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”