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Acclaimed 'Reading Lolita in Tehran' author Azar Nafisi gives free lecture Aug. 20 at CU-°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

Award-winning Iranian writer Azar Nafisi will speak onÌý“The Republic of Imagination: Humanities and the Future of Democraciesâ€�Ìýat the Best Should Teach Lecture from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Macky Auditorium.

The talk is free of charge and open to the public. Tickets are required. (Reserve your ticket at ).

The name of the talk reflects the title of Nafisi’s newest book, The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books. Nafisi is a visiting professor and the executive director of Cultural Conversations at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.

As a professor of aesthetics, cultureÌýand literature, she teaches on the relationship between culture and politics.ÌýShe held a fellowship at Oxford University, conducting lectures on culture and the important roles of Western literature and culture in Iran. She has taught in higher education at several institutions in Iran – earning national respect for advocating for Iran’s youth and young women.Ìý

In addition, Nafisi has written forÌýThe New York Times,ÌýWashington Post ²¹²Ô»åÌýThe Wall Street Journal, and publishedÌýinÌýThe New Republic.ÌýShe is the author ofÌýAnti-Terra: A Critical Study of Vladimir Nabokov’s Novels,ÌýThings I Have Been Silent °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï: Memories,Ìýand published a children’s bookÌýBiBi and the Green Voice.ÌýHerÌýcurrent project is entitledÌýRepublic of the Imagination, which is about the power of literature to liberate minds and peoples.

The event is co-sponsored by the CU-°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Graduate School, College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate Teacher Program and the School of Education. The Best Should Teach Initiative celebrates excellence in teaching at the primary, secondaryÌýand tertiary levels. It supports the preparation of college and university faculty, as well as public school teachers, in their disciplinary fields. Best Should Teach Gold and Silver Awards are presented at the event each year.Ìý

Key details:

  • When: 7 to 8:30 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m.
  • Where: Macky Auditorium, 285 University Ave., °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï
  • Tickets:ÌýRequired. Reserve your free ticket atÌý.
  • Getting to campus:ÌýBecause of the volume of students and parents on campus for move-in, traffic onÌýcampus and in theÌýcity is expected to be heavy. Alternative transportation such asÌýbiking, walking,Ìýtaking the bus or carpooling is recommended. For schedules for the HOP/JUMP/SKIP and other bus routes, contact the °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï/Denver RTD at , 303-299-6000 or 800-366-7433.
  • Parking:ÌýAfter 6 p.m. parking for this event will be provided in Lot 380, along Pleasant Street and along University and Grandview avenues, and in the lot behind the Armory building. Due to move-in, parking restrictions may still be in place in other campus lots.ÌýADA parking is available on Pleasant Street in front of Macky. (Find these parking locations atÌý).Ìý
  • Other parking options: City of °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï parking is available around °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï High School and 17th Street and in the University Hill neighborhood.Ìý
  • Books: Signed copies ofÌýThe Republic of ImaginationÌýwill be available for purchase both before and after the event.Ìý

Contact:
Renie Dugwyler, Graduate Teacher Program, (M) 303-385-3160
lodu9385@colorado.edu
Merlyn Holmes, Graduate School, (O) 303-492-1825
merlyn.holmes@colorado.edu
Julie Poppen, CU-°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï media relationsÌý(O) 303-492-4007 (M) 720-503-4922
julie.poppen@colorado.edu