ANT 3930 Section 18EF Fall 2014

Course Title: Islam Culture/Society
ANT 3930
Section 18EF
Fall 2014
Days: M W F
Period: 8 (3:00 pm – 3:50 pm)
Classroom: MAT 0015
Instructor: Khadidja Arfi
Office: to be announced
Email:karfi@ufl.edu
Office Hours: M W F (1:00 – 2:30 and by appointment
Course Overview and Objectives
The course is an introduction to the fundamental concepts of Islam and the role the religious ideas and institutions
play in Muslim communities. This course uses a combination of some classical and theoretical texts together with a
rich variety of ethnographic accounts of Muslim societies produced by anthropologists. This course aims to a
better understanding of the Islamic religious tradition. It offers an insight into various forms of Islam as practiced in
different geographic, social, and cultural contexts. Topics explored include daily salat (prayer) performance,
Ramadan (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage), Id al-adha (the feast of sacrifice), zakat (almsgiving), and the representation
of Islam. The use of an anthropological perspective directs our attention to the multiplicity of perspectives
involved in the study of local forms of Islam. We also recognize the transformation of knowledge and power
relation of Muslim communities with the establishment of print media and the introduction of new media
including the use of television, broadcast media, cassette recordings, and the internet. Thus, with the
transformation in the perception and religious obligations and practices, in a globalized word, distinctive “Muslim”
consumer cultures emerge within Muslim communities, especially in relation to Halal food consumption and
Islamic fashion industry.
Students Learning Outcomes
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Get a direction toward more research in the emerging academic field of the anthropology of Islam
Appreciate the importance of fieldwork and comparison of theory and methodology
Further their understanding of Muslims in a critical and reflexive manner
Appreciate the presented glimpses of Islamic diversity through different anthropological accounts
Discover that studying existing discourses and practices can contribute to a refined understanding of
Muslims, their religion, and their practice.
Explore the ways Muslims adjust their practices to the challenges of modern life and support and question
each other by accounting to the diversity of traditions practiced by Muslims
Become informed about variation even in common forms of Islamic practices and the tenets of Islam
Textbooks and Required Readings
The textbooks for the course are as follows:
 Islam observed by Clifford Geertz (1968).
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Recognizing Islam: Religion and Society in the Modern Middle East by Michael Gilsenan (2000).
Anthropology of Islam by Gabriele Mirranci, (2008). (One Chapter only) available through course reserve
The Halal Frontier: Muslim Consumers in a Globalized Market by Johan Fishcher, (2011)
Visibly Muslim: fashion, politics, faith, by Emma Tarlo, (2010).
On reserve readings, videos, DVDs may be obtained through course reserve at Library West
Chapters, articles and syllabus may be obtained through Sakai
Other resources: video clips to be chosen as needed
Exams, Writing Assignments and Grading
Exams: Three take-home exams to be taken on the specific dates bellow [10% x2 = 30%]
Papers/Writing: the writing assignments are of three forms:
1. Weekly short reflections, comments or questions on the assigned readings sent via discussion board on Sakai
prior to class meeting [15%]
2. One page report on the “in the field” sent via Assignment on Sakai [5%]
[In the field] assignment is for each student to be a participant observer of one or both of the communal Muslim
rituals:
 Friday congressional prayer or one of the daily prayers at the local mosque of Gainesville on University
Street (ICG)
 Eid al-adha (the feast of the sacrifice) communal gathering (time and place to be announced)
3. Final paper (6-10 pages) based on the ethnography of a specific Muslim practice sent via Sakai (20%)
Oral presentation: of the ethnography of a specific Muslim practice (15%)
Participation: students come to class ready to discuss the assigned resources (5%).
Attendance: Attendance is required. Excused absences need to be documented 10%
Policies on make-up work: No late assignments and make-up exams except with instructor’s permission.
Final Grades. A detailed breakdown of final grades is as follows:
A=93+, A-=90-92.9, B+=87-89.9, B=83-86.9, B-=79-82.9, C+=75-78.9, C=72-74.5, C-=69-71.9, D=62-68.9, E=<62
One can also link to the following: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx
Course Policies and Procedures
Classes, Readings, & Attendance Policy:
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Students are responsible to get their books prior to the beginning of class
Students are responsible to follow the syllabus on Sakai
Students are responsible to read the assigned text prior to class period
Students are responsible to post “Discussion Forum” on Sakai their comments/questions/critics prior to
class period
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Students are required to attend class unless excused for out of the ordinary circumstances [attendance is
taken on each class meeting]
Classroom Behavior Rules: total courtesy for classmates and instructor is required.
Communication: Students are in a course in which we communicate with each other through academic learning,
thus, students should communicate with classmates and instructor with total respect and courtesy when
discussing the course subjects.
Academic Honesty: Students must conform to the University of Florida’s academic honesty policy regarding
plagiarism and other forms of cheating. The university specifically prohibits cheating, plagiarism,
misrepresentation, bribery, conspiracy, and fabrication. Violations will lead to the Department’s and the
University’s procedures for dealing with academic dishonesty. All students are expected to honor their
commitment to the University’s Honor Code and the student conduct code.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of
Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the
Instructor when requesting accommodation.
Please make any requests by the second week of class.
