Much has been made of the role of various media in the shaping of conflicts and political agendas in today's Arab world. This volume examines this topic with interdisciplinary contributions that range across media studies, anthroplogy, religious studies, and political science and explore both new and older media forms.

First published in 1984, this is a study of categorization practices: how people categorize each other and their actions; how they describe, infer, and judge. The book presents a sociological analysis and description of practical activities and makes a cogent contribution to the study of how the moral order actually works in practical communicative contexts. Among the issues dealt with are: collectivity categorizations, the organization of lists and descriptions, moral attribution and inferences, and the relationship between standards of morality and standards of rationality.

First published in 1984, this is a study of categorization practices: how people categorize each other and their actions; how they describe, infer, and judge. The book presents a sociological analysis and description of practical activities and makes a cogent contribution to the study of how the moral order actually works in practical communicative contexts. Among the issues dealt with are: collectivity categorizations, the organization of lists and descriptions, moral attribution and inferences, and the relationship between standards of morality and standards of rationality.

"A charming and agreeable surprise... A welcome gift to Westernreaders." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Editor Jayyusi offers amajor example of the Arabic folk epics or romances called siras... The siras arefull of heroic adventures, exotic landscapes, love affairs, friendships, supernatural dangers, magical spells, and great Arab heroes.... " -- LibraryJournal

"This text should find its place alongside thetranslations of other epic traditions of the world as a text well suited for use inuniversity courses on the Middle East, world literature, epic, and folklore."-- Journal of Arabic Literature

This colorful panorama recountsthe fantastic tales of a sixth-century Arab king and offers unusual perspectives ongender, religion, race, and ethnicity. Composed between the 13th and 16th centuriesand presented here in English for the first time.