The upcoming EUME Berliner Seminar will delve into the underrepresentation of women in Iran’s publishing landscape post-1979 revolution. While women have made notable contributions as writers and readers in contemporary Iranian literature, their presence in the publishing sector remains disproportionately low, with only 13% of books published by women. This statistic underscores the persistent gender imbalances within the literary industry of Iran.

Laetitia Nanquette, an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales and a 2024 EUME Fellow, will lead the seminar. Nanquette’s presentation aims to unravel the complexities surrounding women’s roles in publishing before and after the 1979 revolution. Her talk will provide an in-depth analysis of the current landscape of women publishers, their activities and organizational structures. By examining case studies of notable female figures and institutions, Nanquette seeks to shed light on how gender norms and state interventions have shaped the field.

Nanquette’s academic journey began with a BA in Philosophy and Literature from Sorbonne University, followed by studies in Persian at INALCO-Paris and a year in Iran. She further pursued her MA and PhD at SOAS, University of London. After a Fulbright Visiting Fellowship at Harvard University, Nanquette joined UNSW, where she has been a significant contributor to research and teaching since 2013. Her expertise lies in modern and contemporary Persian literature, viewed through a sociological lens. Her second book, Iranian Literature After the Islamic Revolution: Production and Circulation in Iran and the World, was published in 2021. Currently, she is working on a historical project tracing the evolution of publishing in Iran since the 1950s. Nanquette also translates Persian literature into English and French, expanding the reach of this rich literary tradition.

Mina Khanlarzadeh, the seminar’s chair, brings her extensive knowledge as a historian of the modern Middle East. Khanlarzadeh, an EUME Fellow for 2023/24, previously held a postdoctoral position at Northwestern University. Her research spans postcolonial political thought, gender and sexuality, and cultural studies. She co-authored the forthcoming book “Revolutionary Engineers: Learning and Politics at AMUT (1966-1979),” and her academic work has been published in various prestigious journals. Khanlarzadeh’s expertise will provide valuable context and moderation for the seminar’s discussions.

The seminar will take place on July 10, 2024, from 15:00 to 16:30 at the Forum Transregionale Studien, located at Wallotstr. 14, 14193 Berlin. Attendees are requested to register in advance via email at eume(at)trafo-berlin.de. Subject to approval from the speakers, the seminar will be recorded, and audio recordings will be made available on SoundCloud.

This seminar promises to offer a nuanced perspective on the gender dynamics within Iran’s publishing industry, highlighting the challenges and achievements of women publishers in a post-revolutionary context. By engaging with the works and insights of Laetitia Nanquette and Mina Khanlarzadeh, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the socio-political forces shaping contemporary Iranian literature.

• - https://fb.me/e/7yd6n245x
• - https://www.eume-berlin.de/veranstaltungen/kalender/details/female-publishers-in-iran-publics-censorship-and-the-state