Fatemeh Keshavarz
Encyclopedia
Fatemeh Keshavarz (born 1952 in Shiraz
, Iran
) is an Iranian academic, writer and literary figure. She is a professor of Persian Language
and Comparative Literature and chair of the department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Washington University in St. Louis
.
Fatemeh Keshavarz holds a B.A.
(1976) in Persian Language and Literature from Shiraz University
, and an M.A.
(1981) and a PhD
(1985) in Near Eastern Studies from School of Oriental and African Studies
, University of London
.
Professor Keshavarz has taught at Washington University since 1990. She has served as Director of the Graduate Program in Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies, Director of the Center for the Study of Islamic Societies and Civilizations, and President of the Association of Women Faculty. She currently chairs the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures.
Among Keshavarz's works is her book Jasmine and Stars: Reading more than Lolita in Tehran. The book offers ideas in contrast to Azar Nafisi
's Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
(Random House, 2003) that explores the relationship between literature and society in the post-revolutionary Iran. Keshavarz believes that Nafisi's book presents "many damaging misrepresentations" of Iran and its people, relying more on stereotypes and easy comparisons than on an accurate portrayal of the country and its people. On April 2, 2008, the radio program Speaking of Faith: The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi, on which Fatemeh Keshavarz was a featured guest in 2007 for American Public Media
, was granted a Peabody Award
. Peabody Award is considered electronic media's most coveted trophy in the USA.
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) is an Iranian academic, writer and literary figure. She is a professor of Persian Language
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
and Comparative Literature and chair of the department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
.
Fatemeh Keshavarz holds a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1976) in Persian Language and Literature from Shiraz University
Shiraz University
Shiraz University , formerly known as Pahlavi University, is a public university located in Shiraz, Iran. It is one of the major universities of Iran....
, and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(1981) and a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(1985) in Near Eastern Studies from School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Professor Keshavarz has taught at Washington University since 1990. She has served as Director of the Graduate Program in Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies, Director of the Center for the Study of Islamic Societies and Civilizations, and President of the Association of Women Faculty. She currently chairs the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures.
Among Keshavarz's works is her book Jasmine and Stars: Reading more than Lolita in Tehran. The book offers ideas in contrast to Azar Nafisi
Azar Nafisi
Azar Nafisi, born ca. 1947, is an Iranian academic and bestselling writer who has resided in the United States since 1997 when she emigrated from Iran. Her field is English language literature....
's Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books is a book by Iranian author and professor Azar Nafisi.Published in 2003, it has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over one hundred weeks and has been translated into thirty-two languages....
(Random House, 2003) that explores the relationship between literature and society in the post-revolutionary Iran. Keshavarz believes that Nafisi's book presents "many damaging misrepresentations" of Iran and its people, relying more on stereotypes and easy comparisons than on an accurate portrayal of the country and its people. On April 2, 2008, the radio program Speaking of Faith: The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi, on which Fatemeh Keshavarz was a featured guest in 2007 for American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
, was granted a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
. Peabody Award is considered electronic media's most coveted trophy in the USA.
Books
- Fatemeh Keshavarz, Talashi dar Aghaz (An Effort at the Beginning), collection of poems (Shiraz University Press, Shiraz, 1976).
- Fatameh Keshavarz, A Descriptive and Analytical Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Library of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine (The Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London, 1986) — Winner of the Dunne & Wilson Award. ISBN 0854840524
- Fatemeh Keshavarz, Reading Mystical Lyric: The Case of Jalal al-Din Rumi, Studies in Comparative Religion (University of North Carolina Press, Columbia, S.C., 1998). ISBN 1570035849
- Fatemeh Keshavarz, Recite in the Name of the Red Rose: Poetic Sacred Making in Twentieth-century Iran, Studies in Comparative Religion (University of North Carolina Press, Columbia, S.C., 2006). ISBN 1570036225
- Fatemeh Keshavarz, Jasmine and Stars: Reading more than Lolita in Tehran (University of North Carolina Press, Columbia, S.C., 2007). ISBN 0807831093
Awards
- Dunne & Wilson Award for the PhD Thesis selected as "a work of distinction" at University of London (1986).
- Association of Women Faculty Appreciation Award (2000).
- Faculty Mentoring Award (2000-2001).
External links
- Website of Professor Fatemeh Keshavarz-Karamustafa (Washington University in St. Louis).
- Speaking of Faith: The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi, with Krista Tippet, American Public Media, December 13, 2007:
— Program's Main Page
— Program Particulars
— Listen Now (RealAudio, 53 min)
— Download (mp3, 53 min)
— Video Performance: The Musicality of Rumi
See also
- List of notable Iranian women