SnapshotsfromtheStraitofGibraltarDigitalTranscriptionsofCulture,Architecture,andReligion

ProgramDirectionandAcademicContenttobeprovidedby

Dr.CateBlouke(EnglishDepartment)andDr.TrinaJones(Religion)

CourseOverview:FromtheAlhambraPalacetotheancientmedinaofFez,flamencodancingtoArabiccalligraphy,thisinterimexplorestheuniqueaspectsoftheregionstretchingfromSouthernSpaintoMorocco–throughthelensofourcameras.Afterlessonsindigitalphotographyandpre-triporientation,we’lltakeofffortwoweeksofexploration,creatingtravelblogstoreflectontheexperience.

We’llspendourfirstweekinsouthernSpain,basedinthePlazaSantaAna--atthecenterofGranada.WithaneyetowardtheIslamichistoryandinfluenceintheregion,we’lltourtheAlhambrapalace,takedaytripstoAlbayzinandSacramonte,visitthefamousmosqueofCordoba,andtakeabiketourofSeville.We’llthenwindourwaytoMoroccoaftertouringtheRockofGibraltar,crossingtheStraitbyferry,andlandinginTangier.OurMoroccanexplorationswillbebasedinRabat(thecapitalcity),andfromtherewe’llexploreMoroccancultureviaitsancientarchitecture,aclassincalligraphy,ahennademonstration,andvisitstonumerousimportantculturalsites.

Thethrough-lineforthecoursewillbedigitalphotographyandinterculturalwriting,andstudentsneednothavesophisticatedequipmenttoparticipate.

Forquestionsormoreinformation,pleaseemailDr.Blouke:bloukecm@wofford.edu

Objectives:Bytheendofthiscoursestudentswillbeableto:

• Takeeffectivephotographs—consideringelementsofcompositionsuchaspointofview,balance,andsymmetry

• Navigateanumberofdigitalplatformsandengagewithonlineenvironmentstocreaterhetoricallyawarecompositions

• Craftaparticularnarrativeidentity/ethosthroughtravelwriting/blogging• Identifyanddescribeculturalcontexts• DescribeandanalyzeAmericannotionsofSpanishandMorroccancultures• Reflectonsocialaspectsofclimateandgeography

Assignments:• Studentswillcreateablogandcomposeaminimumof6postsof500words(navigatedigital

platforms,craftidentity,createrhetoricallyawarecompositions)• StudentswillcreateanInstagramand/orFlickraccounttopostphotographsfromeachlocation(take

effectivephotographs,navigateplatforms)• Generateafinalportfoliothatreflectsonculturaldifferences,AmericannotionsofIslamicidentity,

andaspectsofclimateandgeography

EstimatedCost:$5,025(includesinternationalairfare,lodging,transportationtoandfromtheairport,on-sitetransportation,somegroupmeals(lunchesareonstudents'own),allfees/ticketsforpre-arrangedeventsandmuseums,andinternationalinsurancecoverage)

AdditionalExpenses:$380(somemeals,localtransportation,passport)

ProgramPartners–IESAbroadDr.BloukeandDr.JoneshavepartneredwithIESAbroad,astudyabroadorganizationwithmorethan125centersaroundtheworld.IEShassemesterprogramsbasedinbothSpainandMorocco,andthey’vehelpedusdesignthiscustomizedtrip-drawingontheirexperienceandcontacts,andprovidinguswithlocalguidesandfacilities.TheIESAbroadCenters(inGranadaandRabat)arefully-staffedlocalofficesreadytorespondquicklyandprofessionallytostudentandfacultyneeds.Anon-sitecoordinatorwillbedesignatedspecificallyasthepointofcontactforstudentsandfacultyontheprogramateachcenter.Thison-sitecoordinator,inpartnershipwithotherstaffattheIESAbroadCenters,helpstomanagelogisticsincludingaccommodations,fieldtrips,culturalactivities,andday-to-dayadministration.Thiscoordinatorwillalsohandleon-siteemergenciesandmanagestudentacademic,health,anddisciplineissuesinconjunctionwiththeIESAbroadDeanofStudentsOfficeinChicago.IESAbroadwillprovideinformationtotheSchool’sstudentsconcerningculturalactivitiesandavailablelocalresources,suchaslibrariesandathleticcenters,intheprogramlocations.

