PERSPECTIVEIranian Students’ Cultural Organization University of California, Berkeley Published Since 1995 Fall 2015 PERSPECTIVE 1 a letter from the editors Dear Reader, t is with pride in our hearts nuclear deal reached between Iran and chai in our stomachs that and the P5+1, the policies of the Is- Iwe present to you the Fall lamic Republic, and the politically 2015 issue of Perspective Maga- tinged experiences of Iranians liv- zine. We hope that you enjoy it as ing in the United States. By speak- much as we’ve enjoyed creating ing about such topics, we seek not it for you. to be controversial, but rather to Our mission at Perspec- provide a complete picture of what tive Magazine is to provide an it means to be Iranian-American. outlet for dialogue pertaining to Our focus this semester, then, is Iranian cultural matters here in on the humanity of Iranian-Amer- the United States. We strive to be icans, hence our decision to use a apolitical and areligious in order photograph taken by Humans of to focus solely on preserving our New York photographer Brandon rich heritage and the ongoing Stanton during his time in Iran for conversations of our people. our front cover. For several years, we We are truly appreciative thought that being apolitical of the hard work each of our staff meant leaving out any men-tion members has put into making this of political matters from our semester’s issue possible and of magazine. However, as both our the support we have received from writers and readers have pointed our community. We hope that Per- out time and again, to ignore the spective Magazine will continue effect of politics on the Iranian to provide a voice for the Irani- people is to ignore a huge ele- an-American community for years ment of their lives. It felt like to come. we were silencing an aspect of If you are interested in get- the Iranian-American narrative, ting involved with the publication, rather than providing an inclu- please send an e-mail to perspec- sive environment. We have come [email protected]. We accept to the conclusion, then, that applications for new contributors being apolitical does not mean at the beginning of each semester being free from politics. It means and always welcome donations covering the issues we write and advertisements. about from all angles and provid- ing our readers with the informa- Warm regards, tion they need to reach their own conclusions. Nikta Daijavad and Sawhel Maali Throughout this issue, Co-Editors-in-Chief you will see references to the |Co-Editors-in-Chief| Sawhel Maali; Nikta Daijavad |Assistant Editor-in-Chief| Nima Shajarian |Layout Editor| Elizabeth Wu |Staff Writers| Nikki Bayar; Kayvon Deldar; Vida Seyedkazemi; Saalar Aghili; Shayaun Nejad; Saunon Malekshahi; Marian Haidarali; Neeka Mahdavi |Copy Editor| Paniz Amirnasiri; Heather Dadashi; Sara Mahjoub; Negin Shahiar; Leila Zarifi (Not Pictured); Roya Azarkeyvan (Not Pictured) PERSPECTIVE 2 Table of Contents 1. Letter from the Editors, 2 2. Humans of New York: Iran, 4-5 3. Iranian: Some Other Race?, 6-7 4. The P5+1 Deal: Reviving Iran’s Civil Aviation Industry, 8-9 5. Facing History Among Three Generations, 10- 11 6. Tehran from Above, 12-13 7. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Sentiments Be hind the #IranDeal, 14-15 8. Fesenjoon? Akh Joon!, 16 9. American vs. Persian Bodies: What You’re Put ting in Your Shekam, 17 10. The Hidden World of Dating: Iran Edition, 18 11. One Thousand and One Hairs: The Persian Dilemma, 19 12. The Modern State of Iranian Scientific Policy, 20 13. The Problem of Plastic Surgery in Iran, 21 14. “The Language of the Spirit”: Iran’s Music Industry Today, 22-23 15. Is Iran Relevant?, 24-25 16. Profiling the Traditional Instruments of Iran, 26-27 17. Lending a Helping Hand: A Spotlight on the Pars Equality Center, 28-29 18. Living Proof, 30-31 PERSPECTIVE 3 Courtesy of Brandon Stanton Humans of New York: Iran By SAWHEL MAALI lipping through photographer ers, snap a couple of photographs, international series in Iran. Liked, Brandon Stanton’s collection and later post them on his Facebook shared, and re-tweeted, Stanton’s Fof photos from his first visit to page and blog, Humans of New York posts were contagious. Photos of Iran, I am reminded of the signifi- (HONY). Yet, Stanton was far from beautiful women adorned in colorful cance of this photo series when it first becoming a household name. He was headscarves, couples taking strolls filled my newsfeed back in 2012. At the just another struggling artist, trying to against the majestic backdrops of the time, descriptions of Iran were cloud- find his calling in the million and one northern mountains, and older men ed by political unrest between the experiences of everyday New Yorkers. enmeshed in games of backgammon American and Iranian governments. However, Stanton’s luck would soon