Media Literacy at Ithaca College - Project Look Sharp: Media Construction of the Middle East

Media Construction of the Middle East: A Digital Media Literacy Curriculum
Cover | Overview, Objectives, and Pedagogy | How to Use These Materials | Resource List

Unit 1: Introducing the Middle East
Unit 2: Israel/Palestine: Histories in Conflict
Unit 3: War in Iraq: Whose Voice, Whose Story?
Unit 4: Militant Muslims and the U.S.

Unit 1: Introducing the Middle East
This unit allows students to reflect on what they know about the Middle East and where their information and impressions come from. Emphasizing the geographic, ethnic, religious and historic diversity of the Middle East, the lessons give accurate background information that challenges stereotypes and provides a basis for future study.

Lesson 1: Picturing the Middle East
Lesson 2: The Magic of Stereotypes
Lesson 3: Exploring Terms

Lesson 1: Picturing the Middle East

Teacher's Guide (PDF)	Lesson Summary: Students respond to images and identify what they already know about the Middle East, including any inaccurate information and stereotypes. The teacher defines terms like "stereotypes" and "generalizations" and give background on the geography of the Middle East.
Slideshow (PDF)	Documents: Slideshow of photographs from the Middle East and other parts of the world and various maps of the Middle East

Lesson 2: The Magic of Stereotypes

Teacher's Guide (PDF)	Lesson Summary: Students identify stereotypes about Arabs and learn the difference between stereotypes and generalizations.
Video Clip (QuickTime)	Document: Video clip of the introduction to the Disney movie Aladdin

Lesson 3: Exploring Terms

Teacher's Guide (PDF)

Lesson Summary: Students take a self-assessment about Middle East culture and geography. The teacher reviews the answers with a slideshow.

Slideshow (PDF)

Updated June 20, 2006.

Document: A slideshow about the Middle East, including ethnic, linguistic and national identities (Turk, Persian, Arab, Kurd, Armenian, Israeli, Berber) and religious identities (Muslim, Jew, Christian) to accompany a student self-assessment.