SamplingofSiteVisitsandActivitiesinSpainandMorocco:

Granada,SpainAlhambraFortress-AUNESCOWorldHeritagesite,theAlhambra"isGranada’s–andEurope’s–lovelettertoMoorishculture,aplacewherefountainstrickle,leavesrustle,andancientspiritsseemtomysteriouslylinger.Partpalace,partfort,partWorldHeritagesite,partlessoninmedievalarchitecture,theAlhambrahaslongenchantedanever-endinglineofexpectantvisitors.Asahistoricmonument,itisunlikelyitwilleverbesurpassed."(FromLonelyPlanet)

AlbayzinandSacromonte-We'lltakeaguidedtouroftheseareasofGranada.AlbayzincomprisestheArabquarterandthemedievalMedina,andSacramonteoffersviewsofindescribablebeauty(includingthecavehousesthatadornthearea).Onourtour,we'llpayparticularattentiontotheurbanstructureoftheoldMuslimcity,itstransformationintoaChristianspace,andrecentOrientalizedidealizations.

Cordoba-onthisdaytrip,we'llvisittheGreatMosque-oneoftheoldeststandingstructuresfromthetimeMuslimsruledAl-Andalus.TheMosque-CathedralofCordobaisoneofthemostimportantmonumentofalltheWesternIslamicworld.Theevolutionofthe“Omeya”styleinSpainisresumedinthehistoryoftheMosqueofCordoba,aswellasotherstylessuchastheGothic,RenaissanceandBaroqueoftheChristianarchitecture.We'llalsotakeawalkingtourofthecity.

Seville-We'lltakeadaytriptoSeville,wherewe'llvisittheCathedral-thelargestGothiccathedralintheworld,andanotherUNESCOWorldHeritagesite.Thecathedral'sconstructionlastedoveracentury,from1401to1506.Itissaidthatwhentheplansweredrawnup,churchelderssaid,“Letusbuildachurchsobeautifulandsomagnificentthatthosewhoseeitfinishedwillthinkwearemad”.We'llalsotakeabiketourofthecity.

Flamenco-we'llbetreatedtoaneveningflamencoperformance–“aSpanishartformmadeupofthreeparts:guitarplaying("guitarra"),song("cante"),anddance("baile").FlamencooriginatedinthesouthernregionsofSpain,butit'sthoughttobeinfluencedbymanyworldcultures,includingLatinAmerican,Cuban,andJewishtraditions.Originallyflamencodancingwasnotsettomusic;itwasonlysingingandclappingofhandscalled“toquedepalmas."Someflamencodancingstillfollowsancienttradition,buttheuseofguitarsandothermusicalinstrumentshasbecomemorepopularinmodernflamenco.”We'llhavedinneralongsidetheperformance.

GibraltarTheBritishoverseasterritoryoccupyingascant2.6squaremiles,Gibraltarisnonethelessamajorlandmarkandimportantterritoryforglobalhistory."FirstsettledbytheMoorsintheMiddleAgesandlaterruledbySpain,theoutpostwascededtotheBritishin1713.Layersoffortificationsincludetheremainsofa14th-centuryMoorishCastleandthe18thcenturyGreatSiegeTunnels,whichwereexpandedinWWII".KnownprimarilyfortheRockofGibraltar,itisalsohometo30,000GibraltariansandEurope'sonlypopulationofwildmonkeys(theBarbaryMacaquesthatoccupythenaturereserveatthetopoftheRock).

AfteratouroftheRockandsurroundingarea,we’lltakeaferryacrosstheStraitofGibraltarontoTangiers,Morocco.Fromthere,we’llbemetbyourIESpartnersandtakeabusontoRabat.

Rabat,MoroccoHassanTowerandMausoleumofMohammedV–HassanToweristheminaretofanincompletemosqueinRabat,Morocco.Begunin1195,thetowerwasintendedtobethelargestminaretintheworldalongwiththemosque,alsointendedtobetheworld'slargest.Thetower,madeofredsandstone,alongwiththeremainsofthemosqueandthemodernMausoleumofMohammedV,formsanimportanthistoricalandtouristcomplexinRabat.TheMausoleumstandsasamasterpieceofmodernMoroccanarchitecture,holdinginsidethegrandtombsofpastkings.

