DĀNESH: The OU Undergraduate Journal of Iranian Studies

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/11244/329109

Welcome to the online repository of DĀNESH: The OU Undergraduate Journal of Iranian Studies. We are grateful to Commons@SHAREOK for hosting the journal’s digital platform.

DĀNESH is a peer-reviewed undergraduate journal, edited by a rotating team of OU students. It is published under the auspices of the University of Oklahoma’s Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies and the OU College of International Studies. Since its founding in 2016, DĀNESH has been dedicated to highlighting the research of a growing undergraduate program in Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

The name of the journal, DĀNESH, comes from the Persian word meaning knowledge, learning, and wisdom. We believe this is a fitting name for a journal that seeks to foster deep and compassionate understanding of one of the world’s most culturally rich and historically complex civilizations

Please feel free to browse through the past issues of the journal by clicking on the individual links below.

For questions about the journal, or to join our editorial team, please contact the journal’s faculty advisor, listed below:

Afshin Marashi

Director, Farzaneh Family Chair in Iranian Studies

amarashi@ou.edu

Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies:

http://www.ou.edu/content/cis/sponsored_programs/farzaneh-family-center.html

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 39

Open Access
Ali Shariati : the ideologue who shaped Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution
Viviani, Jocelyn; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Open Access
an-contradiction : the implications of the arms-for-hostages scandal for U.S.-Iranian relations
(2016) Haddock, Monica; Haddock, Monica; Akhlaghi, Andrew; Gharipour, Elena T.; Bednarek, Ellie; Gellman, Jonah; McCann, Samuel; Siddiqui, Wajeeha; Yoo, Jiyoun; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
The legacy of the Iran-Contra scandal in the United States is irrefutable. Not only did Iran-Contra tarnish the Reagan administration, traumatizing the federal bureaucracy with criminal indictments, but it also exposed “the chronic tension between America’s democratic domestic political system and its nondemocratic national security system.”1 However, its overall repercussions for Iran remain more opaque. This paper seeks to ameliorate this lopsided coverage. This paper will examine the implications of the Iran- Contra affair on U.S.-Iranian relations in response to the following inquiries: Was the ostensible U.S. goal to sustain Iranian moderates merely window dressing? Which factions actually benefited from American military largesse? Was the U.S. responsible for the later political ascendancy of the pragmatists? And how did the conduct of foreign policy proceed afterward?
Open Access
Angels, demons, and saviors : tracing the influence of Zoroastrianism on Judaism and Christianity
Namjou, Armeen; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Open Access
Bending without breaking : Zoroastrianism through the centuries
Holland, Daniel; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Open Access
Beneath the Surface: How Censorship in Iranian Music Cultivates Identity
(2019-01) Pierri, Kristen; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Standley, Corey; Oberlitner, Adam; Nazar, Jessamine; Progler, Chris; Albrecht, Emma; Kayali, Sarah; Ashbaker, Bailey; Keaton, Joni; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
When listening to music, Iranian’s do not tap their feet or dance; they do not smile or wave or give any indication that they are enjoying the music they are listening to because they are not allowed to. Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, compared music to drugs that ruin the realm of seriousness that comes with Islamic culture. He neglected music’s cultural significance outside of the realm of religion, and banned the citizens of Iran from listening to music that provided them excitement. Controlling such personal reactions and behaviors required strict enforcement by the Cultural Revolution Headquarters established in 1981. On top of that, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance was established to control cultural production, making it very difficult to get music produced that did not fit the criteria established by the Islamic Republic.
Open Access
Celebrity on the Peacock Throne : Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's superstar portrayal in U.S. popular culture, 1965-1978
