RESEARCH PROJECTS
An examination of the fiction and poetry of authors whose setting is Beirut and who write in Arabic, French and English, reflecting the traditional cosmopolitanism of our city. A new discourse is emerging which is trying with more or less success to express a new ethos, a new identity, a new spiritual climate. M. Amyuni.
A collection of essays which examine some of the areas that were central to Khairallah’s poetry and intellectual concerns which ranged over Sophocles, Shakespeare and Dante, critical theory and comparative English and French literature, nineteenth century American fiction, and modern poetry, of which he translated Baudelaire and Cavafy. The volume is taking shape and will probably have three parts: On Khairallah’s poetry; On the Middle East; and On Literary Criticism. M. Amyuni and N. Matar.
The Ph.D. dissertation examines the relations that existed between the Urartian states situated around Lakes Van, Sevan and Urmia (respectively in Anatolia, Armenia and Iran) and the North Syrian states during the eighth to sixth centuries BC. Following a brief historical introduction and presentation of the various sites, an analysis of various problematic and still unresolved issues is undertaken. Architecture, ivory craftsmanship, bronze artifacts and stone reliefs are all studied; the glyptic art and the iconographical motifs of both areas are examined and the similarities highlighted. In the burial customs, a study of cremation as practiced by both the Urartian and North Syrian states concludes that both areas practiced this rare custom without one having necessarily being influenced by the other. The interpretation of the archeological evidence finally suggests the existence of political, economic, cultural and ethnic relations between Urartu and North Syrian states during that time. A. Ekmekji.
The first year of an anticipated three-year project was completed in May 1995. Three separate visits were made to the region using Aleppo as a base. Taped reminiscences and folk stories were collected, of which two were found not to be included in any previous study. Others will be collected over the summer. Owing to the heavy academic and professional schedules of the authors for the coming academic year it was decided to postpone a second year of research until 1996-97. R. B. Betts and L. H. J. Precious. (Supported by URB.)
This work is a revised version of a Dr.Phil. dissertation in philosophy from the University of Copenhagen on modern language and interpretation theory. It has been completed, revised and proofread and has been accepted for publication by the Museum Tusculanum Press, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. P. Bornedal.
Work on the theories of art from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. Completed revision of Ph.D. dissertation in comparative literature, University of Chicago. Final revision and proofreading is needed before publication by University Press of America, Maryland, expected to be late 1995. P. Bornedal.
A critical discussion of philosophical presuppositions in Derrida’s deconstruction. The draft of the book has been completed and two chapters finalized. P. Bornedal.
A critical discussion of Heidegger’s art-philosophy against interpretations of poetry by Hölderlin, Poe, and Jakobsen. The work will form a book and a draft is currently being written. P. Bornedal.
This paper highlights the ambiguity in Freud’s theory of the death instinct and analyses Lacan’s approach in reinterpreting the theory so as to integrate it within the larger Freudian framework. In the last section I attempt to use Lacan’s approach in reinterpreting “the uncanny” in order to remove an outstanding ambiguity in Freud that Lacan does not dispel. N. S. Hamadeh.
This is a book of biographies of women, in the context of a series of such books that Nour Publications of Cairo is sponsoring. It will depict a realistic variety of the lives of women in the region. N. S. Hamadeh.
This paper, to be published by al-Bahithat al-Lubnaniyyat, looks for the tools of research that would be specified by Aristotle’s division and characterization of the various sciences. It compares these against the prevalent conditions in the Arab world. N. S. Hamadeh.
As producer, raised funds, mobilized AUB’s Physical Plant to modify West Hall stage and coordinated the tasks of over 30 students working backstage. As designer conceived the staging of 16 set changes using combinations of constructionist two- and three-dimensional elements with projectors and conventional type scenery. Also oversaw the design of over 70 costumes. Composed original music for seven songs (words in text) combining Slavic-type melody to phrasing with more modern Western rhythmic treatment and harmonics. Supervised and conducted its performance by a 5-member “Chinese Orchestra” and 6 singers, coordinating set pieces and much improvised material to comment upon the ongoing storyline. D. Kurani.
The paper focuses on the Taif Agreement in order to assess its theoretical adequacy against a contractarian model for government. This model is developed by John Locke and is taken as a liberal basis for society. The thesis developed argues that the Taif Agreement accepts the basic tenets of the Lockean model, which considers the individual the foundation of society and treats all individuals according to the same laws. The Taif accord, however, recognizes the need, given Lebanon’s history, for gradually eliminating confessionalism, which stands in the way of applying the same laws to all citizens. The accord specifies a timed program for moving from a confessional to a post-confessional political reality in Lebanon. I. Najjar.
