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This unit will be used to promote discussion about fictional dystopian societies as based on real current and past power struggles in Egypt and time permitting, on a more global/universal scale.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning I would like students to work in teams at the beginning of the unit to discuss stereotypes and images of Egypt that come to mind - a tie-in to the conceptual questions concerning how much we know about Egypt and how.

I'd like students to do some research using the hashtag thisisegypt and see if they uncover not only the pretty touristic side of Egypt, as portrayed on their official tourism sites and in social media, but how the tourism hashtag backfired and unearthed an undesirable underbelly of social, political and economic problems that continue today.

I will also have students read and lead discussions on topics on the Amnesty International website.

The literary text/novel itself is a fantastic, easy read with complex themes and discussions. One that every students should have opinions on. I'd like to have them do a Socratic seminar on that. I'd also like to use the novel to explore the element of structure, as it is particular. In addition, there is a real Egyptian flavour to the novel because of the words left untranslated - great opportunities for analysis and discussion.  It is a work in translation, from 2012, and is not on the PRL, so is my free choice.

I'd like to pair it with an award-winning documentary, The Square.  This will be a fabulous non-literary pairing, because of the sense of disillusionment with those in power and the sense of "Now what do we do?" as power struggles result in prolonged periods of uncertainty and transition. This can be seen in the film and the novel (and beyond!).

In addition to our discussions on how the Egyptian authorities portray the public face of Egypt, I'd like to use a Lonely Planet Article on Egypt as our Paper 1 Assessment for this unit.

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1. How important is cultural or historical context to the production and reception of a text?
2. How do we approach texts from different times and cultures to our own?
3. To what extent do texts offer insight into another culture?

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A modern dystopian (translated from Arabic), written after a 2012 uprising in Egypt, AbdelAziz's novel touches on notes of a government vs. people. Citizens are forced to do things they never considered in order to live their lives peacefully.

The recent Arab Spring and dominance of totalitarian governments in the Middle East provide a frightening realistic backdrop to the events in the novel.

The universal struggle between those in power and those who are forcibly oppressed makes AbdelAziz's tale one that is accessible to all readers, whether they have lived in such situations or simply read about them or watched them unfold on TV.

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Documentary: The Square by Jehane Noujaim

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Documentary: The Square by Jehane Noujaim

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'The Square' is an observational documentary that tells the story of the ongoing struggle of the Egyptian Revolution through the eyes of six very different protesters.

Starting in the tents of Tahrir in the days leading up to the fall of Mubarak, the film follows characters on a life-changing journey through the euphoria of victory into the uncertainties and dangers of a transitional period under military rule, where everything they fought for is either under threat or imbalanced.

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What's the official word on the Egyptian experience today?
Browse their official tourism authority. Plan your trip.
The #thisisegypt promotional campaign won the best tourism promo video in the Middle East in the 2017 World Tourism Organization competition.

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Amnesty International: News and Commentary on Egypt's dissidents

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Amnesty International: News and Commentary on Egypt's dissidents

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Every year, Amnesty International evaluates the human rights situation in countries around the world. Stay up to date and learn about key human rights issues in Egypt.

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Lonely Planet Article

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is changing by the minute as it continues its post-revolution recovery, but there are still a number of unshakeable constants in : the city's ancient past, its contemporary art and music scene, and the colloquial morning greeting to earn warm smiles and instant friends. As one of the host cities of the Africa Cup of Nations, Cairo expects to welcome thousands of football fans in June and July 2019. Here are some ideas on how to spend your time when you're not at a football match.

Time for the pyramids?

While the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur rightly deserve a day to themselves, it is possible to squeeze a visit to the Giza necropolis into a day packed with other activities if you're pressed for time. Plan to be there for its 8am opening (7am in summer) to wander around the famed three pyramids of pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, dating from 2550 to 2490 BC, as well as the iconic Sphinx.

Once the Grand Egyptian Museum, which already houses headline attractions like the towering statue of Ramses II and King Tut's golden death mask, opens in 2020, Giza will command a full day or two of your time.

Morning

If you can save the pyramids for their own day, start with Coptic Cairo, the quiet home to some of the oldest churches in the history of Christianity. After sunrise, ride south along the Corniche next to the Nile to feel virtually alone in a city of more than 20 million people. As traffic tends to clog up as the day progresses, getting the biggest leg of the journey done first can save time. For a cheaper ride, take the metro toward Helwan to the Mar Girgis stop, which is right next to the site. Start with the intricate carvings on the wooden doors of the Hanging Church, which served as the seat of the Coptic Pope from the 7th to the 13th centuries, and then enjoy the area's many other historically significant structures, including the Ben Ezra Synagogue with its rare manuscripts and the Church of St George with its impressive dome.

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A perfect day in Cairo: 24 hours in Egypt's capital

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While the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur rightly deserve a day to themselves, it is possible to squeeze a visit to the Giza necropolis into a day packed with other activities if you're pressed for time.