On Saturday, May 23, 2026, a Master's thesis titled "The Transformation of Symbols into Cultural Icons of Resistance: A Comparative Study of Naji Al-Ali's Handala and the Mockingjay from The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins" was defended by student Amanda Abu Nahleh at the Faculty of Language Studies, Arab Open University – Jordan, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master’s degree in English Literature.
The defense committee consisted of:
Prof. Tahrir Hamdi: Main Supervisor and Committee Chair.
Dr. Ola Kattaneh: Internal Examiner.
Dr. Mona Abed Rabbo: External Examiner.
The thesis explored the transformation of cultural symbols into icons of resistance through a comparative study of the Palestinian artist Naji Al-Ali’s character, "Handala," and the "Mockingjay" symbol from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy. The study highlights the role of cultural symbols in shaping collective consciousness and reinforcing the values of resistance across different cultural and historical contexts.
We commend the efforts of the supervisors and highly value the contributions of the esteemed defense committee members. The Arab Open University extends its warmest congratulations to Amanda Abu Nahleh on this outstanding academic achievement, wishing her continued success and excellence in her professional and academic journey.
