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Funny in Farsi:A Memoir of Growing up
Iranian in America
By Firoozeh Dumas
Firoozeh [feeuh-rue-zay]
Dumas[doo-mas]
Firoozeh Dumas
دوما فیروزه
- Born in Iran (1970)
- Moved to California at the age of seven; once more at age 11
Firoozeh Dumas
- Experiences best (pre-) and worst (Iranian Revolution) of acceptance in America
Firoozeh Dumas
- Multiple award nominations
- Also writes Laughing Without An Accent
Firoozeh Dumas
Iran (Persia)
- Islamic Republic since 1979 (mostly secular)
- Official language: Persian (Farsi)
Iran (Persia)[Ee-rahn]
- US interested in Iranian oil since end of WWII
- US had good relationship with 1950’s Iranian Prime Minister Pahlavi
Iranian/American Relations
- Iran elects another Prime Minister in 1953
- CIA finances assassination and restores Prime Minister Pahlavi’s power
Iranian/American Relations
- 1979 Iranian Revolution throws out Pahlavi and replaces him with anti-American leader
- Iranians hold the American Embassy hostage for 444 days
Iranian/American Relations
- 1988 US shoots down an Iranian passenger airplane by mistake
- Tensions still high, President Bush includes Iran in “Axis of Evil” terrorism threats
Iranian/American Relations
- US currently fears possibility of Iran having nuclear weapons
- This year President Obama and President Ahmadinejad trying to work together
Iranian/American Relations
- US citizens perceive Iranians as terrorist Muslims
- In fact, most Iranians are Islamic more in culture than in fundamental religion
Iranian/American Relations
- Iranian citizens perceive the US as holding the country “hostage” for its resources
- In fact, most US citizens believe the US is in the Middle East for homeland security (not oil)
Iranian/American Relations
LITERARY TERMSMEMOIR
a piece of autobiographical writing, usually shorter in nature and specific to a
certain event/time
LITERARY TERMSVIGNETTE
A short, usually descriptive
literary sketch
(Brief chapter on a single topic)
LITERARY TERMSMEIOSIS
Deliberate understatement
of the obvious to create humor
EX: “It’s a bit of a breeze” (during tornado)
LITERARY TERMSHYPERBOLE
Deliberate overstatement /
exaggeration to create humor
EX: “I’m the only sane person in this room”
LITERARY TERMSCOMIC IRONY
Stating one thing while
meaning another to create humor
EX: “Of course you can use my key while taking the test”