On February 22, 2021, the Middle East Center was proud to host Fatemeh Shams for a virtual launch of her book, A Revolution in Rhyme: Poetic Co-Option Under the Islamic Republic. She was joined by Jocelyn Sharlet and Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak for a panel conversation, moderated by Paul Cobb. See below for a description of the event, as well as the event recording.
Event Description
A Revolution in Rhyme: Poetic Co-option under the Islamic Republic offers, for the first time, an original, timely examination of the pivotal role poetry plays in policy, power and political legitimacy in modern-day Iran. Through a compelling chronological and thematic framework, Shams presents fresh insights into the emerging lexicon of coercion and unrest in the modern Persian canon. Analysis of the lives and work of ten key poets traces the evolution of the Islamic Republic, from the 1979 Revolution, through to the Iran-Iraq War, the death of a leader and the rise of internal conflicts. Ancient forms jostle against didactic ideologies, exposing the complex relationship between poetry, patronage and literary production in authoritarian regimes, shedding light on a crucial area of discourse that has been hitherto overlooked.
For those unable to attend, CLICK HERE FOR EVENT RECORDING.