This book, in Arabic, deals with Russell’s thought on a selective basis with the Arab student in mind. The emphasis is on Russell’s views on epistemology, logic, politics and psychology. I. Najjar.
This paper examines Ibn Rushd’s views on rationality from a modern perspective. Some modern philosophers like Hume and Russell believed that reason can lead to knowledge in certain fields. I want to see how Ibn Rushd stands on this claim regarding the limits of rationality, considering his belief in the harmony between philosophy and religion. I. Najjar.
A paper written in Arabic and submitted to Kitabatun Mouasira for publication. It traces the basic differences between Aristotelian logic and the modern logic of Russell as they are represented in Arabic thought both ancient and modern. The essential thesis is that Russellian logic has rendered the Aristotelian sentence structure inadequate for expressing the logic of sentences, and Arab thought, which was Aristotelian, must resort to the new logic in order to safeguard the truth of its expressions. I. Najjar.
The article argues that Lady Windermere’s Fan is a thematic repetition of The Picture of Dorian Gray while taking the form of a social comedy. Dorian is fragmented and the four stages of his development are embodied in the four main characters. The play is more radical than has usually been assumed. C. S. Nassar.
In Man’s Fate, Malraux uses Freud’s ideas to deepen and strengthen his own view of human life as absurd. The article shows that Kyo and Ch’en are both presented from a Freudian point of view: neither understands his real motives. Kyo is a study in unconscious sexual motivation, while Ch’en is controlled and governed by his aggression instinct. (Article accepted for publication.) C. S. Nassar.
The argument is that the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen are a major influence on those of Oscar Wilde. The article shows the influence of specific tales by Andersen on specific tales by Wilde. (Article accepted for publication.) C. S. Nassar.
This article argues that Wilde’s ballad was heavily influenced by Dante’s Inferno and is in parts a specific response to it. Unlike Dante, Wilde locates his hell on earth and sees all humans as trapped within the same circle of damnation. (Article accepted for publication.) C. S. Nassar.
This article traces the influence of Jack the Ripper on two of Oscar Wilde’s major works. In the second work especially, Salome’s murderous sexual cruelty is meant to reflect that of Jack the Ripper and thereby connect the past with the present. (Article accepted for publication.) C. S. Nassar.
Seventy students were involved in adapting Brecht’s epic techniques to a small stage and local audiences. Much experimentation with non-naturalistic techniques including Chinese theater devices as well as considerable latitude in application of Brecht’s “alienation effect”. Seven public performances were given. P. Shebaya.
The aim of this paper is to examine and develop the theoretical bases and philosophy of modern Islamic fundamentalist discourses as they relate to women’s rights and duties and their role in society in general. Many questions will be dealt with, such as those pertaining to the origin(s) of women’s rights, the dialectical and religious justifications for such practices, as well as the framework within which they would fit in the fundamentalist overview of society. It seems that two tendencies have emerged historically: an earlier movement that is socially extremely conservative and has gone beyond the traditional Muslim views of women; and a more recent one that could be regarded as more liberal vis-à-vis women’s social and political roles within the fundamentalist society. This paper will concentrate on the first movement, as represented by Abul ‘Ala al-Mawdudi and Sayyid Qutub. L. R. Shehadeh.
Masculinity and femininity are still considered as polar opposites in the Middle East. Females are assumed to be emotionally expressive and males stoical; females passive and dependent, males active and dominant; males rational and females intuitive. The domain of the male as breadwinner is the public sphere, whereas the female plays only expressive social roles in the private or domestic sphere. The aim of this paper is to ask what happens to women in periods of political and armed conflicts. Do they express themselves politically at such times? Is their experience of public strife similar to that of men and how do they perceive their interests in the context of the struggle in which their society is involved? (Research completed.) L. R. Shehadeh.
The aim of this paper is to study the status of women in Lebanese legislation, uncovering thereby the discrimination perpetrated by Lebanese law against them. This becomes even more serious when we become aware of the fact that the Lebanese constitution does not discriminate against women in any way, form or shape. Discrimination in the secular law takes place in several domains such as employment, benefits, penal code, etc. This study will also include the personal status code which delineates the rights and duties of husbands and wives as well as inheritance. (Research completed.) L. R. Shehadeh.
The aim of this paper is to study the position of women in society and show how they are discriminated against on the legal, political, social, and religious levels. This will be followed by a general overview of what has been done to rectify these binding restrictions and to what extent this effect has been successful. (Research completed.) L. R. Shehadeh.
The project aims at studying the role of women during the seventeen years of war in all aspects of life (economic, social, political, military, literary, artistic), to determine how women function in times of crisis, what their capabilities are, to what extent they can withstand pressure and how they compare with men under similar conditions. Due to the wide scope of the study, several scholars have been invited to contribute papers in their own fields of study. L. R. Shehadeh.