Fulya Pinar

Anthropologies of the Middle East: Representations, Politics, Cultures
In this course we will explore the Middle East, past and present, from an anthropological viewpoint. We will start by looking at how
past foreign influences and biased views have shaped how we see the region today and continue with nuanced
anthropological works on the diverse peoples and struggles in different parts of the region. Topics will include family,
religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, the environment, state power, and political resistance. Using visual materials
and ethnographic readings, we will challenge common stereotypes, offering a more complex view of the Middle
East. Readings will highlight stories that are often ignored, showing the people of the region as active participants in
creating knowledge and engaging in political struggles, rather than just static victims or perpetrators, as they are often
portrayed, especially after 9/11.

Migration and Social Justice: Power, Place, and Human Experiences.
This course examines migration through bottom-up approaches, drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from political and legal anthropology, feminist and decolonial studies, and social scientific and historical methodologies. It critically explores how gender, race, ethnicity, social class, and global disparities shape migratory experiences and influence notions of justice, agency, and belonging. Key topics include migration governance, borders, economic aspects of migration, climate displacement, refugee camps, and everyday lives, agencies, and solidarity practices of migrants; themes explored across South-to-North and South-to-South migration to illuminate the global and interconnected dimensions of migration experiences and governance. Through diverse materials – ethnographic texts and documentaries, primary legal sources, art and activist projects, and podcasts – students will analyze the lived experiences of migrants alongside the structural realities that shape migrants’ lives.3 hrs. lect./disc.
This course is part of the Axinn Center for the Humanities’ Mellon Foundation Public Humanities Initiative.

The Enterprising Self: Entrepreneurial Cultures, Modern Subjects
In this course we will look at how ideas about self-improvement and being entrepreneurial shape who we are today as humans. We will explore how concepts like self-care and self-empowerment, often seen through a business-like lens, shape our mental and social lives. Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram push us to market ourselves, turning everyday actions into forms of entrepreneurship. Through real-life examples, ethnographic studies, and visual materials, we will examine how socio-economic life and personal choices influence each other. We will take a critical look at how global capitalism shapes our sense of self, showing the ongoing negotiation between personal identity and economic pressures.