(2016) Ennenga, Elizabeth; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Akhlaghi, Andrew; Gharipour, Elena T.; Bednarek, Ellie; Gellman, Jonah; McCann, Samuel; Siddiqui, Wajeeha; Yoo, Jiyoun; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Foreign policy is not a science; it is an art. The creation of policies, the opinions formed towards other countries, and the relationships between nations are all part of the delicate balance that leads to foreign relations between countries. Within the U.S., foreign policy and international relations are prevalent topics of discussion not only amongst policy specialists, but average citizens as well. Because of this fascination, there is a demand for media coverage on this topic. International issues, more specifically foreign affairs, are common topics covered by news organizations, namely magazines, like Time and Life.
Open Access
The Church Committee : unveiling the past and unraveling the future
(2016) Hackert, Lisa; Hackert, Lisa; Akhlaghi, Andrew; Gharipour, Elena T.; Bednarek, Ellie; Gellman, Jonah; McCann, Samuel; Siddiqui, Wajeeha; Yoo, Jiyoun; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
The Central Intelligence Agency has long been shrouded in mystery and public speculation. The agency is often cast as the perpetrator of heinous conspiracies perhaps conceived from the public’s imagination or the creativity of Hollywood. The tales of the organization’s involvement in assassinations, wiretapping, and eerie experiments portray the organization as rogue and powerful, acting without restraint. One particularly intriguing story details an attempt to undermine Fidel Castro’s public image by painting his shoes with a shoe polish designed to cause his trademark beard to fall out.1 This may seem like a ridiculous conspiracy theory; however, during the course of the United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (often referred to as the Church Committee) this story was found to be true. The validation of such a story created suspicions in Iran about what other CIA conspiracies, especially those surrounding the 1953 Coup against Mohammed Mossadegh, were also true.2
Open Access
Clericalism, Constitutionalism, and Cautiousness: Iran's 1905 Revolution Through the Eyes of Sheikh Fazollah Nuri
(2019-08) Waugh, Jake; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Standley, Corey; Oberlitner, Adam; Nazar, Jessamine; Progler, Chris; Albrecht, Emma; Kayali, Sarah; Ashbaker, Bailey; Keaton, Joni; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
The summer of 1909 was a summer of retribution. The first target was Mohammad Ali Shah, the Qajar king who had forcefully opposed constitutionalism and was responsible for the bombardment of the Majlis the year prior. After being replaced by his young son and forced to cede much of his property to the government, Mohammad Ali Shah was exiled to Russia in September. Another prominent target was Sheikh Fazollah Nuri, a senior cleric and the monarchy's chief ally among the ulama, whose shared opposition to constitutionalism earned him a swift execution in July of the same year.
Open Access
Dānesh : the OU undergraduate journal of Iranian studies. Volume 1, 2016
(The University of Oklahoma, 2016) Marashi, Afshin; Akhlaghi, Andrew; Gharipour, Elena T.; Bednarek, Ellie; Gellman, Jonah; McCann, Samuel; Siddiqui, Wajeeha; Yoo, Jiyoun; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
It is with great pleasure that I introduce this inaugural issue of DĀNESH: The OU Undergraduate Journal of Iranian Studies. The initiative for this journal grew from the hard work and dedication of undergraduate students in the University of Oklahoma’s Iranian Studies Program. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Andrew Akhlaghi (MA 2016) and Elena Gharipour (BA 2016) for their tireless effort in leading this project from its inception, in the spring of 2015, to the publication of this inaugural issue .
Open Access
Dānesh : the OU undergraduate journal of Iranian studies. Volume 2, 2017
Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Open Access
DĀNESH : the OU undergraduate journal of Iranian studies. Volume 3, 2018
(2018) University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies. Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies.; Standley, Corey; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Ball, Caleb; Hare, Jesse; Nazari, Jessamine; Pugh, Michael; Stafford, Ciera; Warrington, Sydney; Afshin, Marashi; Manata, Hashemi; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
