Middle East Illustrated
Verbal and Visual Storytelling in Graphic Novels

T Th 1:30-3:20pm
Selim S. Kuru

Welcome to Middle East Illustrated! This course explores the powerful blend of verbal and visual expression in graphic novels and animations focused on the Middle East. Through close readings, discussions, and creative exercises, you’ll dive into how images and words interact to tell complex stories.

We'll examine diversity in the Middle East, a region divided by borders but rich in cultural variety, while considering how issues like Orientalism, stock imagery, and different ways of seeing shape our understanding. Along the way, you’ll learn about both the history and modern realities of Middle Eastern cultures.

You’ll also develop skills in visual and verbal literacy—key tools in today’s media-driven world. While the focus is on graphic novels and animation, you’re encouraged to include films, video games, and anime in your projects and portfolios. Get ready to think creatively and critically as we explore the art of graphic novel: this particular way of storytelling!

Learning Objectives

Students will read, write and draw (doodle if necessary) as well as translate from visual to verbal expression as a means to

• strengthen skills in reading and looking analytically and critically
• establish a basic knowledge of Near and Middle East since the second half of the 20th century
• appreciate the issues related to diversity in the region as well as among artists of the graphic novels.
• consider an evolving genre (graphic novel) creatively
• practice writing skills by producing portfolio entries, in-class writing exercises, and essays that require peer review, editing, and revision
• practice doodling/drawing/sketching (as much as they can) [I am not a drawing instructor, but I love to communicate with shapes, emoji, to draw and copy, and I would like to dare  my students  to use their pens to express themselves in alphabetic and non-alphabetic shapes, signs and symbols]
• understand representation and subliminal messages inherent to images as well as language

By the end of the course students are expected to develop (1) an appreciation  of visual and verbal literacy, (2) a better understanding of diversity in Near and Middle East, and (3) better skills to express themselves.

Required Texts

The Book of Devices (tr Key)	Anar
Ways of Seeing	Berger
Understanding Comics	McCloud
V.1-2 Persepolis, Story of a Childhood	Satrapi
Palestine	Sacco
Waltz with Bashir	Folman
Online short topical readings

*Online readings will be available under the Files tab. PDF of Waltz with Bashir will be available. 

Course Requirements

Students are expected to complete the required readings, to attend and participate in class discussions. Assignments include online responses and discussion (due dates for which may differ, so please pay attention to the Assignment and Discussion due dates, which will be uploaded every Friday), two short essays, in-class exercises,  bibliographical group projects. If there is interest in  work on portfolio pieces, students should contact the instructor. Final grades will be determined as follows:

#1 Essay: Topic 500 word minimum (%25)

#2 Essay: Topic to be announced: 700 minimum (%25)

#3 Online responses, in-class writing, and discussion participation (%30)

#4 Group project: TBA (%20)

Grading Scale

4.0 – 97-100
3.9 – 95-96
3.8 – 93-94
3.7 – 92
3.6 - 91
3.5 – 90
3.4 – 89
etc.

Important Dates

Essay 1: due TBD

Essay 2: due TBD

Group projects: due  TBD

POLICIES

Student Conduct
The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/.

Please restrict your use of computers, mobile devices (tablets, mobile phones) during class unless it is not a part of the class exercises.

I understand that you may miss classes. However, the classroom experience will be very important for this course, Please make sure to inform me ideally before, if not possible afterwards about your absences.

Incomplete Grades

Incomplete grades may only be awarded if a student is doing satisfactory work up until the last two weeks of the quarter.

Undergraduate students must not register for courses in which they have received an Incomplete, since a grade earned in a repeat course will not be recorded as an Incomplete conversion grade. To obtain credit for the course, an undergraduate student must convert an Incomplete into a passing grade no later than the last day of the next quarter.

An Incomplete grade not made up by the end of the next quarter (summer excluded) will be converted to the grade of 0.0 by the Registrar unless the instructor has indicated, when assigning the Incomplete grade, that a grade other than 0.0 should be recorded if the incomplete work is not completed. The original Incomplete grade is not removed from the transcript.

Just in Case

It is important that we take care of ourselves inside and outside of class by learning how to care for our body, mind and spirit. Toward that end, there are many different kinds of support services on campus, including the
Counseling Center, Hall Health, and the IMA. If you are concerned about yourself or a friend who is struggling, Safecampus, at 1-800-685-7233, is a very helpful resource to learn more about how to access campus-based support services. Please save the number for Safecampus, 1-800-685-7233, into your cell phones."

Access and Accommodations
Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

Religious Accommodations
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy
(https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/).
Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).