Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization
MODHEB 407B
5 credits A&H
Instructor: Prof. Naomi Sokoloff
Autumn Quarter 2022
TTh 1:30-3:20* Significant online content and hours may be flexible. If you are interested in this course but have a schedule conflict, please contact Prof. Sokoloff.
Office Hours: Thursday 10:30-12:00 Denny Hall 220C (inside the NELC Department main office)
Contact information: naosok@uw.edu or 206-543-7145
Course Description
Popular song has played a central and very lively role in the shaping of Modern Hebrew culture and Israeli identity. In this class we will examine a range of diverse lyrics, including selections from folk song, pop, rock, musika mizrahit, hip hop, children’s songs and more. The course provides a brief historical overview of important trends in Israeli popular music.
Topics will include the sing-along, the army ensembles, song festivals and competitions, the rise of minorities, major poets set to music, outstanding performers and songwriters, traditional and religious sources, international influences, protest and political song, and changes in the media.
Prerequisites: MODHEB 203/523 or equivalent. This course is open to all students who have completed two years of Modern Hebrew courses at UW or have higher skills in Hebrew.
Required texts:
Students can access songs (lyrics and music) from our course website on Canvas:
https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1597487/assignments/syllabus
An extensive collection of song translations can be found at: http://www.hebrewsongs.com/home.htm
Many internet sites feature Israeli music and lyrics. See, for example, https://shironet.mako.co.il/ and, for really old oldies, http://www.zemereshet.co.il
Recommended text:
Regev, Motti and Edwin Seroussi. Popular Music and National Culture in Israel. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course students are expected 1) to demonstrate familiarity with a range of lyrics, from songs composed originally in Hebrew 2) to have strengthened their Hebrew skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking 3) to have deepened their understanding of Israeli cultural history and to grasp important relationships between high art and popular music in the development of Israeli writing, 4) to think about strategies for reading poetry.
Course Requirements and Grading
Each week in class we will discuss several songs. Students are expected to prepare the texts and participate in class discussion of them. The participation grade will also be based on short in-class writing and work submitted on Canvas for asynchronous lessons. Work will include exercises on binyanim. There will be two short quizzes. Students will compose three reflections (200-300 words in Hebrew) on texts covered in class. Native speakers of Hebrew will be expected to complete longer written assignments than other students who are non-native speakers.
For a final project: students are required to prepare a class report. They are encouraged to work in small groups or to present individually. Discuss a song or songs related to the course material and not covered otherwise in class.
An alternative final project: prepare a research paper (1250-1500 words), working individually.
Final grades will be determined as follows:
- Compositions: 30%
- Quizzes: 20%
- In-class discussion and writing plus asynchronous written assignments: 15%
- Final project: 35%
Final grades
Grading Scale
4.0 = 98-100
3.9 = 96-97
3.8 = 94-95
3.7 = 92-93
3.6 = 91
3.5 = 90
3.4 = 89
etc.
POLICIES:
Academic Concerns and Incompletes
Per FERPA rules, I cannot discuss grades via email. Please make an appointment to talk in my office or via Zoom if you have concerns.
Incompletes will be awarded only in accordance with UW policy.
https://registrar.washington.edu/students/incomplete-grades/
There will be no make-up quizzes. Students who miss a quiz at the scheduled time, because of illness or other hardship, may complete an alternative assignment designated by the instructor. That assignment will not receive a grade but it will prevent the quiz grade from becoming a zero.
For missed in-class activities and homework assignments: When calculating final grades, the lowest grade will drop automatically. If you must miss more than one class session because of illness or other hardship: you may complete an alternative assignment determined by the instructor. That assignment will not receive a grade but it will prevent the in-class or homework grade for that date from becoming a zero. As a general rule, the make-up assignments will be more challenging than coming to class. It is the student's responsibility to communicate clearly and as promptly as possible with the instructor to arrange the alternative assignment.
Assignments submitted on Canvas have due dates and closing dates. Work should be submitted by the due date. Work that comes in late will lose points, as designated in the assignment instructions. Work cannot be submitted after the closing date.
Please keep a copy of all graded work. This is very useful in case the instructor’s record of grades is lost or damaged, or in case the student wishes to discuss a grade. Protect yourself by keeping a copy.
The instructor may add or subtract some reading assignments from the syllabus during the quarter.
Access and Accommodations
This course is open to all UW students who meet the prereqs. The NELC Department welcomes you and your pronouns!
Religious Accommodations
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) (Links to an external site.). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) (Links to an external site.).
I try to respond promptly to email from students, but I may not reply immediately. You may expect a response to take up to four or five days.
Disability
Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 (voice and relay) or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. More information is available at https://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs/ (Links to an external site.)
Student Conduct
The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/.
In cases of academic misconduct, such as plagiarism or receiving inappropriate assistance on an assignment, offending students will be penalized in accordance with the policy of the College of Arts and Sciences. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism or how to properly attribute credit to source materials, consult with the instructor.