We are so proud to present to you the third volume of the University of Oklahoma's Undergraduate Journal in Iranian Studies, DĀNESH. Through two editions of the journal we have seen wonderful presentations on varying regional topics, spanning the breadth of history and social strata. In the tradition of the meaning of DĀNESH, or knowledge, we present these articles as an offering to expand the collective dialogue on the understanding of the Iranian and Persian state. We are pleased to have worked on this edition with a group of driven authors to present an edition comprising of submissions focusing on the traditional roots of religion in Iranian society and contemporary issues that Iranians are currently facing.
Open Access
Danesh : the OU undergraduate journal of Iranian studies. Volume 4, 2019
(2019-10) University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies. Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies.; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Standley, Corey; Oberlitner, Adam; Nazar, Jessamine; Progler, Chris; Albrecht, Emma; Kayali, Sarah; Ashbaker, Bailey; Keaton, Joni; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
From the Editors-in-Chief
Open Access
Exercising Agency: Contesting Cultural Imperialism in the Depiction of Muslim Women
(2018) Harth, Julia; Standley, Corey; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Ball, Caleb; Hare, Jesse; Nazari, Jessamine; Pugh, Michael; Stafford, Ciera; Warrington, Sydney; Afshin, Marashi; Manata, Hashemi; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
In ancient times, the Silk Road brought foreign treasures and precious goods from a distant East to the people of Western Europe, instilling a fascination with the rich and mysterious ‘Orient.’ As colonialism heightened political and economic interaction between the two regions, their cultural exchange increased as well. Traders and travelers returned with items and stories reflecting both the wealth and dissemblance of Eastern society. The introduction of the unfamiliar culture materialized not only in the collection of physical objects, but also in intellectual stimulation with an emerging societal focus on evaluating these differing traditions and customs. In their studies of the Middle East, both academics and artists attempted to capture and convey the exotic culture to Western audiences. However, the inherent power inequity implanted by colonialism sustained notions of cultural superiority in these discourses and representations. As a facet of the imperialist portrayal of the Middle East, the conception of Muslim women's role in society perfectly illustrates this imposition of hegemonic values. Influenced by larger attitudes of ethnocentrism, the depiction of Muslim women reflects a reduced, simplified, and exoticized interpretation of a complex and diverse reality. Ingrained into today's popular visual culture, these stereotypes present a challenge to the capacity of Muslim women to assert their own authority and experience, playing into a global rhetoric of division and degradation. As such, contesting the visual representation of Muslim women as subservient objects of oppression constitutes a rejection of the imperialist narrative of cultural polarization.
Open Access
Fatwas and Feminism: How Iran's Religious Leadership Obstructs Feminist Reforms
(2019-04) Asokan, Anu S.; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Standley, Corey; Oberlitner, Adam; Nazar, Jessamine; Progler, Chris; Albrecht, Emma; Kayali, Sarah; Ashbaker, Bailey; Keaton, Joni; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
In 2009, a pro-government Basiji militia member shot Neda Agha Soltan in the chest. Neda was a philosophy student who participated in protests against a possibly corrupt election, and her death was the spark that started the Green Movement and increasing protests. As the video of her murder became viral, the foreign media was expelled from Iran. Over 150 well-known reformists and journalists, as well as thousands of demonstrators, were arrested. Throughout the protests, the repercussions, and the government's eventual crushing of the Green Movement, women were at the forefront of activism.
Open Access
Ideology and Reality: Afghans in Iran
(2018) McAbee, Daniel; Standley, Corey; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Ball, Caleb; Hare, Jesse; Nazari, Jessamine; Pugh, Michael; Stafford, Ciera; Warrington, Sydney; Afshin, Marashi; Manata, Hashemi; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a revolutionary state which derives its legitimacy on the basis of revolutionary pan-Islamism. Despite this, as the memory of the revolution recedes into the past, Iranian nationalism and commitment to the revolutionary pan-Islamic ideal is fading. As time elapsed, the foundations of the government shifted from those core pan- Islamic beliefs to a more centralized protectorate state, illustrating how the government moved away from the idealism and more towards the traditional roles of the state. Despite the generally repressive nature of the state, some Iranians, especially directors, are able to use film to critique state actions and ideology for goals. An excellent example of cinematography as a social and political critique is Majid Majidi's Baran (2001), a film which highlights the discrepancy between theory and praxis by Iran and the Iranian people, and calls on Iran to act on the idea of Islamic charity and solidarity.
