HS3T91-Politics and Popular Culture: Post-Arab Spring Egypt

Module Provider: History
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Dina Rezk
Email: d.rezk@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module examines the relationship between politics and popular culture through an examination of post-Arab Spring Egypt as a case study. As well as providing a historical overview of events in Egypt since 2011, we explore various forms of Egyptian popular culture to understand how ordinary people voiced and thereby gave shape to key revolutionary themes including resistance, repression and struggles over the meaning of the revolution.

Aims:

Part 2 Options can be either chronological or thematic. Chronological Options will usually take the form of a survey of a particular geographical area or nation over a defined period of one or two centuries. These Options aim to acquaint students with the causes and consequences of continuity and change over the long term in the political, social, economic and cultural systems under study. Thematic Options take key concepts, ideas, or debates in history and study them in a number of different contexts, either geographically or across historical periods. The aim again is to acquaint students with the causes of continuity and change, but this time by a more comparative approach.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to: 

• identify and explain the main issues and events studied


• appraise critically the primary sources and historiographical interpretations of the subject


• think comparatively about aspects of African, American, British, European, Middle Eastern and South Asian history over a substantial period


• assess the nature of social, economic, politica l and cultural change and the particular methodologies associated with tracing it


• organise material and articulate arguments effectively in different kinds of written exercises and orally


• locate and assemble bibliographic and other information by independent research, using IT as appropriate

Additional outcomes:

The module aims to encourage the development of oral communication skills and the student’s effectiveness in group situations and team-working. Students will also develop their IT skills by use of relevant web resources and databases, where appropriate.

Outline content:

This module puts ‘the people’ at the centre of our understanding of the 2011 Egyptian revolution and its aftermath. Through an exploration of the largest and most populous country of the ‘Arab Spring’, the module expands the meaning of politics beyond elections, constitution-drafting, political parties and protests, to include everyday struggles over the cultural meanings that are constitutive of power relations. Viewing popular culture as an important site of such bat tles, we embark on a historical overview of the revolution from the '18 days' that began on the 25th January 2011 and led to the deposition of Mubarak, through to the consolidation of the current regime of Abdel Fatah el Sisi and the reinstitution of authoritarian rule that exists today. We examine a wide range of popular cultural texts (e.g. music, graffiti, satirical TV, cartoon and film) to reveal the importance of these sources as historical documents and the complex relationship bet ween popular culture, ‘the people’ and power in revolutionary contexts.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminars, requiring preparatory reading and investigation, may include informal and interactive presentations by the module teacher; structured group discussion; short seminar papers by students; occasional tutorials; team-based simulation exercises and debates; examination of primary and secondary sources, as appropriate. Staff will be available for consultation as necessary.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		20	1
Project Supervision		1
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		40
Wider reading (directed)		40
Advance preparation for classes		10
Preparation for presentations		3
Revision and preparation			35
Essay preparation		30
Reflection		10
Total hours by term	0	164	36
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One two-hour paper requiring two answers to be taken at the time of the Part 2 examinations.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will write ONE essay of 2,500 words, to be handed in by 12 noon on the Monday of week 9 of term, which should be submitted electronically via Blackboard. Five marks will be deducted if the coursework essay exceeds 2,625 words (i.e. 5% over the word limit).

Formative assessment methods:

1,000 words or 2 pages of A4 maximum to include, at the module convenor’s discretion, an essay plan, bibliography, book review or other preparatory work towards the summative essay.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Students who fail Part Three are permitted one further attempt at a resit in each module they have failed. Students who fail Part Three will no longer be eligible for an Honours Degree but, assuming the necessary threshold after the resit (normally an overall average of 35% or above) is achieved, students will obtain a Pass Degree. Where a re-sit is permitted, students will be assessed on the failed element(s) ONLY in August. The module mark will be capped at a maximum of 40%. Any element(s) already passed will be carried forward if it bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more. Failed coursework must be re-submitted by 12 noon, on the third Friday of August.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 1 February 2022