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Evolution of Iranian Rhythms
Jun 20 2014 - 18:30
Mohsen Namjoo is an Iranian artist, songwriter, singer, music scholar and setar (traditional Persian lute) player based in California. Born in 1976 in Torbat-e Jam, Iran, Namjoo began his musical training at the age of twelve, studying under Nasrollah Nasehpoor until the age of eighteen. In 1994 Namjoo began to study Theater and Music at the University of Tehran, where he was trained under Alireza Mashayekhi, Azin Movahed and other masters. Namjoo also studied Iranian folk music under Haj Ghorbane Soleimani. His unique music style resembles a patchwork of Persian classical poetry of Hafez, ...
In Search of the Lost Laleh-Zar, a lecture by Nasser Rahmaninejad; a film screening of "Siah Bazi", by Maryam Khakipour
Jun 13 2014 - 18:30
A lecture followed by the screening of Maryam Khakipour's film, "Siah Bâzi."
Guests: Nasser Rahmaninejad and Maryam Khakipour
Nasser Rahmaninejad, a foremost, celebrated Iranian artist started his career in theatre in 1959 Iran. In response to the authoritarian cultural policies and harsh censorship of the Shah’s regime, he founded his alternative, independent theatre group, Mehr in 1966.
His group, which later changed its name to Iran Theatre Association, became very influential in the field, competing with other well-financed, state-sponsored theatre groups until it was closed down by the ...
Discovering Cyrus and the Idea of Iran: From the Cartoons of The 300 to the Craft of History
May 6 2014 - 18:30
Reza Zarghamee brings multiple perspectives and deep knowledge to his account of the life of Cyrus the Great. Born in London in 1978 to Iranian parents, Zarghamee grew up in Boston. His immersion in the ancient history of Iran started early: At the age of thirteen, he began studying Old Persian cuneiform at the urging of Professor Richard Frye, a founder of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University. Later, he took courses in Zoroastrianism and Manichaenism taught by another eminent Harvard scholar, Prods Oktor Skjaervø. He attended Columbia University, pursuing a double- ...
Diaspora Media: Failures, Accomplishments and Future Role
Apr 24 2014 - 18:30
Massoud Behnoud, a prominent Iranian journalist and writer, was born on 27 July 1947 in Tehran. He started his work as a journalist in 1964. During his long career he worked as an investigating journalist for different publications and founded more than 20 newspapers and magazines, none of which are currently in publication. Between 1971-79 he was the chief editor of the most influential and popular daily in Iran, "Ayandegan", that was shut down in 1979 on the orders of Ayatollah Khomeini and it's editor and senior staff were all imprisoned. During 1972-79 he also worked as a producer, writer ...
Theatre in Prison
Apr 17 2014 - 18:30
A brief historical overview of theatrical performances in prison, particularly in Iran. The presentation is based on an essay.
You can contact the Iranian Studies Program for a copy of the essay after the event has occurred.
Nasser Rahmaninejad, a foremost, celebrated Iranian artist started his career in theatre in 1959 Iran. In response to the authoritarian cultural policies and harsh censorship of the Shah’s regime, he founded his alternative, independent theatre group, Mehr in 1966.
His group, which later changed its name to Iran Theatre Association, became very influential in the field, ...
This Was a Town of Kindness Once: Hafez and the Poets of Shiraz
Apr 8 2014 - 18:30
Dick Davis is Professor Emeritus of Persian at Ohio State University, where he was chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from 2002 to 2012. He has written scholarly works on both English and Persian literature, as well as eight volumes of his own poetry. He has been the recipient of numerous academic and literary awards, including the Ingram Merrill and Heinemann awards for poetry, and a Guggenheim Fellowship; his publications include volumes of poetry and verse translation chosen as books of the year by The Sunday Times (UK) 1989; The Daily Telegraph (UK) 1989; The ...
Shahnama Illustrated Manuscripts in the Digital Age & The Idea of the Shahnama in Contemporary Arts
Apr 1 2014 - 18:30
Charles Melville is Professor of Persian History at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Pembroke College. He has a BA (Hons.) in Arabic and Persian from Cambridge (1972), an MA in Islamic History (SOAS, 1973) and a PhD on the Historical seismicity of Iran (Cambridge, 1978). His main research interests are in the history and historiography of Iran in the Mongol to Safavid periods (14th-17thcenturies), and the illustration of Persian manuscripts. Recent publications include:
“The illustration of history in Safavid manuscript painting”, in Colin P. Mitchell (ed.) New Perspectives on ...
Culture Wars and Dual Society in Iran
Mar 13 2014 - 18:30
Houchang Esfandiar Chehabi is a Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University. He has also taught at Harvard University, UCLA, and the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of Iranian Politics and Religions Modernism: The Liberation Movement of Iran under the Shah and Khomeini (1990); principal author of Distant Relations: Iran and Lebanon in the last 500 years (2006); co-editor, with Juan J. Linz, of Sultanistic Regimes (1998); co-editor, with Vanessa Martin, of Iran's Constitutional Revolution (2010); and co-editor, with Farhad Khosrokhavar and Clément Therme, ...
Bita Prize for Young Persian Artists: Dena Taherianfar
Mar 12 2014 - 19:00
For the past seven years, we have been giving an annual award, named the Bita Prize for Persian Letters. The winners have been some of the most prominent Iranian writers, poets, vocalists, and playwrights of our time—from Simin Behbahani and Mohammad Reza Shajarian (the first the poet laureate of the people and the second the country's most beloved vocalist), to Bahram Beyzaie (the eminent film-maker and playwright) and Mahshid Amirshahy (the acclaimed writer and translator). Beginning this year, with the generous support of Ms Bita Daryabari, we are launching a second award, this time ...
The Psychology of Dictatorship
Mar 11 2014 - 18:30
Fathali Moghaddam is Professor, Department of Psychology, and Director of The Conflict Resolution Program, Department of Government, Georgetown University. He is the Editor of ‘Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology’ (American Psychological Association).
He was educated from an early age in England, and worked for the United Nations and McGill University before joining Georgetown. He returned to Iran in 1979 and was researching there during the hostage taking crisis and the early years of the Iran- Iraq war. His most recent books include ‘The Psychology of Dictatorship’ (2013), ‘ ...