UF Counseling Services
Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic
goals that interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:
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University Counseling and Wellness Center, 3190 Radio Road, 392-1575, personal and career counseling
Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling
Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling
Reading & Writing Center, Broward Hall, 392-0791, writing assistance, study skills, test preparation
Course Outline
Critical Dates:
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Final paper topic proposal: Due Week 13 [Assignments / Sakai]
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Take home exam I: Week 9: 10/23 – 10/26 due no later than Sunday 12:00 pm [Assignments / Sakai]
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Take home exam II: Week 11: 10/06 – 11/09 due no later than Sunday 12:00 pm [Assignments / Sakai]
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Take home exam III: Week 15: 12/04 – 12/07 due no later than Sunday 12:00 pm [Assignments / Sakai]
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Oral presentation: From 12/03 – 12/08 (select a date)
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Final papers due: December 19, 2014 or earlier [Assignments / Sakai]
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Course Schedule:
Week #
Week 1
Week 2
Day
M 08/25/14
THEME OF THE WEEK
Introduction to
Islam Culture/Society
W 08/27/14
Islam: Faith and History
F 08/29/14
Chap. 1 and 2
M 09/01/14
W 09/03/14
F 09/05/14
M 09/08/14
Chap. 3
Chap. 4
Chap. 1 and 2
READINGS
DVD 4608
In class viewing and discussion
Observing Islam
by Clifford Geertz
Recognizing Islam
by Michael Gilsenan
Chap. 3 and 4
W 09/10/14
Week 3
F 09/12/14
Chap. 5 and 6
Chap. 7,8,9,10, & 11
M 09/15/14
Conceptualizing / approaching
Islam
Beyond Ideology by Abdul-Hamid elZein
The Idea of an Anthropology of
Islam by Talal Assad
W 09/17/14
chapter 2: Islam: Beliefs, History,
and Rituals; in the Anthropology of
Islam by
Gabriele Mirranci (13-30)
Week 4
F 09/19/14
Religious practices introduction
M 09/22/14
1) Salat: performing daily
prayer
Rehearsed spontaneity and the
conventionality of ritual: Disciplines
of Salat by Saba Mahmood
between belief and unbelief lies the
performance of Salat: meaning and
efficacy of a Muslim ritual by Kheiro
Henkel
+short movie on how Muslims
perform daily prayers
W 09/24/14
Week 5
F 09/26/14
M 09/29/14
CLASS OUTSIDE ACTIVITY
Visit the local mosque
2) Siaym: Fasting during
the month of Ramadan
the observance of Ramadan in
Swahili-Land by P.J. Frankl
Being good in Ramadan by samuli
Schielke
W 10/01/14
Eid al-adha
(The Sacrifice Holiday)
Week 6
NO CLASS / IN THE FIELD:
F 10/03/14
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M 10/06/14
Participant observance of
Gainesville Muslim community
celebration for Eid al-adha
(Place to be announced)
The social significance of the hajj for
Thai Muslims by Raymond Scupin
The strength in the song by Barbara
M. Cooper
3) Hajj: Pilgrimage to
Mecca
W 10/08/14
Movie on hajj
Week 7
In class viewing and discussion
F 10/10/14
On scriptural essentialism and ritual
variation: Muslim Sacrifice in
Sumatra and Morocco by John R
Bowen
Sealing the Quran: Offering and
sacrifice among Pakistani Labour
Migrants by Pnina Wer
M 10/13/14
W 10/15/14
Week 8
4) Ud-hiya/Qurbani:
Feast of Sacrifice
F 10/17/14
Reorganizing social welfare among
Muslims: Islamic voluntarism and
other forms of communal support in
Northern Ghana by Holger Weiss
Financial worship: the quranic
injunction to almsgiving by Jonathan
Benthall
Due Sunday at 12:00 pm
M 10/20/14
5) Zakat: almsgiving
W 10/22/14
Take-home exam I
Week 9
F 10/24/14
Homecoming
No class
The Halal Frontier: Muslim
Consumers in a Globalized Market
by Johan Fishcher Chapter 1 & 2
(pp. 1-68)
The Halal life style
M 10/27/14
Continue….
The Halal life style
Chapter 3 & 4 (pp. 69-107)
Continue….
The Halal life style
Chapter 5 & 6 (pp. 108-157)
Conclusion (pp. 160-166)
The economy of slaughter house
Visibly Muslim: fashion, politics,
faith, by Emma Tarlo, (2010).
 Introduction
 Biographies in dress
 Geographies of Hijab
 Navigation of style
W 10/29/14
Week 10
F 10/31/14
Identity faith and dress
Week 11
M 10/03/14
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Continue… Identity faith and
dress
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Diversity contested
Covering concerns
Hijab on line
Islamic fashion scape
W 10/05/14
Video on Turkey Islamic production
Visualizing Identity of faith and
dress
Take-home exam II
F 10/07/14
Methodological reflections on
the anthropology of Islam
1. situating anthropology
Due Sunday 12:00 PM through
Sakai
Toward Islamic anthropology:
definition, dogma and directions
by Akbar S. Ahmed
M 11/10/14
Week 12
Week 13
W 11/12/14
Continue… situating
anthropology
F 11/14/14
2. Representing Islam
M 11/17/14
Chap. 1
W 11/19/14
Chap. 2
F 11/21/14
Chap. 3
M 11/24/14
Chap. 4 & Epilogue
Islamic anthropology and
anthropology of Islam
by Richard Tapper
Covering Islam: how the media and
the experts determine how we see
the rest of the world
by Edward Said
Islam obscured the rhetoric of
anthropological representation
by Daniel Varisco
W 11/26/14
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
F 11/28/14
Thanksgiving Holiday
M 12/01/14
Movie on Islam obscured/Muslims observed
W 12/03/14
Oral presentation
F 12/05/14
Oral presentation
M 12/08/14
Oral presentation
W 12/10/14
F 12/12/14
Last day of Class
Take-home exam III
Due Sunday at 12:00 pm
Reading days
Final Paper due December 19, 2014 or earlier, ELECTRONIC COPY, VIA Sakai
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