List of Persian/Iranian Events for 2008-12-10

Women Studies Department at San Francisco State University Presents:



Women Studies Lecture Series Fall 2008: Scholarship & Activism on Women & Gender

WOMEN OF IRAN AFTER THE 1979 REVOLUTION
An Alternative Representation


A Lecture and
Photo Presentation
���������� by
Aida Dargahi


Wednesday, December 3

2:10 � 3:25 PM

Humanities Building 1st Floor

Room: HUMS 108
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco

Free Admission


Women�s lives and rights in Iran have received considerable attention in the West since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and yet the women of Iran have often been portrayed in a reductionist manner by Western media, centered primarily on the monolithic image of the veiled woman. However, what I have understood and experienced in Iran differs from dominant representations in the West. Women in Iran, while �veiled� in public spaces, maintain a volatile presence in sociopolitical domains of a very diverse and complex nation. In short, they are a powerful social force.

As a filmmaker and photographer I have always understood that in the so-called information age, the global circulation of images by the media has a powerful effect. The power of the image must not be underestimated.

�������������������� �����������������-Aida Dargahi

AIDA DARGAHI, MA, BFA

is an Iranian feminist documentary filmmaker/photograp her/essayist. Her 1991 documentary film, Arai, about the Khazak women in Iran is the winner of Kazakhstan�s National Film Award, as well as the winner of Iran�s 1993 Women�s Film Festival Award. She has worked as a filmmaker in Iran as well as the United States, and is currently completing a manuscript on a photo-essay about women in Iran. Dargahi holds a Master�s degree in Humanities from San Francisco State University. The only woman graduating in 1991, Dargahi received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from University of Tehran�s famous School of Dramatic Arts. Dargahi lives in San Francisco and travels frequently to Iran, documenting the lives of women on film and print.�



For more information about the lecture series contact:
Dr. MA Jaimes-Guerrero
Professor of Women Studies

San Francisco State University

(415)338-3146

On behalf of the Religion, Politics and Globalization Program (RPGP), the Institute of International Studies (IIS) and the Iranian Students Alliance for America (ISAA) it is our pleasure to invite you to attend a talk this upcoming Wednesday, December 10th at 4 PM--at UC Berkeley--in 223 Moses Hall, with Persis Karim, on the topic, "Shifting Identities: Muslims and Middle East Americans in the post-Bush Era."

In addition to providing a more detailed description of Persis Karim's talk on December 10th (copy-and-pasted below this email), we have provided some additional information on some of Persis Karim's recent literary works, at the following weblink:

http://www.persiskarim.com/

Please note that refreshments will be served. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. To RSVP please email either the IIS Program Research Assistant , Ian Tholen (igthole@berkeley.edu) or the IIS Events Coordinator, Jessica Owen (ojessie@berkeley.edu or 510-642-7747). We hope that you can accept our invitation and we look forward to hearing from (and seeing) you soon!

Best regards,

The Religion, Politics and Globalization Program (RPGP)
The Institute of International Studies (IIS)
University of California Berkeley
Ph. 510.642.7747
rpgp.berkeley.edu
globetrotter.berkeley.edu

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"Shifting Identities: Muslims and Middle East Americans in the post-Bush Era"
Persis Karim, Associate Professor, San Jose State University
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
4 p.m., 223 Moses Hall
Sponsored by the Religion, Politics and Globalization Program
Co-sponsored by the Iranian Students Alliance in America

While the events of September 11, 2001 brought terrorism to American soil, it also articulated a more pronounced dichotomy between the West and its Oriental Other--most dramatically defined in Islam. The result has been a heightened fear, suspicion and concern about Islam and Muslims, including U.S. Muslims. In her talk, Dr. Karim interrogates the ways that 9/11 and the Bush Administration's response to that fateful day have affected Muslim and Middle Eastern identities in the U.S. and challenged as well as galvanized communities of Middle Eastern heritage. Her most recent work on domestic Iranian, Afghan, and Arab diasporas and the cultures and contexts that define them, constitute she calls the new "Middle East Americans."

Join us at this monthly meeting of BAIAD:



Date: Wed, 12/10

Start time: 6:30 PM

End time: 9:00 PM

Place: IHOP Restaurant

Address: 5403 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95051-7202

Phone: (408) 996-3393 (IHOP’s number)

Phone2: (408) 857-2709 (Mehdi’s cell)




Special Guest:

Madison Nguyen a San Jose Council member discussing her recall situation



Agenda:

Open discussion on Obama's cabinet selection
Report on Santa Clara County Democratic Party's December meeting.

Calling for volunteers to phone bank for Madison Nguyen

What is next? Open discussion on what should be BAIAD’s focus during the next few months.