Open Access
Iran's Others through Cinema: Ethnicity and the Politics of Representation in Contemporary Iran
(2018) Johnson, Jared; Standley, Corey; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Ball, Caleb; Hare, Jesse; Nazari, Jessamine; Pugh, Michael; Stafford, Ciera; Warrington, Sydney; Afshin, Marashi; Manata, Hashemi; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
With all the politically issues and social animosity surrounding Iran today, the Islamic Republic has become a focus for international attention and critique, especially if one might watch Fox News on any given evening — that goes for any news outlet for that matter. However, except for the ‘Iran Nuclear Deal’ or their nuclear program, how informed are the majority of Westerners on Iranian affairs or even social concerns? Unfortunately, most press following Iran seems to maintain a negative theme; however, that is not always the case. For instance, just this year in fact, an Iranian indie film, The Salesman (2016), was nominated and won an Oscar for ‘Best Foreign Language Film of 2017’ at America's annual 89th Academy Awards. The film even managed to win multiple awards across the world. Yet, The Salesman is not the only Iranian film to make a splash into Western culture — in 1997, Abbas Kiarostami's Taste of Cherry (1996) was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and A Separation (2011), by the same director of The Salesman, also received tremendous praise throughout Western film festivals in 2012. Thus, if these Iranian national films are increasingly becoming more popular, then what insights may these films yield when it comes to understanding the Islamic Republic?
Open Access
Iranian oil concessions of the twentieth century : economic and legal agendas surrounding the Anglo-American Oil Company, 1901-1953
Standley, Corey; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Open Access
Lingering Effects: U.S. Media and the Case for Nationalism in the Iran Hostage Crisis
(2019-05) Eisenmann, Lindsey T.; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Standley, Corey; Oberlitner, Adam; Nazar, Jessamine; Progler, Chris; Albrecht, Emma; Kayali, Sarah; Ashbaker, Bailey; Keaton, Joni; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
In his article on legitimacy and the Iran hostage crisis, R. K. Ramazani makes the claim that the hostility at play in foreign relations between Iran and the U.S. comes as a result of the Iran hostage crisis and the events that unfolded between 1979-1981. In 1978 Ayatollah Khomeini, an exiled Iranian Muslim leader, blamed President Carter for the “murderous regime” of Iran's leader, Mohammad Reza Shah. He argued that, in spite of claiming to support freedom, America evidently supported repression. Khomeini also spoke of the Shah as being a puppet of the U.S., which both demonized the U.S. and weakened the Shah at a time when his power was quickly dwindling in Iran. Iranians lived through the oppressive regime of the Shah for years, and the revolution came as people grew tired of the Shah and were eager to see a change in the leadership of Iran. Soon enough, protests began erupting throughout Iran in opposition to the Shah, and the revolution was underway. Khomeini and his followers vied for “freedom from American domination,” which Khomeini believed would occur as a result of the revolution. On January 16, 1979, after months of protests and with no end in sight, the Shah fled Iran, and shortly after on February 1, Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to lead the Islamic Revolution and create an Islamic state in Iran.
Open Access
Marco Polo in Iran : cultural encounters in medieval history
Winters, Coleton; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies
Open Access
Oil politics in the pre-Mossadegh years : the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and Iran's struggle for equitability, 1901-1941
Teimore, Andre; Ennenga, Elizabeth; Hackett, Molly; Shelden, John; Hudayar, Salih; Kahoe, Cooper; Standley, Corey; Holsten, Brittany; Kuyon, Kayleigh; Farzaneh Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies. Department of International and Area Studies