in the middle of Tehran’s bazaars And while the world was becoming all change upon taking HONY to his first streamed throughout my Facebook too familiar with pictures of religious international destination: Iran. newsfeed. While media coverage was fanatics and anti-Western extremists, Stanton’s time in Iran scarce, Stanton’s work managed to Stanton was unknowingly embarking spanned two weeks, across a host make its way around the worldwide on a journey that would re-shape our of Iranian cities like Tehran, Rasht, web and offered an image of Iran that notions of Iran in a span of just a few Tabriz, Anzali, and Chalus. He soon was largely muffled, if not absent. For short days. returned to America with hundreds the first time, someone conveyed a Originally a bond trader in of photographs and more positive view of Iran that actually felt human— Chicago, Stanton transitioned into feelings toward the Iranian people. we weren’t seeing the political clerics photography in late 2010. While it was At one point, Stanton even expressed in their misguided diatribes, or images unclear even to himself what his plans that “Americans are especially loved” of unwieldy crowds in the midst of for the future were, Stanton knew he by Iranians – a fact that many around their awkward death chants against wanted to capture the lives of ordinary the world found surprising despite it the West. Rather, we were seeing the people as they went about the their being a shared observation by those purely and genuinely normal side of daily routines. His adventure began who visit Iran.1 Iran. Nothing exaggerated, filtered, or in the streets of New York, where he Social media acted as a even staged. Just beautiful landscapes, would often stop unsuspecting strang- powerful catalyst for Stanton’s first vivid colors, and people in love. All in [1] Stanton, Brandon. “On Travel to Iran.” Humans of New York, December 23, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2015. http://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/38682208638/on-travel-to-iran-the-us-government-has-a. PERSPECTIVE 4 all, it was the totally mundane, but the Iranian woman describing her opti- current political attitudes by bringing totally refreshing…it was just Iran. mism for the future despite the cur- light to a human moment that clearly The photo series provided the rent regime. These interviews touched transcended cultural barriers. first step in paving the way for hu- upon the various subcultures through- Over the years, Humans of man reciprocity between the Iranian out Iran as well as the intense and New York has succeeded as a vehicle people and the world. Despite such wide-ranging grievances that weighed for cultural awareness and human un- a feat, Stanton achieved even more heavily on the people. One photo even derstanding. Stanton’s photo-stories during his second journey to Iran. It went so far as to peak the interest of have reflected dreams, loss, hardship, is at this juncture where he evolved our own American president. In a pic- love, and, most importantly, hope. from photographer to an international ture taken in Tabriz, a father describes He has illustrated that these feelings Courtesy of Brandon Stanton photojournalist. his proud moment after realizing he are not unique to any person, culture, Once again, Stanton instilled was raising a “humanitarian,” a recog- or country, but are instead shared by much excitement in the public when nition that occurred after seeing his all humans—a concept that seems to he temporarily rebranded his Face- son give away two pounds of apricots resonate with every HONY follower book page as “Humans of Iran” earlier to those in need on their walk home. based on the flood of commentaries this year. He followed this with an an- In response, President Barack Obama that follows each of Stanton’s posts. nouncement stating that he planned commented “What an inspirational Seeing the positive impact his trip had to return to Iran as the country “held story” and how he hoped to continue in 2012, Stanton continues to under- 2 a special place in his heart.” Armed doing whatever he could “to make take many brave journeys around the with years of experience and a more this world a place where [the boy] and world and expose realities that are refined presentation of the human every young person like him can live often not accessible. Most recently, narrative, Stanton returned to Iran to up to their full potential.” he helped raise money to end bonded “do a better job at telling the stories of This interaction between the brick labor in India and also spent a ordinary Iranians.” President and the photograph ulti- few weeks in the Middle East and Eu- While his second photo series mately captured the attention of the rope highlighting the current refugee elicited much of the same beauty as media.