The event recording is now available:
https://youtu.be/7VVvCJ6iO9 4?si=sEiDci4GHV93JEHw
The Alireza Ahmadian Lecture in Iranian and Per sianate Studies presents: What Did the People of Iran Laugh About for 50 Ye ars?: The Social\, Cultural\, and Political Role of Towfigh Satiri cal Paper on October 19\, 2024.
In this talk\, Dr. A bbas Towfigh will explore the social\, cultural\, and political significanc e of Towfigh Satirical Paper\, which was published in Iran for 50 years. He will discuss the newspaper’s impact on Iranian society during its run and its role in shaping public discourse. Additionally\, Dr. Towfigh w ill share examples of the humor and satire featured in Towfigh\, o ffering insight into what made it such an influential publication in modern Iranian history.
Please note that the talk will be delivered in Persian\, with much of the English translation being displayed simultaneous ly on-screen.
“Since truth is bitter\, let me sweeten it with some storytelling\, but you know where this is going—I’m about to reveal s ome uncomfortable truths.”
The satirical ne wspaper Towfigh was first published on May 20\, 1923. Its founder was Hossein Towfigh. After his death\, Mohammad Ali Towfigh took over as th e managing director in 1930. In the wake of the 1953 coup\, Mohammad Ali To wfigh was imprisoned\, the newspaper faced challenges and was exiled to Kha rk Island. In 1954\, the management of Towfigh was passed to the T owfigh brothers\, marking the start of the third and final period of the ne wspaper (1951-1978).
The third era of Towfigh was its golden age\, as it became the only independent and critical newspaper in Iran\, r apidly gaining immense popularity. It sharply criticized the political and economic conditions in the country\, making it a favourite among prominent figures\, intellectuals\, and university professors. Many praised Towfi gh for its boldness\, something no other publication in Iran had achie ved.
Towfigh continued to be published until mid-1976. By th e time of its closure\, it was not only the largest satirical newspaper in Iran but also the oldest publication in the history of Iranian journalism.< /p>
Note: It is important to acknowledge that Towfig h has been rightly criticized by some scholars for how it addressed is sues of race and ethnicity\, especially through its depiction of its titula r character as well as in certain instances of its humor and satire. As the Department of Asian Studies\, by reproducing images or content from To wfigh\, we do not aim to perpetuate these problematic aspects. Instead \, we treat the periodical as a historical document\, open to critical deba te and reflection. Our goal is to engage with its historical significance w hile making it clear that we do not endorse or support any of the offensive or discriminatory depictions it contained.
For an instance of the ri ghtful criticism of these problematic aspects\, see Beeta Baghoolizadeh’s < em>The Color Black: Enslavement and Erasure in Iran (Duke University P ress\, 2024).
Abbas Towfigh earned h is Ph.D. from Sorbonne University\, Paris. He began his career as a satiris t and editorial cartoonist for Towfigh magazine\, of which he was an editor and served as Editor-in-Chief from 1957 to 1972. He has also serv ed as a Professor of Sociology\, Social Psychology\, and Press Sociology at several universities in Iran. He has also published in\, and served as the president of\, Humor in Los Angeles.