For additional guidelines on academic integrity, Incompletes, grade appeal, concerns about an instructor, equal opportunity, disability accommodations, absences due to religious observances, sexual harassment, and safety, see the information available at https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/syllabi-guidelines/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
Health and Well-being
The UW Food Pantry
A student should never have to make the choice between buying food or textbooks. The UW Food Pantry helps mitigate the social and academic effects of campus food insecurity. We aim to lessen the financial burden of purchasing food by providing students with access to food and hygiene products at no-cost. Students can expect to receive 4 to 5 days’ worth of supplemental food support when they visit the Pantry. For information including operating hours, location, and additional food support resources visit uw.edu/anyhungryhusky
We can be found on the North side of West Campus’ Poplar Hall at the corner of Brooklyn Ave NE and 41st.
Self-care
It is important that we take care of ourselves inside and outside of class by learning how to care for our body, mind and spirit. Toward that end, there are many different kinds of support services on campus, including the Counseling Center, Hall Health, and the IMA. If you are concerned about yourself or a friend who is struggling, Safecampus, at 1-800-685-7233, is a very helpful resources to learn more about how to access campus-based support services. Please save the number for Safecampus, 1-800-685-7233, into your cell phones.
Attendance and class participation are important to the learning process. However, if you have symptoms of contagious illness – such as sniffles, sneezes, a cough, a sore throat, or a fever – please do not come to class.
The provost has asked faculty to share these links with all students. You can find information here about medical services and mental health support at UW.
Course Concerns and Additional Notes
if you have any concerns about the class, try to resolve them first with your classroom instructor. If the matter is not resolved that way, there are other resources available to students to resolve complaints or grievances, including Humanities Academic Services https://hasc.washington.edu/ (Links to an external site.), the Bias Reporting Tool, https://www.washington.edu/bias/ (Links to an external site.), the Office of the Ombud, https://www.washington.edu/ombud/ (Links to an external site.), the University Complaint and Resolution Office, https://www.washington.edu/compliance/uciro/ (Links to an external site.), and Disability Resources, https://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs/complaint-mediation/ (Links to an external site.)
By enrolling in this class, you make a commitment to regular and consistent class participation. Continued enrollment signifies that you have received a copy of this syllabus and that you have been notified of the requirements, examination schedule, and grading policies for the course.The instructor reserves the right to revise this syllabus at any time during the quarter. Students will be informed of the changes.
Course Topics
Unit I - Songs of pre-state Israel and songs of the Land of Israel
“Hatikvah” [The Hope]
"Hava Nagila" [Let Us Rejoice]
“Shir ha’emek” [Song of the Valley]
"Anu banu artsah" [We Came to the Land]
Unit II - Songs of the War of Independence and Early statehood
“Shir ha-palmach” [Song of the Palmach]
“Hare‘ut” [Friendship]
“Magash hakesef” [The Silver Platter]
Unit III – From 1967 to 1973
“Yerushalayim shel zahav” [Jerusalem of Gold]
“Shir lashalom” [Song for Peace]
“Lu yehi” [May It be]
Unit IV – Pop and Rock – Into the 80s and 90s
“Ani ve’atah” [You and I]
“Atur mitshek [Black Gold]
“Hatahanah haketanah Treblinka” [Little Treblinka Station]
“Akhshav meunan” [It’s Cloudy Now]
Unit V - Mizrachi Music
“Shabat malkah” [Shabbat, the Queen]
“Shehorah venavah” [Black and Beautiful]
“Todah” [Thanks]
Film clips – “Iraq ‘n’ Roll”
Unit VI - Song Festivals
“Abanibi” [Abanibi]
“Haleluyah” [Halleluyah]
“Hai” [Alive]
“Diva” [Diva]
"Toy" [Toy]
Unit VII– Multicultural Israel, Hebrew Rap, Arabic Rap, Political Protest
“Livkot lekha” [Crying for You]
“Bo’i” [Come]
“Yihyeh beseder” [It Will Be OK]
Azikim al hayadayim” [Handcuffed]
“Shirat hasticker” [The Sticker Song]
"Posheem Hapim mipesh‘a” [Innocent Criminals]
Salaam/Shalom [Peace]
Unit VIII - Religion
Modeh ani [by Omer Adam]
Modeh ani [by Meir Ariel]
Yedid nefesh [piyut, music by Tandu]
Pekak tenuah shel nisim [Traffic Jam of Miracles]
Unit IX – Individual Artists
“Zemer nugeh” [A Sad Song] Rachel [Blaustein]
"El malei rahamim" [God Full of Mercy, Yehuda Amichai]
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course students are expected 1) to have become familiar with a range of lyrics, from songs composed originally in Hebrew, Arabic, Amharic, and English; 2) to have deepened their understanding of Israeli cultural history and to grasp important relationships between high art and popular music in the development of Israeli writing; 3) to have made a class report and to have written a blog entry that aptly communicates to a wide public what they learned from their class project.
There are some excellent videos available at Suzzallo Library, from a TV series by Yair Qedar called "Ha-Ivrim." One on Bialik includes information about his poems set to music; one on the poet Zelda includes information about her poems set to music.