This seminar introduces the contemporary Middle East by drawing upon lively, cutting-edge studies written from a variety of disciplinary perspectives: history, political science, sociology, and anthropology, as well as studies of mass media, gender, religion, urban life, music, and art. We will discuss readings and visual media together as we develop our sense of intellectual community. The semester will leave students with a foundation in Middle Eastern studies, a sense of current directions in the field, and experience with academic research and writing. At the same time, students will gain experience in producing public-facing scholarship by writing as a team to research, draft, and publish a new article on Wikipedia.