Imagining a Fragmentary Homeland: An Ethnography of Rum Orthodox Women in Dialogue with Elias Khoury

This ethnography delves into the intertwined themes of exile, imagination, and identity experienced by Rum Orthodox women in Nazareth and Beirut. Inspired by Elias Khoury’s novel As Though She Were Sleeping, this research investigates how imagination is a critical tool for reconstructing a sense of homeland amidst displacement's psychological, cultural, and historical complexities. The fieldwork of this ethnography was conducted for almost fifteen months, from September 2023 to December 2024, which draws on interviews, participant observation, and engagement with Khoury’s literary themes to understand how these women navigate their fragmented realities. The novel, which unfolds in the same cities where this ethnography takes place, provides a literary framework for examining broader questions of the feeling of exile, memory, place, and belonging. Khoury’s portrayal of characters negotiating loss and yearning resonates deeply with the lived experiences of exile, bridging fiction and...Show moreThis ethnography delves into the intertwined themes of exile, imagination, and identity experienced by Rum Orthodox women in Nazareth and Beirut. Inspired by Elias Khoury’s novel As Though She Were Sleeping, this research investigates how imagination is a critical tool for reconstructing a sense of homeland amidst displacement's psychological, cultural, and historical complexities. The fieldwork of this ethnography was conducted for almost fifteen months, from September 2023 to December 2024, which draws on interviews, participant observation, and engagement with Khoury’s literary themes to understand how these women navigate their fragmented realities. The novel, which unfolds in the same cities where this ethnography takes place, provides a literary framework for examining broader questions of the feeling of exile, memory, place, and belonging. Khoury’s portrayal of characters negotiating loss and yearning resonates deeply with the lived experiences of exile, bridging fiction and ethnography as complementary ways of knowing. This ethnographic work interrogates how Khoury’s themes, such as oral traditions, dreams, and the interplay between the personal and the collective, illuminate displaced communities' everyday struggles and resilience. Simultaneously, this study reflects on the ethnographer’s positionality, addressing how personal encounters with homesickness and longing shape the lens through which themes of displacement are analysed. By engaging with Khoury’s narrative as an ethnographic tool, the research demonstrates the potential of literature to map not only individual lives but also collective histories and cultural imaginaries. Ultimately, this thesis aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of exile's emotional and cultural dimensions, offering an innovative approach that intertwines ethnography with literary imagination to explore the enduring human search for belonging.Show less

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Imagining a Fragmentary Homeland: An Ethnography of Rum Orthodox Women in Dialogue with Elias Khoury