Modern Iran: Literature, Media & Pop Culture

From the world-famous novels of Shahrnoush Parsipour to the subversive rap lyrics of Hichkas; from the Oscar-winning films of Asghar Farhadi to state-sponsored TV propaganda of the Islamic Republic – this course takes a wide-ranging approach to understanding contemporary Iranian culture and society. Through a broad selection of sources translated into English, students will familiarize themselves with recent historical events in Iran and become more acquainted with various aspects of Iranian culture. The chronological focus will be from the 1979 Iranian Revolution to the present and will be organized around a number of social and political themes, including corruption, authoritarianism, multiculturalism, race, social class, religion and gender relations. No proficiency in Persian (Farsi) is required to enroll; however a separate discussion will be offered for students with Persian proficiency. No prior knowledge of the Middle East needed to enroll.