Storytelling: Media and the Arts of the UAE
Course Description:
Faculty Leader
Jp Avila, M.F.A., Associate Professor of Art and Design
253-535-7578 or jp.avila@plu.edu
All humans tell their stories to themselves and to others over varying periods of time and in a wide range of voices, but two of the most pervasive channels through which they're heard are the arts and news media. In this course we will seek out the rich, amazing, challenging stories of the United Arab Emirates as they are told in both. The overall narrative is that of a people emerging from a sparsely populated, mostly desert environment bordering the Persian Gulf (or Arabian Gulf, depending on where the map is produced) to become one of the richest, most ambitious, most cosmopolitan nations in that part of the world. Contemporary images of the rapidly growing urban areas of the UAE with their constantly changing array of towering skyscrapers, expansive man-made islands and other physical and creative marvels are seen around the world. In among the skyscrapers, in the smaller towns and villages and in the vast desert beyond them, the nation's thousands-of-years-old history speaks to the region's rich heritage as a nation of traders, travelers and tradition. Students will explore the unique understanding of visual culture and the arts as it pertains to the creation and continuing growth of a society. We will look for the stories amid all this -- stories of the past, present and future - through those who produce the arts in the Emirates as well as those from outside who tell artistic stories "about" them. Likewise, the news media of the UAE and other Middle East nations are gaining prominence as they report to the world all that is happening there, even as media from around the world join them in reporting from their perspectives. The rest of the world is realizing that the stories to be told from and about this region are a vital aspect of the story of the 21st Century as it is just starting to take shape as well as a perspective of our past cultural and industrial history, only fast-forward... It's an exciting place to be in January 2013.
Course Objectives:
- To develop a better understanding of storytelling techniques that relate to cultural appreciation.
- To explore options and build competency in connecting concepts and mediums used for storytelling.
- To analyze the comparisons and contrasts between the arts and news of the US and the UAE.
- To strengthen the relationship and cultural understanding between PLU students and students enrolled in higher education in the UAE/Middle East.
Course Highlights:
- Seek out the challenging stories of the United Arab Emirates
- Explore the unique visual culture of the Middle East as it pertains to the growing UAE society
- Examine Middle Eastern media as it portrays the happenings of this region
Course Credit:
ART 388 (4 credits) AR Gen Ed, department credit.
Program Fee:
$5,295. This includes airfare, lodging, program related, and supplemental study abroad insurance.
The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses may vary according to student interests, individual needs, and spending habits:
- Passport (new) = $110 / Passport (renewal) = $135
- Visa fees (required for some non-US passport holders) = varies
- Pre-travel Evaluation at the PLU Health Center = $45 *All students are required to visit either the PLU Health Center or a personal healthcare provider to achieve the proper medical clearance. Be aware that other medical providers may charge additional fees that may result in a higher cost than the PLU Health Center.
- Immunizations = $0 to several hundred dollars **Vaccination needs vary on destination and individual medical history, and may be costly.
- Airline baggage fees = approximately $25 for each checked bag
- Books, supplies, course materials = varies
- Cost of meals not included in the program fee
- Cell phone and usage fees = varies
- Personal Expenses = approximately $600. Check with your faculty leader for an accurate estimate for your destination
Application Deadline:
April 13, 2012. A non-refundable deposit of $50.00 is required with the application. A $250 non-refundable program payment to confirm participation in the course is due within 10 days of notification of acceptance. Maximum 18 students
Travel Immunizations recommended. Please see PLU Health Services' website for additional information.