Calligraphyclass-"CalligraphyisthemosthighlyregardedandmostfundamentalelementofIslamicart...[I]nherentwithintheArabicscriptisthepotentialfordevelopingavarietyofornamentalforms.Theemploymentofcalligraphyasornamenthadadefiniteaestheticappealbutoftenalsoincludedanunderlyingtalismaniccomponent."

Hennademonstration-"SomeviewHennaonlyasabodilyadornmentoranalternativetoapermanenttattoo,butinMorocco,theroleofHennatranscendsthatofbeauty.InharmonywiththeBerber‘sbeliefinBaraka(goodluck),Hennawornonthebodyoffersprotectionagainstillness,theevileye,andbringsjoy."InMorocco,hennaisappliedtoabride'shandsandfeetduringaceremonialhennaday,priortothewedding.Thebride'shandswillthenbewrappedincottonandsprinkledwithrosewater.Thewrappingofthehandsallowthehennatosettoadeepcrimsontint.Mostofthewomeninthebrideandgroomsfamilywillinturnhavehennaappliedtotheirhandswithlessextensivework.Hennaisusedbywomenofallagesceremoniouslyordecoratively.

Hammam-ATurkishbath(hammaminArabic)istheIslamicvariantoftheRomanbath,distinguishedbyafocusonwater,asdistinctfromambientsteam.InWesternEurope,the"Turkishbath"asamethodofcleansingandrelaxationbecamepopularduringtheVictorianera.TheprocessinvolvedintakingaTurkishbathissimilartothatofasauna,butismorecloselyrelatedtoancientGreekandancientRomanbathingpractices.TheTurkishbathstartswithrelaxationinaroom(knownasthewarmroom)thatisheatedbyacontinuousflowofhot,dryair,allowingthebathertoperspirefreely.

Fez,Meknes,andVolubilisWe'lltakeatwoday,one-nighttriptotheselocationsandvisitsitessuchas:

Universityofal-Qarawiyyin-"theoldestexisting,continuallyoperatingandthefirstdegreeawardingeducationalinstitutionintheworldaccordingtoUNESCOandGuinnessWorldRecordsandissometimesreferredtoastheoldestuniversity.TheAlQuaraouiyinemosque-religiousschool/collegewasfoundedbyFatimaal-Fihriin859withanassociatedschool,ormadrasa,whichsubsequentlybecameoneoftheleadingspiritualandeducationalcentersofthe

historicMuslimworld.ItwasincorporatedintoMorocco'smodernstateuniversitysystemin1963."

FezMedina-"FesisthefourthlargestcityinMoroccoandalsoknownasoneoftheancientimperialcities).Itisseparatedintothreeparts,FèselBali(theold,walledcity),Fès-Jdid(newFes,homeoftheMellah),andtheVilleNouvelle(theFrench-created,newestsectionofFes.TheMedinaofFeselBaliisbelievedtobethelargestcontiguouscar-freeurbanareaintheworld.Toenterthemedina,youwillpassthroughtheBabBouJeloudGate,withitsdecorationofblueandgreenfaience."

Meknes-"OftenreferredtoastheVersaillesofMorocco,MeknèsislocatedbetweenthefertileplainofRharbandtheMiddleAtlas.ThehistoricalimportanceofMeknesisreflectedinitsgrandMoorishbuildingsandinMeknes’closerelationshipwithVolubilis,anearbycityknownasthemostimportantarcheologicalsiteinMorocco."

Volubilis-isapartlyexcavatedBerberandRomancityinMoroccosituatednearthecityofMeknes,andcommonlyconsideredastheancientcapitalofthekingdomofMauretania.TheUNESCOWorldHeritageSite“containsessentiallyRomanvestigesofafortifiedmunicipiumbuiltonacommandingsiteatthefootoftheJebelZerhoun.Coveringanareaof42hectares,itisofoutstandingimportancedemonstratingurbandevelopmentandRomanisationatthefrontiersoftheRomanEmpireandthegraphicillustrationoftheinterfacebetweentheRomanandindigenouscultures.”