Gaining Ground

Oh so true! – “My Life is Persian”

Aggie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:44:51 +0000

Wow well this site pretty much covers it. Everything I’ve read thus far on this site, and I’ve already read a lot, has happened to me! If you are Iranian American, I encourage you to post!

Examples:
When my dad says we have burritos for dinner it really mean aab khoost wrapped in noon lavaash. MLIP

today, i realized my TA is Persian when I arrived 20 mins late to class and he wasnt there yet. MLIP

Today, I changed my default picture on facebook to a casual one of me and my best male friend. Within the hour, I received a message from my dad on facebook saying “what is this beetarbyat picture?” MLIP
(beetarbyat is the term parents use to refer to children who have gone astray, have lost all moral code, and are on the verge of being disowned by the family)

Today, I asked my parents when I can date. They said after I get married. MLIP.

Today, my mom bought shoes at Ross and told all her friends she got them from Nordstrom. MLIP

Today i told my parents i want to be a doctor… my mom started to cry tears of joy. MLIP (next time, MLIP, you should try telling them that you want to become a filmmaker. They will cry – different tears, of course, but cry nonetheless!)

“We had an empire” – Maz Jobrani

Aggie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:33:02 +0000

Maz jobrani cannot stop being funny!

Though I do wonder sometimes why he takes on some of the acting roles he does. I’ve seen him portray violent or cartoonish figures and wonder what he thinks about it: does he feel like he is perpetuating certain stereotypes of Iranians or does he feel like he is trying to debunk them? Anyway this video is funny

More From Fared Shafinury

Aggie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:38:05 +0000

This guy is just amazing. And he keeps coming out with heartbreaking songs that are accompanied by inventive and fascinating videos. Really talented and dedicated to his craft. Again, I want at some point to do with my own video work what he does with his music. Here’s the new video:

Check out more and more on Fared’s new snazzy website that he shares with his band, Tehranosaurus.

Building Understanding with Middle East

Aggie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:36:14 +0000

Quick video to introduce an amazing project intended to bridge cultural understanding of the Middle East through media literacy education. Leave a comment if you have any questions!

This is so cool!

Aggie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:34:59 +0000

This video is so cool! And is a great example of the aesthetic I want in our doc – kind of classic, kind of “Amelie”esque, hearkening to traditional Persian aesthetics but also bringing in this whole indie feel with rich colors and cartoon-esque characterizations. Something like Wes Anderson meets the Daughter of Lor…

Let’s make it happen Sara Zia and Niknaz

Red Hot + Rumi – a powerful voice, a female Yas

Aggie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:30:05 +0000

Ooh an unexpected surprise! Thanks Niknaz for turning me onto her!

Tabbouleh!

Aggie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:25:06 +0000

So, doesn’t exactly have much to do with Iranian culture, but an incisive satire on Middle Eastern stereotypes. And really funny

Freedom Glory Project

Aggie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:10:49 +0000

The Freedom Glory Project – a collection of Iranian-American musicians (including Ali Eskandrian, members of Hypernova and Electric Black) working together to make a bold and courageous statement about freedom and justice. The video is stunning.

Download the song for free at the Freedom Glory Project website.

More Fusion Music

Aggie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:46:21 +0000

Fared Shafinury, a Texas-born Iranian setar player who blends classical Persian music with an indie rock sensibility:

Read more about him in an interview with Diane Tucker of Huffington Post.

Ali Eskandrian – A Perfect Fusion

Aggie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:44:47 +0000

Ali Eskandrian so beautifully fuses Iranian musical traditions with his own, Bob Dylan-esque approach. Amazing work. Maybe we can get him to do some work for our doc!

Check out more of his music on Ali’s myspace page. I am in love with his sound. Maybe we can interview him for the doc. Or interview the whole Freedom Glory Project crew (see above posts).