Persian Studies at San José State University, with the generous support of the Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute, will host the first-ever Cultures of the Iranian Diaspora conference on April 11-12, 2014. The conference brings together visual artists, writers, filmmakers, and activists who depict the experiences of a diverse community of Iranians in the United Since over the past three decades. Friday, April 11 also features the world-premiere of Inja o Oonja: Stories from Iranian American Life, a staged adaptation by Matthew Spangler, SJSU Professor of Theatre Arts; it’s based on short stories by Jasmin Darznik and Professor Persis Karim from SJSU English and Comparative Literature. On Saturday, April 12, the conference highlights “Filmmaking in the Diaspora,” featuring the films of Mo Gorjestani and SJSU Professor Babak Sarrafan; they will appear after the screening to discuss their work. These evening events are free and open to the public. Visit Persian Studies for more information.
