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April 28, 2009
Christine Dykgraaf, NES Instructor Receives College-Wide Teaching Award
http://nes.web.arizona.edu/NES_News.html
April 27, 2009
The 2008-2009 Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching of Lower-Division Courses was given to our own Christine Dykgraaf! She will be honored at the Mary 15, 2 p.m., Commencement Recognition Ceremony at the Tucson Convention Center.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time in the Department of Near Eastern Studies has born witness to the effort, time and care Christine Dykgraaf takes in her instructional and advising duties. Shortly after joining the department in 2003, Christine assumed the duties of Undergraduate Advisor, and Lecturer in TRAD 101, Middle Eastern Humanities. This core UA General Education course sees enrollments of five to seven hundred students in an academic year, with Christine supervising 10 to 16 teaching assistants in a given semester. What may not be apparent to those not directly involved, however, is the tremendous amount of energy and creativity required to keep the curriculum fresh, and original. Avoiding problems such as plagiarism and the tendency of many students to share tests, papers and other course requirements is not an easy task. What Christine has brought to her position has been an ongoing originality and positive enthusiasm that to this insider appears super-human, especially given the grueling rigor of grading, TA supervision, and curricular oversight required.
Congratulations from your friends and admirers in the Department and College!
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Christine was my department advisor at the University of Arizona and she was an excellent, supportive help to me, as was everyone else in that department who I had for teachers. Congratulations, Christine for all of your hard work!
April 28, 2009
Iran's Sadrameli wins best director prize at Singapore Film Fest
http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1304.html
April 27, 2009
TEHRAN - Iranian filmmaker, Rasoul Sadrameli won the best director prize at the 22nd Singapore Film Festival for his "Every Night, Loneliness."
Palestine's Leila's Birthday" by Rachid Masharaoui was awarded the festival's top prize for the best Asian feature film.
The festival hosted 193 films from 34 countries.
The event was closed by Turkish playwright and director Semih Kaplanoglu's "Milk".
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Congratulations to this Isfahani native for his contribution to Iranian film!
April 24, 2009
Traditional Persian Clothing for Men and Women
http://www.persianmirror.com/culture/fashion/fashion.cfm#trad
Traditional Persian Clothing for Men and Women
April 24, 2009
This link has some really good information on the history of clothing and fashions worn by Persians throughout the centuries. Just when you thought that Persian fashion was only about jilbabs - it isn't. Traditional clothing is colorful, comfortable, and beautiful in this Near Eastern nation. An excerpt:
The traditional Bakhtiari dress for women consists of a long colorful skirt with many layers, and an additional apron-like material, which is thinner and brighter. Bakhtiari women wear long scarves and wraps which can contain ornaments and decorations sewn in from faux coins to hand-sewn designs. Separate shirts are worn at the top with matching vests or shawls. Bakhtiari clothes are versatile and protect the people from weather and extreme conditions. Another form of the Bakhtiari dress is shown here on the left on this 1974, two rial stamp. The stamp collection was issued to commemorate traditional Iranian clothes.
By far the most elaborate and diverse form of traditional dress comes from the many Kurds who inhabit several regions of Iran. Since the Kurds live in different regions, their clothes also tend to vary. There are the Kurds from Sanandaj, depicted in the picture on the far right. There are also the kurds from Kermanshah. A sample outfit is shown on the near right photo. Kuridsh outfits tend to have headcoverings which are larger and more elaborate than other costumes. Both men and women commonly have belts which are very wide and tightly wrapped around the waist over the clothes to give the outfit some shape. Shirts, skirts, and trousers for both men and women tend to be very baggy and over-sized. Kurdish women tend to wear many coins and jewels which dangle on their forehead and are attached to a scarf or shawl.
April 21, 2009
Saadi Day Commemorated in Shiraz
http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1230.html
Saadi Day Commemorated in Shiraz
April 21, 2009
Report by Islamic Republic News Agency; Photos by Sajad Avarand, ISNA
The Saadi Day is being commemorated in Shiraz province on Tuesday. Several poets, writers, Shiraz official authorities and Saadi admirers will attend the ceremony. On this day visiting Saadi's mausoleum is free of charge for all visitors.
Meanwhile, some two new books titled "The Study of Saadi" and "The bibliography of Saadi's Gulistan" will be unveiled today.
Sheikh Muslihu'd-Din, known as Saadi, was descended from Imam Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed. Saadi's father apparently died when he was a boy.
Although Saadi was born and died in Shiraz province. During his life, he traveled extensively.
He is said to have traveled for thirty years throughout the Islamic world.
Historians often divide his life into three parts.
His first twenty-five years were spent studying in various countries, going to university at Baghdad.
During the next thirty years he traveled widely, east to India and as far west as Syria.
He made his pilgrimage to Mecca fourteen times. Finally, Saadi returned to Shiraz where he devoted himself to writing and to teaching.
Saadi was a disciple of the Sufi master Sheikh Shahabud-Din Sahrawardi.
