Workshop

The Middle East History and Theory (MEHAT) Workshop meets on alternate Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in 218 Pick Hall. We provide a forum for campus scholars (emerging and otherwise) to present new work, receive feedback, and generate interesting and productive discussions across the disciplines. We also occasionally host presentations and roundtables with outside scholars. Drafts of dissertation proposals, chapters, and theses are especially welcome, along with other works in progress. If you are interested, please contact us at mehat.workshop@uchicago.edu.

Papers are generally pre-circulated a week prior to the workshop on the MEHAT listserv (sign up here) to encourage informed discussion. Papers ideally should not exceed 30 pages in length. We also ask that presenters preface their paper with a paragraph that frames the work for the audience, by indicating the work’s immediate research context and the sort of feedback they would find most helpful. Participants are encouraged but not required to read the paper beforehand.

At the start of the session, the paper is introduced by the discussant, who offers a summary followed by a few questions, comments, and suggestions (10–15 minutes). The presenter is then invited to respond (10–15 minutes), after which the floor will be opened to general discussion.