Course Spotlight: MIDEAST 291-003 "Writing the Future: Science Fiction in Modern Arabic Literature"

Can you please introduce yourself and your academic background?

My name is Hanan Jasim Khammas. I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. I hold a PhD in Literary Theory and Comparative Literature. My research focuses on contemporary Arabic literature and its intersections with other literary traditions, including Middle Eastern, Anglo-American, and Spanish literatures. My book, Writing Through the Body: Iraqi Responses to the War on Terror (2024), explores how corporeality in contemporary Iraqi fiction reflects emerging trends in Arabic literature and offers political responses to the War on Terror and its cultural representations.

This fall, you’ll be teaching MIDEAST 291-003 “Writing the Future: Science Fiction in Modern Arabic Literature”. Can you tell us more about this course?

Writing the Future: Science Fiction in Modern Arabic Literature introduces students to the genre of science fiction and traces its development within Arabic literature, with a particular emphasis on 21st-century works. Focusing on Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt, the course examines speculative futures through the +100 anthology series, which combines historical reflection with imaginative storytelling. Students will engage in critical analysis of how these narratives reimagine history and address social, political, and cultural issues. Comparative references to science fiction from Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, and Armenian traditions will also be included, with all readings provided in English translation.

Can you explain how your research interests relate to this course?

My research explores how emerging literary trends engage with and respond to lived realities. Literature captures and clarifies the issues that shape our world and helps us understand how they affect us. In this course, I guide students to examine how Arab authors envision the future of the Middle East by analyzing short stories of speculative fiction. By studying these imagined futures, we gain insight into how these writers perceive and critique their present circumstances.

What materials or literature are you most excited to engage in with your students?

I am particularly excited to introduce students to three key anthologies from the +100 series: Palestine +100 (2019), Iraq +100 (2016), and Egypt +100 (2024). These collections of short stories present imaginative futures while reflecting on each nation’s past and present. They offer rich material for exploring the social, political, and cultural dynamics that shape both the science fiction genre in Arabic literature and broader Middle Eastern perspectives.

For any students who are interested in taking your course but may be hesitant to explore a new subject, why do you think they should enroll? What will they gain from this course?

In studying the Middle East, this course diverges from traditional history-focused approaches that often emphasize formal historical events and academic texts. Instead, it offers an alternative perspective—an unofficial history shaped by personal narratives, domestic experiences, and underrepresented viewpoints. As for literature, the course centers on a relatively new and increasingly popular genre that has not yet been extensively studied. This provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in early scholarly exploration and contribute original insights to the field.

Is there anything else students should know about this course or your teaching style?

My teaching philosophy is simple: students come first. I am deeply committed to fostering students’ intellectual growth. I value their perspectives, the language they use, and the unique positions from which they approach their arguments. I encourage students to become aware of their voices and the contexts they bring to academic discussions. I also believe that enjoyment is central to academic success—when students enjoy what they’re learning, they are more likely to excel. My goal is to help them recognize and embrace their academic potential.