Paradise Lost

As a final presentation for my Persian language course, I recently made a PowerPoint about Iran's diverse geography and landscape. I used several images from one of my favorite photography books-- Paradise Lost: Persia from Above by Georg Gerster. Between 1976 and 1978 (right before the Islamic revolution) Gerster was granted rare permission from Queen Farah Pahlavi to record the landscapes and cities of Persia through aerial photography. My favorite photos are those of old citadels and oases irrigated through qanats (see the last image). The title suggests that 'paradise' is lost because since 1979 no one has been able to document Iran's geography this thoroughly-- in fact, the only aerial imagery we see today from Iran are poor-quality photos of nuclear facilities. Several of Gerster's images also document many places that have been destroyed by earthquakes since the 70s-- making Gerster's project even more valuable. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Iranian history, agriculture, and art.

The word 'paradise' is derived from the the ancient Iranian word--'paridayda' in Old Persian (rendered 'parádeisos' in Ancient Greek) which was meant to describe an oasis or cultivated area. The ability to channel water into the deserts was indeed one of the most transformative engineering feats of ancient Iranians and was deemed sacred. The ancient gardens of Cyrus the Great were therefore called 'paridayda'. 

Graphic Art & Posters

Iran has produced many talented graphic designers and typographers in recent years. Back in September, the New York Times featured an article on some of the most prominent artists in this field including--Homa Delvaray and Iman Raad. Iranian graphic designers are incredibly innovative with the Farsi script--here is a sampling of some contemporary posters, book covers, and experiments in typography: 

Love

For more international graphic art:  Rene Wanner's Website

Latest Reads

The fall semester is more than half way over and I can't believe how much I've read since starting classes in August. When people ask me what I've been up to, my usual answers are either 'translating' or 'reading'. Aside from a couple of Zoroastrian texts, most of my readings are Middle Eastern/Central Asian ethnographies or about Islam. Here's the full list! :

Orientalism (Said)

The Ethical Soundscape: Cassette Sermons and Islamic Counterpublics (Hirschkind)

Arab Women in the Field: Studying your own Society (ed. Altorki)

Islam in Post-Soviet Uzbekistan: The Morality of Experience (Rasanayagam)

Everyday Islam in Post-Soviet Central Asia (Louw)

Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought: Texts and Contexts from al-Banna to Bin Laden (ed. Euben)

Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History (Barfield)

Bartered Brides: Politics, Gender and Marriage in an Afghan Tribal Society (Tapper)

Before Taliban : Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad (Edwards)

Local Politics in Afghanistan: A Century of Intervention in Social Order (ed. Schetter)

The Politics of Muslim Cultural Reform: Jadidism in Central Asia (Khalid)

The New Woman in Uzbekistan: Islam, Modernity, and Unveiling Under Communism (Kamp)

Veiled Empire: Gender and Power in Stalinist Central Asia (Northrop)

Living Islam: Women, Religion, and the Politicization of Culture in Turkey (Saktanber)

The New Crusade: Constructing the Muslim Enemy (ed. Qureshi)

Select Counsels of the Ancient Sages, also known as 'The Book of Counsel of Zartosht' (Middle Persian)

The Bundahishn ("Creation"), or Knowledge from the Zand (Middle Persian)

Portrait of a Painter: 15th century, 'Persian Painting on Facebook'

I think one of the tricks to keep your self motivated in graduate school is finding inspiration --things that get you excited and make you feel connected to the field. I always find inspiration in art and art history, so here are a couple of my favorite sites:

Facebook: Persian Painting (great collection of miniatures)...thanks to my mom for finding this one!

https://www.facebook.com/persian.paintings?fref=ts

Facebook: Cult of the Ancient Gods (lots of ancient Persian art from Fars Province)

https://www.facebook.com/cultoftheancientGods?fref=ts

Tumblr: That Bohemian Girl (a beautiful style/fashion blog with Orientalist flare) 

http://thatbohemiangirl.tumblr.com/

Homa Delvaray (graphic designer from Iran)

http://www.homadelvaray.com/

Qajar Tile from 'Persian Painting on Facebook'

Autumn in Iran

Shabaviz Publishing Company - Iran

Shabaviz Publishing, based in Tehran, is one of the most amazing children's book companies that I've ever encountered.  The artistic quality of their publications is phenomenal and frequently the recipient of many international book awards. Nearly all of Shabaviz's books are available for reading on the International Children's Digital Library website, where readers can zoom-in on the text of each page. I've read a few of their books with my Persian class at IU and with the aid of a dictionary, any student of Farsi can work through the texts. It's a great resource for learning idiomatic phrases and colloquial styles of narration. Here are a few of my favorite book covers to give you a sense of their creative spirit.

Blossoms

Shabaviz Covers

Guest House مهمان خانه

This evening I randomly opened to page 109 of the book, The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks, which features one of Rumi's most celebrated poems titled: The Guest House. It's a short poem, but its message is significant-- embrace all experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant, as a guide from beyond.

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond. 

Color Through Light

Stained Glass from Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Shiraz) 

& Khaneh Tabatabaei-ha (Kashan)