This panel organized by Ali Alibhai (UT Dallas), Sarah Slingluff (Walters Art Museum) and Michael Ernst (Temple University) seeks to explore how digital technologies—particularly video games, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and also other interactive visual tools—can transform research and pedagogy in the field of Middle Eastern Studies and medieval Islamic art.
In an era where digital landscapes increasingly shape cultural and educational experiences, these technologies offer novel pathways for analyzing, interpreting, and teaching the histories and artistic legacies of the Middle East and North Africa. According to a 2024 Pew Research poll, 85% of U.S. teens report playing video games, with nearly 40% engaging daily. This surge in digital interaction presents an opportunity for scholars to harness gaming and immersive technologies as dynamic tools for reimagining pedagogy and academic inquiry.

We invite papers that address:
•⁠ ⁠The role of video games, VR, and AR in reshaping narratives and visual representations of Middle Eastern art, architecture, and history.
•⁠ ⁠Case studies of classroom integration of gaming technologies to engage students in Middle Eastern Studies.
•⁠ ⁠Theoretical approaches to analyzing how Middle Eastern cultures, histories, and identities are portrayed in gaming environments.
•⁠ ⁠Collaborative digital projects that incorporate historical reconstruction or interactive storytelling focused on the Middle East.
•⁠ ⁠Digital decolonization: Challenging Orientalist tropes and reimagining the Middle East through digital tools.
•⁠ ⁠The use of immersive simulations in public history, museums, and cultural heritage preservation.
•⁠ ⁠Insights into how digital media can bridge academic research and pedagogical practice fostering new modes of engagement with the medieval Middle East’s rich cultural and historical landscapes.

Organized by: Ali Alibhai
Submit a 300-400 words abstract clearly outline the scope, methodology, and significance of the proposed paper and a short bio (150 words) to Ali Alibhai (aliasgar.alibhai@utdallas.edu) by February 1st, 2025.