Contemporary Israeli Culture (3 cr.)
Stephen Katz
JSTU-C 240 #36456
MWR 4:00-5:25 (please note the class meets in Franklin Hall 210 on MW and in Ballantine Hall 319 on R)
8W2
GenEd WC, CASE A&H, CASE GCC
Israel is a land of paradoxes, made up of a vibrantly diverse number of cultures, value systems, and lifestyles. Its position
in the history and geography of the Middle East has made it a central player in a number of regional conflicts that are the
concern of people everywhere. Yet Israel is much more than this conflict. In this course, we will learn about the
leading issues that make up Israel’s popular and high culture, its ideologies and daily practices. Among these, we will
examine the history of the land; its diverse ethnic and religious groups; its democratic institutions and system of
government; its music, film, art, and communal lifestyles.
