Mohamad Tavakoli Targhi; Islam and the Contest of Faculties in Iran (2011)

Mohamad Tavakoli Targhi

Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi is Professor of History and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto and the chair of the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto-Mississauga. Since 2002 he has served as the Editor of Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, a Duke University Press journal, and has served on the editorial board of Iranian Studies, the Journal of the International Society for Iranian Studies.

His areas of specialization encompass Middle Eastern History, Modernity, Nationalism, Gender Studies, Orientalism, and Occidentalism. He is the author of two books, Refashioning Iran: Orientalism, Occidentalism and Nationalist Historiography (Palgrave, 2001) and Tajaddud-i Bumi [Vernacular Modernity] (in Persian, Nashr-i Tarikh, 2003). He has authored numerous articles: “The Homeless Texts of Persianate Modernity,” in Iran--Between Tradition and Modernity (Lexington Books, 2004); “Orientalist Studies and Its Amnesia,” in Antinomies of Modernity (Duke, 2002), “Eroticizing Europe,” in Society and Culture in Qajar Iran: (Mazda, 2002); “Women of the West Imagined,” in Identity Politics and Women (Westview Press, 1994); “From Patriotism to Matriotism: A Tropological Study of Iranian Nationalism, 1870-1909," International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies (2002), “Inventing Modernity, Borrowing Modernity,” Iran Nameh (2003).

Born and raised in the “navel of Tehran,” Iran, Professor Tavakoli is the recipient of two Outstanding Teacher awards from Illinois State University (1996 and 2001); a Research Initiative Award (1992); and visiting fellowships at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University (1998), the Center for Historical Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, 1992-93); and Harvard University (1991-92).

He has initiated numerous conferences and workshops on topical issues pertaining to the Middle East, and has encouraged the active involvement of student associations in the organization of scholarly events and community outreach programs. He holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in History from the University of Iowa, and a PhD in History from the University of Chicago.  (From Tavakoli's official website)

Today's Life and War (2008) by Gohar Dashti

Gohar Dashti

Gohar Dashti received her M.A in Photography from the Fine Art University of Tehran in 2005. She has developed a practice concerning social issues with particular references to history and culture in modern society.

She creates artwork using different media such as photography and video. She has participated in several art residencies and scholarships such as DAAD award (2009-2011); Visiting Arts (1mile2 project), Bradford –London, UK (2009) and International Arts & Artists (Art Bridge), Washington DC, USA (2008).

She has held various exhibitions around the world, being shown in many festivals and biennales. Her works are in many collections including Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH), Houston (US) and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City (US). (From Gohar Dashti's official website)

Cut people/Amir Naderi (doc., 2006) by Alberto Momo

Alberto Momo

Amir Naderi (Persian: امیر نادری‎, born 15 August 1946 in Abadan) is a notable Iranian film director, screenwriter and one of the most influential figures of 20th-century Iranian cinema. Mr Naderi's latest feature film CUT starring Hidetoshi Nishijima and Takako Tokiwa was released in Japan in 2011 and in Korea in 2012.

Naderi developed his knowledge of cinema by watching films at the theater where he worked as a boy, reading film criticism, and making relationships with leading film critics. He began his career with still photography for some notable Iranian features. In the 1970s, Naderi turned to directing, and made some of the most important features of the New Iranian Cinema. In 1971, his directorial debut, Goodbye Friend was released in Iran. Mr. Naderi first came into the international spotlight with films that are now known as cinema classics, The Runner (1985), and Water, Wind, Dust (1989). The Runner is considered by many critics to be one of the most influential films of the past quarter century. After a number of his films were banned by the Iranian government, Mr. Naderi left the country. Expatriating to New York, Mr. Naderi continued to produce new work. He was named a Rockefeller Film and Video fellow in 1997, and has served as an artist in residence and instructor at Columbia University, the University of Las Vegas, and New York's School of Visual Arts. His U.S. films have premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center/MOMA's New Films New Director's series, the Venice, Cannes, Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals. His U.S. feature, Sound Barrier (2005) won the prestigious Roberto Rossellini Prize at the Rome Film Festival. Naderi's latest feature film CUT was made in Japan in Japanese language and stars Hidetoshi Nishijima and Takako Tokiwa. The film laments the collapse of cinema through the gripping tale of a young filmmaker giving it all to make his next movie.

