Rose Theatre to host open discussion on 'Persepolis'
Author Marjane Satrapi will lead forum on Iran's past and present
By: Jared Hudson
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: News
Marjane Satrapi, author of the popular graphic novel and autobiographical text Persepolis, will discuss her experiences in Iran with students and faculty tonight at the Michael D. Rose Theatre.
The event, titled "Lifting the Veil on Iran," will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by discussion at 6:45 p.m.
Satrapi, along with author Danny Postel and U of M music professor Lily Afshar, will tell about recent changes in Iranian culture and the overthrow of then-ruler Mohammed Reza Shah's regime during the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
The graphic novel Persepolis follows Satrapi as she lives through the violence of the revolution and the culture changes. The novel is widely used in literature, philosophy and history classes this semester.
Afshar, who will show selected photos of Iran's social scene, said most Americans do not understand the way Iranian people view the world, especially the western world.
"Most people don't know what is actually going on over there every day," she said. "I think that by pointing out the truths of the book, it will help everyone grasp what it is like living there."
Afshar, now a classical guitarist, was born in Iran and lived through some of Shah's reign in the mid-1970s. The time was one of discontent, when the poor were getting poorer and the rich were getting richer, she said.
When she returned to Iran to play a concert recently, the country had changed, partly because of the Islamic Revolution, she said.
"(Some) Iranians flock to concerts such as mine and are really into it, while other Iranians are protesting the election down the road," she said. "It can be a confusing place for those who've never been."
Iraqi native and U of M alumnus Isam Showli said that he had watched the changes in the neighboring country from across the border.
"There is a lot more religion involved in the culture there now," he said. "Before the (Islamic) Revolution, Iranians were able to casually walk down the street, just like you and me. But now they can't show their hair or any skin on their arms or legs. There are more restrictions on everything they can expose outside the house."
The event, titled "Lifting the Veil on Iran," will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by discussion at 6:45 p.m.
Satrapi, along with author Danny Postel and U of M music professor Lily Afshar, will tell about recent changes in Iranian culture and the overthrow of then-ruler Mohammed Reza Shah's regime during the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
The graphic novel Persepolis follows Satrapi as she lives through the violence of the revolution and the culture changes. The novel is widely used in literature, philosophy and history classes this semester.
Afshar, who will show selected photos of Iran's social scene, said most Americans do not understand the way Iranian people view the world, especially the western world.
"Most people don't know what is actually going on over there every day," she said. "I think that by pointing out the truths of the book, it will help everyone grasp what it is like living there."
Afshar, now a classical guitarist, was born in Iran and lived through some of Shah's reign in the mid-1970s. The time was one of discontent, when the poor were getting poorer and the rich were getting richer, she said.
When she returned to Iran to play a concert recently, the country had changed, partly because of the Islamic Revolution, she said.
"(Some) Iranians flock to concerts such as mine and are really into it, while other Iranians are protesting the election down the road," she said. "It can be a confusing place for those who've never been."
Iraqi native and U of M alumnus Isam Showli said that he had watched the changes in the neighboring country from across the border.
"There is a lot more religion involved in the culture there now," he said. "Before the (Islamic) Revolution, Iranians were able to casually walk down the street, just like you and me. But now they can't show their hair or any skin on their arms or legs. There are more restrictions on everything they can expose outside the house."