Course Catalog

Understanding Iran through Film and Literature

This five-week, (two and a half hour class) taught by SF State Professor of World & Comparative Literature, Persis Karim, gives an overview of Iranian culture through its long literary and artistic tradition and contemporary filmic representations. We will read poetry by classic Persian poets (in translation) by Rumi, Hafez, and Sa'adi, as well as contemporary poets such as Forough Farrokhzad and Sohrab Sepehri, as well short stories and excerpts from several novels. We will also view films by prominent Iranian filmmakers and discuss them in class. Week One Excerpts from the Shahnameh, the Iranian National Epic and poetry from Hafez, Rumi, Sa'adi Week Two Discussing the power of poetry and image; Iran's influence on the Muslim World. Week Three Discussing modern poetry: Nima Yushij, Forough Farrokhzad, and others. "The House is Black" film by Forough Farrokhzad Week Four Prose fiction and the modern moment. Sadeq Hedayat and others. Week Five The rise of Iranian cinema after the revolution; Kiarostami, Makhmalbaf and others.

This class is not available at this time.

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