Dr. Michelle Quay is a lecturer in Persian who also teaches the Persian language classes at Brown. She created this course to examine and understand Iranian culture specifically through the lens of art, including film, literature, visual art, and more. The class is not focused on politics or history, but those topics will naturally emerge as context to understand the works of art.
The content may feel especially relevant in the current situation in Iran, as protests, mass movements, and the art they generate have become a daily topic in international news. Dr. Quay plans to cover art, music, and literature produced as recent as the past several months, providing cultural context to a global situation. This will be part of an entire unit covering protest movements and art in Iranian history, contextualizing what she calls a "100 year struggle for freedom".Â
The class will study Persian works in translation, and Dr. Quay says that it's specifically designed for students with little or no background in Middle Eastern culture or languages. She wants to take the students "beyond the headlines" and geopolitical stereotypes about Iran that we may have seen, and into the life and culture of the people who live there. To support students who do speak the Persian language, she will also offer a separate Persian discussion, which would cover half of the class material in Persian instead of English. Also, since Iran also has one of the world's most vibrant and active cinema scenes, Dr. Quay emphasizes that the course program will include many films.
If you are at all interested in Persian, Iran, or the Middle East in general, this is a wonderful intro course to take. Next fall, you can also take Persian 100, the intro level Persian class, which starts students on a track through several language-learning and culture-based courses. Dr. Quay also recommends the Iranian cinema course offered from Modern Culture and Media, as well as international relations courses offered by the Watson Institute for those interested in studying Iran further. Dr. Quay also offers a biweekly Persian film series!
Finally, Dr. Quay emphasized the value and joy that can come from learning a language less commonly studied at Brown. Not only will you find a close-knit community within Brown, but you will be able to connect with speakers all throughout the Iranian diaspora. Persian has a crucial geopolitical need for translators and interpreters, and it also has a rich literature of poetry that becomes accessible to you if you learn the language. If you are interested at all in the Middle East, Persian, Iran, modern media and art, protest movements, or learning about a new culture and language, this course is for you! Don't forget to put it in your cart and shop it at the beginning of next semester, and email Dr. Quay if you have any questions.