His best known works are Bustan "The Orchard" completed in 1257 and Gulistan "The Rose Garden" in 1258.
Bustan is entirely in verse (epic meter) and consists of stories aptly illustrating the standard virtues recommended to Muslims (justice, liberality, modesty, contentment) as well as of reflections on the behavior of dervishes and their ecstatic practices.
Gulistan is mainly in prose and contains stories and personal anecdotes.
The text is interspersed with a variety of short poems, containing aphorisms, advice, and humorous reflections.
Saadi demonstrates a profound awareness of the absurdity of human existence. The fate of those who depend on the changeable moods of kings is contrasted with the freedom of the dervishes.
Saadi is also remembered as a great panegyrist and lyricist, the author of a number of masterly general odes portraying human experience and also of particular odes such as the lament on the fall of Baghdad after the Mongol invasion in 1258.
His lyrics are to be found in Ghazaliyat "Lyrics" and his odes in Qasa'id "Odes".
He is also known for a number of works in Arabic. The peculiar blend of human kindness and cynicism, humor, and resignation displayed in Saadi's works, together with a tendency to avoid the hard dilemma, make him, to many, the most typical and loveable writer in the world of Iranian culture.
Saadi is probably the first Persian poet to have been translated into European languages.
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I remember translating some of Saadi's poetry in my Persian language class at the University of Arizona. Learning the language through cultural aspects was definitely the most fun. Shortly after graduating, I read a translation of the Bustan which was a delight to read. Needless to say, the reading of Persian poetry and cultural wisdom has been very therapeutic for me and at least once a day I devote some time to reading Persian poetry.
April 14, 2009
Persian Poetry Night Featuring Parviz Nezami: April 15 in New York
http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1139.html
Persian Poetry Night Featuring Parviz Nezami: April 15 in New York
April 14, 2009
6 - 8 pm / $6 suggested donation / Bowery Poetry Club - 308 Bowery (Between Houston and Bleecker) F train to 2nd Ave, 6 to Bleecker.
Join us this Wednesday for PAF's April edition of Shab-e She'r! Our featured reader will be Parviz Nezami, a civil engineer and graduate of the University of Manchester England. He is a former professor of the National University of Iran and has been involved in major civil engineering projects for the past forty years in Iran, Canada and United States. For the past 8 years since his retirement, Mr. Nezami has devoted his life to promoting and introducing Iran's rich cultural heritage. He has organized monthly nights of poetry in Long Island, each night devoted to honoring Iran's great poets, discussion of Persian literacy history, arts and music. Mr. Nezami also travels extensively to deliver speeches on Iran's literature and history at various centers and colleges. Mr. Nezami has published a book on the history of Persian literature.
Please note that this edition of Shab-e She'r will mostly be conducted in Farsi.
Be sure to also bring your own work or favorite Iranian poetry to read during the open mic portion of the event!
For more information, visit PAF online at www.persianartsfestival.org.
ABOUT PERSIAN ARTS FESTIVAL
Persian Arts Festival, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the magnificence and diversity of Persian art and culture through its voices, artists and visionaries. PAF provides a truly unique opportunity for local and global communities to gather and explore one of the world's most ancient and rich civilizations. Persian Arts Festival is a sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). More information at www.persianartsfestival.org.
April 6, 2009
Iranians Welcome Museums During Nowroz
http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1041.html
April 4, 2009
Iranians welcome museums during Noroz
TEHRAN, April 3 -- Iran's museums has a 25 percent increase in number of visitors during the first ten days of the Norouz holiday, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) official Mohammad Hossein Farahani announced.
Up to now, about 10 million tourists paid visits to museums out of which one million tourists visited museums located in Khorasan Razavi Province, Farahani stated on March 30 to an MNA reporter in Mashhad.
The Iranian New Year holiday known as the Norouz holiday runs from March 21 to April 1 annually.
He pointed out to the importance of museums in promoting the tourism industry said that tourism and visiting museums are interrelated. Also, tourists are attracted to the museums in the cities they visit since the museums are a part of each place's identity.
About 300 museums are affiliated to the CHTHO, each one featuring art, archeology and anthropology. CHTHO plans to establish 273 museums as ecomuseums and site museums in near future, he announced.
He said that CHTHO attempts to apply international standards for different aspects, including light and structure of Iranian museums.
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I have always loved musuems of any kind, whether they are art, cultural, or house museums. It is refreshing news to hear of Iranian museums receiving an increased amount of tourists during the Nowroz holiday. Iran is a nation rich in ancient culture and artistic heritage and is meant to be appreciated by everyone around the world.
April 3, 2009
Festival of the Silk Road, San Jose, California
http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1022.html
Festival of the Silk Road, San Jose, California
April 3, 2009
This cultural event celebrates dance, music, and poetry native to Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India, Azerbijan, and China. Buy your tickets so yous can join in the cultural fun at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Theatre at 1700 Alum Rock Ave. In San Jose. The day of the event is May 2, 2009. Tickets are $25.00 each and can be ordered by calling: 1-800-383-3006.