Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 28, 2014 5:27 pm

The Persian Circle presents
انجمن سخن در دانشگاه شیکاگو تقدیم می کند

Zhang Zhan
PhD Candidate in Iranian Studies, Harvard University

Jews in Khotan: a historical perspective

Wednesday March 5, 5:00–6:30pm
Pick 222 / 5828 South University Avenue

In 2004, a Judaeo-Persian manuscript went into the possession of the National Library of China. This manuscript, almost intact, bears striking resemblance with the Judaeo-Persian letter discovered by Aurel Stein in 1901 during his first expedition in Khotan, Xinjiang, China.

In my talk, by comparing the orthography, linguistic features, and content of these two documents, I will demonstrate that one and the same Jewish merchant penned them. In view of Chinese and Khotanese documents excavated from Khotan, I will date these two letters the end of the eighth century.

This curious document is significant in many ways. It sheds light on the otherwise shrouded history of Central Asia during the eighth century and testified to the activities of Jewish merchant along the Silk Road. It is also the earliest document of considerable length in New Persian. For this fascinating document, I have more questions than answers, and would like to invite you to join me in tackling the puzzles it poses.

Zhang Zhan received his BS in chemistry from Peking University in 2001 and, as fate wills it, switched to the study of ancient languages thereafter. In 2006, he graduated from Peking University with an MA in Sanskrit and continued his journey in academia in Iranian Studies at Harvard University under Professor Skjaervo. In 2008-2009, he spent a school year in Iran, studying Persian. Based at the Enghelāb Square in Tehran, he traveled extensively in the Greater Iran, including Istanbul, Samarkand and Bukhara. He is now working on his dissertation on the secular documents in Khotanese and the history of Khotan during the 7-9th centuries. He expects to receive his PhD degree in 2015.

Discussion will be in English. Hope to see you there!

به امید دیدار
کامران

Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 24, 2014 8:10 am

The Persian Circle presents a screening of the film:

انجمن سخن در دانشگاه شیکاگو نشان می‌دهد:

A Chapter of Being / فصلی از هستی

Introduction and commentary by Saeed Ghahremani and Farrokh Asadi

Wed. Feb. 26, 5:00–6:30pm
Pick 222, 5828 S University Ave

A Chapter of Being is a film about the most prominent period in Parvin E‘tesami’s life, the period during which she composed her poetry. This documentary is the collaborative work of Pouran Saremi (writer and director) and Sepehr Tavakkoli (production designer and producer), two experienced and well-known artists based in Tehran. In February 2013, this film became the Winner of the best script from International Documentary Film Festival for its portrait of Parvin E’tesami, and Winner of the special Jury Prize for the best director from the Iranian Women Film Festival. The film will be introduced by Prof. Gharemani with a short discussion of Parvin and her works, and closing comments will be offered by Dr. Farrokh Asadi. Hope to see you there!

Length: 26 minutes
Langage: Persian with English subtitles

فیلم «فصلی از هستی» در باره برجسته ترین فصل زندگی خانم پروین اعتصامی است که در واقع زمان سرودن شعرهای اوست. این مستند 26 دقیقه‌یی (فارسی با زیر نویس انگلیسی) کار مشترک پوران صارمی (نویسنده و کارگردان) و سپهر توکلی (مجری طرح و تهیه کننده) است که هر دونفر از جمله هنرمندان و هنردوستان خوشنام و پر تجربه ساکن تهران هستند. این فیلم در فوریه 2013 برنده جایزه ویژه هیئت داوران از جشنواره پروین اعتصامی شد و دیپلم افتخار را برای ارائه بهترین پرتره پروین اعتصامی دریافت کرد.

به امید دیدار،
کامران

Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 20, 2014 10:27 am

Once again, I would like to thank Leili Adibfar, co-founder and Associate Editor of the Parsagon Review, for introducing us to the online journal of the Par[s]agon Project. For those who couldn’t make it, you can listen to the session by downloading the MP3 or using the player below.

Next week will be a film on the poetry of Parvin E’tesami; stay tuned for details!

Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 16, 2014 11:02 am

The Persian Circle presents
انجمن سخن در دانشگاه شیکاگو تقدیم می کند

Leili Adibfar / لیلی ادیب‌فر

Introducing the PARSAGON Project:

A project on promoting Persian literature and culture in the English-speaking world, and on completing a database of contemporary Iranian/Persian literary and cultural figures

معرفی پروژه پارساگون: پروژه ای برای شناساندن ادبیات و فرهنگ فارسی به مخاطب انگلیسی زبان، و تکمیل پایگاه داده ای از شخصیت های ادبی و فرهنگی معاصر ایرانی/فارسی

Wed. Feb. 19, 5:00–6:30pm
Pick 222, 5828 S University Ave

Born in Tehran, Leili Adibfar has a B.A. in English literature from the University of Shahid Beheshti in Tehran and an M.A. in English literature from Loyola University in Chicago. Her areas of interest and activity include: literary theory and criticism, literary translation, and creative writing. She is currently working on the Parsagon Project and translating a collection of articles on postcolonial studies assembled by John McLeod.

لیلی ادیب فر، متولد تهران، دارنده لیسانس ادبیات انگلیسی از دانشگاه شهید بهشتی در تهران و فوق لیسانس ادبیات انگلیسی از دانشگاه لویولا در شیکاگو است. زمینه های فعالیت و علاقه مندی اش: نظریه و نقد ادبی، ترجمه ادبی و نویسندگی خلاق است. در حال حاضر مشغول به کار روی پروژه پارساگون و ترجمه مجموعه مقالاتی درباره مطالعات پسااستعماری به گردآوری جان مک لوید (John McLeod) می باشد.

به امید دیدار،
کامران

Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 6, 2014 9:30 pm

Thanks to Ali for a fascinating talk yesterday! For those who couldn’t make it, here is the audio recording: download the MP3 or use the embedded player. I edited out the movie clips, but you can watch them using the YouTube links below:

Kandoo (کندو) – http://youtu.be/7QV_gVuS4lg?t=1h15m45s
Fereydoun Goleh on Kandoo – http://youtu.be/bftit2lMEtM?t=39m6s

Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 3, 2014 1:03 pm

Dear all:

For those of you who were not able to make it to Mr. Normandi’s talk about the Chicago Now Ruz Parade, you can listen to his presentation by downloading the MP3 or using the embedded media player. I edited out the video clips he played, but you can see them by following the YouTube links below:

Interview with Frank Lewis
Interview with Mateo Farzaneh
Interview with Abbas Alizadeh
Setting up for the parade

Comments (0)

By ksalib, February 2, 2014 9:25 am

The Persian Circle presents
انجمن سخن در دانشگاه شیکاگو تقدیم می کند

Ali Papoli-Yazdi
علی پاپلی‌یزدی

Modernity and the Demise of Manliness: Transformation of the “Luti” Archetype in Iranian Popular Movies 1958-1978
مدرنیته و افول مردانگی: تغییرات الگوی لات و جاهل در سینمای فارسی ۱۳۳۷ تا ۱۳۵۷

Wed. Feb. 5, 5:00–6:30pm
Pick 222, 5828 S University Ave

Ali Papoli-Yazdi has a B.A. in Iranian music and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Tehran. He is generally interested in the ways traditional thought and society in Iran respond to issues of modernity. His M.A. thesis is on the views of Sayyed Hossein Nasr’s critique of modern social thought. His Ph.D. dissertation, which he defended in September 2013, is about “manly” (mardâne or jâheli) cinema before the Islamic revolution.

علی پاپلی‌یزدی لیسانس موسیقی ایرانی از دانشگاه تهران و فوق لیسانس و دکتری جامعه شناسی از دانشگاه تهران دارد. علاقه‌ی کلی او چگونگی واکنش اندیشه و جامعه سنتی ایران در برابر جهان مدرن هست. موضوع پایاننامه‌ی فوق لیسانس او درباره‌ی منظر سید حسین نصر در نقد اندیشه‌ی اجتماعی مدرن بود. پایاننامه‌ی دکتری او در مورد سینمای مردانه‌ی (جاهلی) قبل از انقلاب بود که در سپتامبر 2013 از آن دفاع کرد.

به امید دیدار،
کامران