Filmed on 21 February 2015 as part of TEDxUTK 2015 Ideas Worth Spreading at the UTK John Hodges Library in Knoxville, TN.

Drew Paul sees borders differently, not as lines on a map, but as spaces lived in and experienced, places people encounter and negotiate in their daily lives. Some believe we are becoming a global society, one where borders don't matter. In his talk, Drew explores stories form the middle east which remind us that borders are never fully open or closed and, for some people, those borders change everything. Drew Paul received his B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Emory University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. His research focuses primarily on modern Arabic literature, with secondary interests in Arab cinema and Hebrew literature. His current major research project investigates the representations of border spaces in Israel and Palestine in literature, film, and art. He is also working on projects on humor in the modern Arabic novel, and the evolving concept of "home" in Palestinian literature. Many of his research interests developed as a result of his time living and traveling in the Middle East, including a year in Cairo and several months in Jerusalem as well as shorter periods in Damascus and Beirut. He is also interested in Arabic pedagogy, particularly the roles of literature and culture in the language classroom. He has taught Arabic language courses at all levels as well as courses on literature in translation.