This course introduces students to the diverse peoples, societies, and cultural practices associated with the Middle East North Africa (MENA). Course content is grounded in written and visual sources from anthropology but also draws on historical research, investigative journalism, documentary film, and popular media. Using these materials, the class explores several topics that have been of enduring interest to anthropologists of–and from–the region: religious practices and daily life, gender identities and sexualities, political power and resistance, and the formation of diasporic communities. Coverage of these topics also considers the conditions of knowledge production about the region and its political, social and cultural implications.