewe'llvisittheCathedral-thelargestGothiccathedralintheworld,andanotherUNESCOWorldHeritagesite.Thecathedral'sconstructionlastedoveracentury,from1401to1506.Itissaidthatwhentheplansweredrawnup,churchelderssaid,“Letusbuildachurchsobeautifulandsomagnificentthatthosewhoseeitfinishedwillthinkwearemad”.We'llalsotakeabiketourofthecity.
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Flamenco-we'llbetreatedtoaneveningflamencoperformance–“aSpanishartformmadeupofthreeparts:guitarplaying("guitarra"),song("cante"),anddance("baile").FlamencooriginatedinthesouthernregionsofSpain,butit'sthoughttobeinfluencedbymanyworldcultures,includingLatinAmerican,Cuban,andJewishtraditions.Originallyflamencodancingwasnotsettomusic;itwasonlysingingandclappingofhandscalled“toquedepalmas."Someflamencodancingstillfollowsancienttradition,buttheuseofguitarsandothermusicalinstrumentshasbecomemorepopularinmodernflamenco.”We'llhavedinneralongsidetheperformance.
GibraltarTheBritishoverseasterritoryoccupyingascant2.6squaremiles,Gibraltarisnonethelessamajorlandmarkandimportantterritoryforglobalhistory."FirstsettledbytheMoorsintheMiddleAgesandlaterruledbySpain,theoutpostwascededtotheBritishin1713.Layersoffortificationsincludetheremainsofa14th-centuryMoorishCastleandthe18thcenturyGreatSiegeTunnels,whichwereexpandedinWWII".KnownprimarilyfortheRockofGibraltar,itisalsohometo30,000GibraltariansandEurope'sonlypopulationofwildmonkeys(theBarbaryMacaquesthatoccupythenaturereserveatthetopoftheRock).
AfteratouroftheRockandsurroundingarea,we’lltakeaferryacrosstheStraitofGibraltarontoTangiers,Morocco.Fromthere,we’llbemetbyourIESpartnersandtakeabusontoRabat.
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Rabat,MoroccoHassanTowerandMausoleumofMohammedV–HassanToweristheminaretofanincompletemosqueinRabat,Morocco.Begunin1195,thetowerwasintendedtobethelargestminaretintheworldalongwiththemosque,alsointendedtobetheworld'slargest.Thetower,madeofredsandstone,alongwiththeremainsofthemosqueandthemodernMausoleumofMohammedV,formsanimportanthistoricalandtouristcomplexinRabat.TheMausoleumstandsasamasterpieceofmodernMoroccanarchitecture,holdinginsidethegrandtombsofpastkings.
Calligraphyclass-"CalligraphyisthemosthighlyregardedandmostfundamentalelementofIslamicart...[I]nherentwithintheArabicscriptisthepotentialfordevelopingavarietyofornamentalforms.Theemploymentofcalligraphyasornamenthadadefiniteaestheticappealbutoftenalsoincludedanunderlyingtalismaniccomponent."
Hennademonstration-"SomeviewHennaonlyasabodilyadornmentoranalternativetoapermanenttattoo,butinMorocco,theroleofHennatranscendsthatofbeauty.InharmonywiththeBerber‘sbeliefinBaraka(goodluck),Hennawornonthebodyoffersprotectionagainstillness,theevileye,andbringsjoy."InMorocco,hennaisappliedtoabride'shandsandfeetduringaceremonialhennaday,priortothewedding.Thebride'shandswillthenbewrappedincottonandsprinkledwithrosewater.Thewrappingofthehandsallowthehennatosettoadeepcrimsontint.Mostofthewomeninthebrideandgroomsfamilywillinturnhavehennaappliedtotheirhandswithlessextensivework.Hennaisusedbywomenofallagesceremoniouslyordecoratively.
Hammam-ATurkishbath(hammaminArabic)istheIslamicvariantoftheRomanbath,distinguishedbyafocusonwater,asdistinctfromambientsteam.InWesternEurope,the"Turkishbath"asamethodofcleansingandrelaxationbecamepopularduringtheVictorianera.TheprocessinvolvedintakingaTurkishbathissimilartothatofasauna,butismorecloselyrelatedtoancientGreekandancientRomanbathingpractices.TheTurkishbathstartswithrelaxationinaroom(knownasthewarmroom)thatisheatedbyacontinuousflowofhot,dryair,allowingthebathertoperspirefreely.
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Fez,Meknes,andVolubilisWe'lltakeatwoday,one-nighttriptotheselocationsandvisitsitessuchas:
Universityofal-Qarawiyyin-"theoldestexisting,continuallyoperatingandthefirstdegreeawardingeducationalinstitutionintheworldaccordingtoUNESCOandGuinnessWorldRecordsandissometimesreferredtoastheoldestuniversity.TheAlQuaraouiyinemosque-religiousschool/collegewasfoundedbyFatimaal-Fihriin859withanassociatedschool,ormadrasa,whichsubsequentlybecameoneoftheleadingspiritualandeducationalcentersofthe
historicMuslimworld.ItwasincorporatedintoMorocco'smodernstateuniversitysystemin1963."
FezMedina-"FesisthefourthlargestcityinMoroccoandalsoknownasoneoftheancientimperialcities).Itisseparatedintothreeparts,FèselBali(theold,walledcity),Fès-Jdid(newFes,homeoftheMellah),andtheVilleNouvelle(theFrench-created,newestsectionofFes.TheMedinaofFeselBaliisbelievedtobethelargestcontiguouscar-freeurbanareaintheworld.Toenterthemedina,youwillpassthroughtheBabBouJeloudGate,withitsdecorationofblueandgreenfaience."
Meknes-"OftenreferredtoastheVersaillesofMorocco,MeknèsislocatedbetweenthefertileplainofRharbandtheMiddleAtlas.ThehistoricalimportanceofMeknesisreflectedinitsgrandMoorishbuildingsandinMeknes’closerelationshipwithVolubilis,anearbycityknownasthemostimportantarcheologicalsiteinMorocco."
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Volubilis-isapartlyexcavatedBerberandRomancityinMoroccosituatednearthecityofMeknes,andcommonlyconsideredastheancientcapitalofthekingdomofMauretania.TheUNESCOWorldHeritageSite“containsessentiallyRomanvestigesofafortifiedmunicipiumbuiltonacommandingsiteatthefootoftheJebelZerhoun.Coveringanareaof42hectares,itisofoutstandingimportancedemonstratingurbandevelopmentandRomanisationatthefrontiersoftheRomanEmpireandthegraphicillustrationoftheinterfacebetweentheRomanandindigenouscultures.”