Amir Naderi continues to produce works of new generation of film directors such as Andrei Severny's Condition (2011), Naghmeh Shirkhan's Hamsayeh (2010) and Ry Russo-Young's Orphans (2007).

CUT PEOPLE : AMIR NADERI (1)

CUT PEOPLE : AMIR NADERI (2)

CUT PEOPLE : AMIR NADERI (3)

CUT PEOPLE : AMIR NADERI (4)

 

Cut people/Amir Naderi (doc., 2006) by Alberto Momo

Eric Clapton's Layla; Nizami's Layla; Majnun's Layla

Eric Clapton

"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by their blues rock band Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (December 1970). It is considered one of rock music's definitive love songs, featuring an unmistakable guitar figure played by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, and a piano coda that comprises the second half of the song. Its famously contrasting movements were composed separately by Clapton and Gordon.

Inspired by Clapton's then unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison, "Layla" was unsuccessful on its initial release. The song has since experienced great critical and popular acclaim, and is often hailed as being among the greatest rock songs of all time. Two versions have achieved chart success, the first in 1972 and the second twenty years later as an acoustic "Unplugged" performance. In 2004 it was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and the acoustic version won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

Nizami Ganjavi

The title, "Layla," was inspired by The Story of Layla / Layla and Majnun (ليلى و مجنون), by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi of the Ganja (present day Azerbaijan) Seljuq empire. It is based on the true story of a young man called Qays ibn al-Mulawwah (Arabic: قيس بن الملوح‎) from the northern Arabian Peninsula, in the Umayyad Caliphate during the 7th century. When he wrote "Layla," Clapton had been told the story by his friend Ian Dallas, who was in the process of converting to Islam. Nizami's tale, about a moon princess who was married off by her father to someone other than the one who was desperately in love with her, resulting in Majnun's madness (A name, مجنون, which translates to "madman" in Arabic), struck a deep chord with Clapton. (From Wikipedia)

"Rashid Khan"

Shojaoddoleh's Manor House in Ghoochan

"Rashid Khan" is an Iranian folk song from Ghoochan, located in northeast of Khorasn, Iran. In Ghoochan, the song is known as "Ghoochan Kharabeh" or "Ruined Ghoochan", but in the rest of Iran, it is usually referred to as "Rashid Khan." Here are two different performances of the song, Pari Zangeneh's "Rashid Khan" and a modern instrumental adaptation of the Khorasani classic by Shirin Delsooz.

Pari Zangeneh

Pari Zangeneh, an acclaimed Persian female vocalist, began her study of music in Iran at a very early age before continuing her studies in Italy, Germany, and Austria. Renowned for her unique opera-style music, Zangeneh’s beautiful music is both charming and soothing. Her musical portfolio is varied and complex. She has been given as much credit for generating interest in Persian folk music as for her solo performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Florida Symphonic Orchestra. Her voice has been heard around the globe: at the Palazzo Barbarini in Rome; the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.; Lincoln Center in NYC; Herbst Theatre in San Francisco; Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Salmino, Paris; Hercules Hall, Munich; Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles; to name but a few. She is the recipient of many international awards for her magnificent performances, including the First Medal of Work, the International Gold Medal for Voice, and the title of Ambassador of Good Will.

In 1971, unfortunately, Ms. Zangeneh lost her eyesight in an automobile accident. This incident did not diminish her enthusiasm and passion for life, nor her pursuit of excellence. In addition to her musical performances she has studied and researched the folk music of many countries, and has preserved a wealth of melodious songs and stories. She has authored several books all to critical acclaim. All her writings are available in Braille. (From Encyclopædia Iranica)

Shirin Delsooz

Shirin Delsooz is a Persian-Canadian musician based in Montreal whose influences range from alternative to traditional music. Her latest EP features her singing, playing mandolin and guitar, and also features musicians she met in the Irish and Quebecois traditional music scene.Shirin combines her Persian heritage and inspirations ranging from Celtic, Quebecois and Bluegrass genres into her songs.

A recent trip to Iran opened her eyes to a genre of Persian gypsy music. Her mind has been made since, her next music project will incorporate their charming accordians and upbeat percussive drums. (From CBC)