Arab Literary TravelsMain MenuDefinitionsIn alphabetical orderKatie Logane34526019b45cdfb441f1c50c3e71fae0758195e
Daniel Grube Project Proposal
12016-03-08T08:27:34-08:00Daniel Grubead72377c3fd241d91d8689abbaf0019bebd45e3b81781Middlesexplain2016-03-08T08:27:35-08:00Daniel Grubead72377c3fd241d91d8689abbaf0019bebd45e3bMy project aims to trace the movement of the Stephanides family from the novel Middlesex. The movement of the Stephanides family begins in a village outside of modern-day Bursa, but when the Greco-Turkish war begins they travel to Smyrna. The Stephanides family experiences the Great Fire of Smyrna in which the city transfers from Greek to Turkish control and renamed to Izmir. From here, the family sails to America by boat and arrives in New York before eventually settling down in Detroit. The map I have chosen intersects various ideas that have been presented in the course including the loss of a Home, the greater Middle East, refugee status, immigration to America. The two concepts that Middlesex most relates to that we have discussed in our course are the Palestinian Nakba and Hind’s immigration to New York. The Palestinian Nakba reminds one of the Great Fire of Smyrna through the destruction of culture and identity, and the loss of a home and countless lives. Not only do the events and results of the Great Fire and the Nakba resemble each other, but also the resulting refugee crisis. The second concept is the immigration of someone from the Greater Middle East to America and their experience learning the language, assimilating to the culture, and witnessing historic American events through a different lens. The stephanides family initially goes to New York, but resettled permanently in Detroit where they experience the 1967 Detroit race riots. Another parallel appears when one considers that Hind and the Stephanides family both experience pivotal moments of race relations in America; the election of President Obama and the Civil Rights Movement. Through this project I hope to further inform the class on the concept of the loss of a home and thus identity through political, social, and physical movements and events. These movements and events include the Fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Greco-Turkish war, the Great Fire of Smyrna, the 1967 Detroit Race Riots, and immigration to the United States.