Independent Research Assignment

Independent Research Assignment

The known history of the Arabian Nights, or 1001 Nights (Alf laya wa Layla) extends approximately 600 years to the 13th Century,
though it is believed to have been in existence for at least 300 years
prior to that. Today the story of Shahrayar and Sharazad has become part
of the fabric of popular storytelling in the Middle East and North
Africa and, indeed, the world-over. The very concept of the
‘Cliffhanger’ we owe to 1001 Nights. Since its introduction to Europe in
the 18th Century,
however, 1001 Nights has also been the subject of ceaseless exoticism.
Its fascination among Western audiences represents, arguably, the
supreme trope in the vast canon of orientalism—a term you are now
beginning to read about.

For your research assignment you will A) Read the essay ”
metamorphoses_of_scheherazade_in_literature_and_film

metamorphoses_of_scheherazade_in_literature_and_film – Alternative Formats

” by SOAS scholar Wen-Chen Ouyang. B) Look for examples (1-3) of modern
and contemporary interpretations or adaptations of 1001 Nights. You are
encouraged to look for examples in any language– including preferably–
other than English if you are able to do so. C) Once you have located a
few examples you will create a 2-3 page summary of the work along with a
short discussion of

a)What
aspect story of the Nights does the work intersect with. (Note: the
preference is for adaptations of the actual Nights- not the extra
stories)

b) How the work reflects or divert from the original 1001 Nights

c)
What social, political or religious connotations are evident in the
adaptation. Is Said’s theory of orientalism applicable to your analysis
of the work? Can you draw on ideas from Dr. Wen-Chen Ouyang?

Possible examples include:

Theatrical productions of 1001 Nights/Arabian Nights

Musical interpretations

Artistic interpretations

Literary or poetic adaptations

Movies,
TV, cartoons or any form of new media production (i.e. memes, blogs,
Facebook groups, etc). If you struggle to find examples there are
several classical examples in the Content & Transcripts section that
you can choose from.

Please include images/screen shots with your short essay. Be sure to include information about where you found the example, including any URL links.

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