List of Persian/Iranian Events for 2008-04-26

"Iran Today" Conference (April 26th 2008), Rutgers University, New Jersey



On Saturday April 26, 2008 (from 10am to 6pm), the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University, will be hosting a conference on the topic of "Iran Today" in the Busch Student Center Multipurpose Room, at 604 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854-8002. The lecture sessions of the conference are free and open to the public, but you are strongly encouraged to register in advance. There will also be a dinner and a concert in the evening. For a detailed program, directions, and other information, please go to http://mideast.rutgers.edu/EVENTS/events-index.html



The conference will consist of four sessions on the following topics: Iranian Identity, Iranian Visual and Dramatic Arts, Iranian Society and Human Rights, and Iran in the Middle East.



The speakers include some of the most prominent names in the field of Iranian Studies.



Ahmad Ashraf (Columbia University)

Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet (University of Pennsylvania)

Shouleh Vatanabadi (New York University)

Peter Chelkowski (New York University)

Mahmood Karimi Hakak (Siena College)

Majid Mohammadi (Princeton University)

Mehrangiz Kar (Wellesley College)

Farhad Khosrokhavar (Ecole des Hautes en Sciences Sociales, Paris)

Hamid Zangeneh (Widener University)

Trita Parsi (National Iranian American Council)



The conference will be followed by a dinner and cultural event, including a performance by Iranian musicians, " The Chakavak Ensemble" . There is the opportunity to reserve a place for the dinner and cultural performance in advance, but the cultural performance can also be attended as a separate event through tickets at the door.



This event is sponsored by the US Dept of Education through a Title VIa UISFL grant.

Sholeh Wolpe, Iranian born poet and literary translator, reads from her translations of Forugh Farrokhzad poems, Sin-- Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad, as well as from her own newly released collection of poems, Rooftops of Tehran.

"Sholeh Wolpe’s Rooftops of Tehran is that truly rare event: an important book of poetry. Brushing against the grain of Persian-Islamic culture, she sings a deep affection for what she ruffles. Her righteous aversion to male oppression is as broad as the span from Tehran to LA, as deep as a wise woman’s heart. This is a powerful, elegant book."



—Richard Katrovas, author of The Year of Smashing Bricks and Prague Winters



“Wolpe’s translations make Farrokhzad’s poetry burst into life in English. Wolpé is the best imaginable guide to this gifted Iranian woman’s poetic universe.”

–Nasrin Rahimieh, Director of Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies at UCI



This is the first time Forugh Farrokhzad's poems are being presented to the public at this prestigeous annual festival, and this year Sholeh is the only Iranian poet presenting on the poetry stage.

Plan on attending this event to show your support.

For more information on Sholeh Wolpe please visit:

www.sholehwolpe.com



Place: Los Angeles Festival of Books

UCLA

Poetry Stage



Time: 10:30 AM sharp

Allow at least 30 minutes for parking and walking to the poetry stage area

Come earlier and enjoy the festival before and after Sholeh Wolpe's reading.



For further information on the festival visit:

http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/

Maz Jobrani with Kirk Fox and Ali Mafi, 8pm and 10 pm



Saturday, April 26, 2008



Punch Line Comedy Club - San Francisco



Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm

Doors: 9:00 pm | Show: 10:00 pm





444 Battery Street



San Francisco, CA 94111



Phone 415.397.4337