What can travel writing reveal about identity, power, and place? This seminar explores how the Balkans—a region shaped by empire, migration, and resistance—have been imagined through the eyes of foreign travelers from the Ottoman era to the present day. We’ll examine travel narratives as both literary texts and cultural documents, investigating how gender, class, politics, and language shape these portrayals. From diplomatic missions to personal pilgrimages, travel accounts not only reflect the biases of their authors but also influenced national borders and colonial ambitions. Through readings and discussion, students will learn how travelers both documented and redefined their own identities in response to the ‘other.’ The course encourages reflection on how narrative shapes perception, and how these stories echo in today’s global conversations about representation, mobility, and cultural encounter.
Registration Opens Online:
Monday, August 4, 2025, at 8 AM (AZ Time)
