HOW DOES 1001 NIGHTS TAP INTO the human psyche, and reflect the larger concerns of the culture from whence it emerges? And how might these dream -like stories explain the deeper, unconscious concerns of the cultural psyche? This week we will continue reading some of the “Westernized” tales from 1001 Nights, and look more deeply into our dreams and the dream like quality of these tales.

MONDAY

No class for late start date.
Finish reading the Sindbad voyages.

TUESDAY

We will begin detailing the similarities and the differences of the Sindbad the Sailor tales, as a way of accessing their deeper meaning. How does Sindbad’s stories, told to Sindbad the Porter, reveal the cultural and religious concerns of mid-18th century Egypt? Where, within them, do we see the five pillars of Islam? What other concerns are revealed in the telling? We will start watching an Americanized version of the Sindbad story in Popeye vs. Sindbad the Sailor.
Some have not read the Sindbad voyages. Do so.

WEDNESDAY

We will briefly return to our notes from yesterday’s class. Subsequently, we will consider the island as a geographic metaphor for Jung’s “Self.” And then we will set about finishing the Popeye version of Sindbad. How does the American version reveal the early 20th century’s concerns, rather than the 18th century Egyptian concerns? Time permitting, we will embark upon “The Story of ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
Read page 63-84, up to the moment when Marjana murders most of the thieves.

THURSDAY

Marjana as hero. How is she—and not ‘Ali Baba”—the heroine of this tale? We will briefly examine the history of the command, “Open sesame!” before spending some time in class reading.
HW: Finish reading ‘Ali Baba tonight.

FRIDAY

Writing an in class analysis of ‘Ali Baba, much in the same vein of our study of Sindbad’s voyages. What are the cultural concerns of this tale, and what does it reveal about Egyptian values? We will, as we did with Sindbad, look at an Americanized version of the tale.
HW: Start reading our final tale, “The Story of ‘Ala al-Din and the Magic Lamp.” Read pages 99-123.