Date of Award
Fall 11-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Primary Advisor
N. Annette Graves
Abstract
There is a largely unexplored trend in recent popular fiction that regards the semi-autobiographical work of authors of an immigrant or refugee background. These works seldom fall into the trap exposed by Said’s Orientalism, but instead present the author’s native country and culture through a lens similar what Salman Rushdie described as “imaginary homelands.” This thesis examines three primary texts that fit that description: The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseni, The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid, and Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye for their inclusion of the Islamic faith and their portrayal of America. The texts are analyzed and recommended based on their ability to combat racial and religious prejudice and ignorance in light of topical news and media portrayals of Muslim peoples.
Recommended Citation
Nadolski, Lauren E., "The Muslim Mystique: The Use of Rushdie’s Imaginary Homeland to Combat Prejudice Against Muslim Peoples Explored in Three Semi-Autobiographical Works of Popular Fiction by Muslim Authors of an American Immigrant Background" (2015). Selected Honors Theses. 38.
https://firescholars.seu.edu/honors/38
Included in
Islamic Studies Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Modern Literature Commons, Other English Language and Literature Commons