Writing as an Iranian American Author - Firoozeh Dumas

Summary

The speaker, an Iranian-American author, discusses the misconceptions and expectations of her audience, who often seek stories of oppression rather than humor from Iranian narratives. Despite the success of her book 'Funny in Farsi,' she highlights the media's preference for alarming stories about Iran over diverse, humanizing ones. She expresses concern over the potential for misunderstanding leading to conflict and shares her experiences of connecting with receptive audiences in unexpected places, emphasizing the importance of shared humanity. A memorable story involves a reader from Tasmania who eagerly awaited her next book, showcasing the global reach of her storytelling.

Takeaways

• 📚 The author discusses the misconception that stories about Iranians should only be about oppression and despair, rather than humor and joy.
• 🤔 There is a noted expectation from some readers that the author, being an Iranian woman, should write about politics and Islam, which she finds surprising and limiting.
• 🎭 The author emphasizes the difficulty of making people laugh, suggesting it's harder than making them cry, highlighting the challenge of humor in her writing.
• 📉 'Funny in Farsi' sold well through word of mouth but received fewer reviews than expected, possibly due to media preferences for more alarming stories about Iran.
• 🗞️ The media's portrayal of Iran tends to be one-dimensional, focusing on fear-inducing narratives rather than a diverse range of stories.
• 🌏 The author expresses concern about the potential invasion of Iran and the importance of Americans understanding the Iranian people beyond the political rhetoric.
• 🤝 Despite stereotypes, the author finds audiences in smaller towns to be open-minded and receptive to learning about Iranian culture.
• 🌐 The author has had positive experiences with people organizing events in various towns who are committed to fostering understanding and shared humanity.
• 📬 A memorable story from the author's blog involves a man from Tasmania who enjoyed 'Funny in Farsi' and requested the author's next book, showing global interest in her work.
• 📚 The author sent copies of 'Laughing Without an Accent' and other works to Tasmania, including books by famous authors, as a gesture of appreciation for the reader's interest.
• 🌍 The story from Tasmania illustrates the author's international reach and the impact of her work on readers around the world.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'Funny in Farsi'?

The book 'Funny in Farsi' is a humorous account of the author's life as an Iranian woman, challenging the stereotype that stories about Iranians should only be about oppression and despair.

Why did some readers expect the author to write about serious topics like politics and Islam?

Some readers expected the author to write about serious topics because of her Iranian background, assuming that her writing would automatically be about politics or Islam due to cultural preconceptions.

How did the media react to the book 'Funny in Farsi'?

The media reaction was initially lukewarm, with the book receiving few reviews, possibly due to the preference for more sensational stories about Iran that fit the narrative of fear and conflict.

What was the author's experience with readers in rural areas of the United States?

The author found that even in rural areas like Maine, readers were receptive and curious about learning about Iranian culture, contrary to the stereotype of small towns being closed-minded.

Why did the author believe it's important for Americans to read about Iran?

The author believes it's important for Americans to read about Iran to gain a more accurate understanding of the Iranian people and their culture, especially in the context of political discussions about potential military action.

What was the author's experience with a reader from Tasmania?

A reader from Tasmania emailed the author expressing his enjoyment of 'Funny in Farsi'. The author promised to send him copies of her next book and followed through, including books by other famous authors.

How did the author describe the people who invited her to speak in various towns?

The author described these people as being determined to make their citizens understand the concept of shared humanity, often organizing events around her visits and showing a genuine interest in Iranian culture.

What was the author's reaction to the lack of reviews for 'Laughing Without an Accent'?

The author was surprised and upset by the lack of reviews, especially considering the sizeable Iranian population in Los Angeles and the potential interest in her work.

What does the author find more challenging: making people laugh or making them cry?

The author finds it harder to make people laugh than to make them cry, suggesting that humor may be a more complex and difficult emotion to evoke.

How did the author's perception of the media's portrayal of Iran affect her?

The author was upset by the media's tendency to focus on frightening stories about Iran, which she believes contributes to a skewed perception of the country and its people.

What was the author's strategy for dealing with the lack of media coverage for her book?

The author relied on word of mouth and the book's sales to generate interest, as 'Funny in Farsi' sold 150,000 copies despite the initial lack of media attention.