Ajam Media Collective
Literature
From Syndication to Society: Abdullah Tuqay and Central Asian Literature
The politics of language in the Russian and Soviet domains, focusing on Abdullah Tuqay’s fight to reform the Tatar language and oppose the linguistic imperialism in vogue in the early 20th century. This fight would have lasting implications for cultural production across the region. A guest post from “The Tuqay.” Continue reading
Ferdowsi’s Legacy: Examining Persian Nationalist Myths of the Shahnameh
A tribute to Ajam Media Collective’s name and inspiration, this post was written by Ajam’s editors, Alex Shams, Rustin Zarkar, and Beeta Baghoolizadeh. Photographs by Preethi Nallu originally published in Al Akhbar English, republished with author permission. Epic literature occupies a key role in formulating and maintaining cohesive national and cultural identities– elucidating the spirit … Continue reading
Persian Poetry in Los Angeles: Nostalgia VS Adaptation
This essay is based on a talk presented at Stanford University on February 21, 2012 by Majid Naficy. Los Angeles is sometimes called Irangeles, because more than half a million Iranians live there. Most of them have come to this city during or after the 1979 Revolution. They were either beneficiaries of the fallen monarchy … Continue reading
Afghan Diasporic Literature: A Refugee Narrative from the Heart of Urban Tehran
Part I of a series on Afghan refugees in Iran. Iran is a culturally heterogeneous society that has been shaped by waves of migration over many centuries. While much of the domestic political and academic rhetoric chooses to highlight Iran’s resistance to foreign influence, the invaluable contributions of migrant communities have often been ignored or … Continue reading
Post-Revolutionary Persian Fiction: Counter Discourses and Individualized Perspectives
Growing up in the diaspora, I have often attended obligatory dinner parties where family friends prove their “Iranianness” through poetry recitation, outdated political debate, and recollections of the good old days — as if to prove that three decades of life abroad has not damaged their natural Iranian sensibilities. Several of these self-declared savants often … Continue reading
“With time suspended, there is no beginning or end, only endless flight:” A new take on ‘Attar
The Conference of the Birds by the 12th century Sufi poet ‘Attar is hands down my favorite Persian epic poem. ‘Attar’s sweeping tale relates the story of a flock of birds who, under the guidance of the hoopoe, traverse seven valleys in their quest to find the Simurgh, their “true king” who resides on the … Continue reading
The Little Black Fish – Realism, Oppression, Revolution in Children's Literature
What is the purpose of children’s literature? Looking back to my childhood, I often think of what was read to me before dozing off in bed. Some stories integrated morality and ethics: be kind and generous to others, respect your parents, etc; some were fanciful and fantastic; while others existed solely for the purpose of … Continue reading
