The First Raw-Eater of the Twentieth Century

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Tony Zarindast — Cat in the Cage (1983) or Behrouz Vossoughi As You’ve Never Heard Him Before

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Excerpts from the Andy Warhol Diaries: A series of Prognostic Anecdotes Centered Around the Iranian Monarchy and its Apparatus in 1970s New York

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Jean Negulesco — The Invincible Six (1970)

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Documents From The U.S. Espionage Den #61: U.S. Interventions in Iran (10)

View the full book online here.

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Ali Hatami — Jafar Khan Returns From Abroad (1984) or Does My Razor Hurt You?

Ali Hatami — Jafar Khan Returns From Abroad (1984)

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Documents From The U.S. Espionage Den: Introduction

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Total Persian Preoccupation With Self (1979)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEHRAN 08980

E.O. 12065: GDS 8/12/85 (TOMSETH, VICTOR L.) OR-P
TAGS: PEPR IR
SUBJECT: NEGOTIATIONS

¶1. (C – ENTIRE TEXT).

¶2. INTRODUCTION: RECENT NEGOTIATIONS IN WHICH THE EMBASSY HAS BEEN INVOLVED HERE, RANGING FROM COMPOUND SECURITY TO VISA OPERATIONS TO GTE TO THE SHERRY CASE, HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL SPECIAL FEATURES OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE PERSIAN ENVIRONMENT. IN SOME INSTANCES THE DIFFICULTIES WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ARE A PARTIAL REFLECTION ON THE EFFECTS OF THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION, BUT WE BELIEVE THE UNDERLYING CULTURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL QUALITIES THAT ACCOUNT FOR THE NATURE OF THESE DIFFICULTIES ARE AND WILL REMAIN RELATIVELY CONSTANT. THEREFORE, WE SUGGEST THAT THE FOLLOWING ANALYSIS BE USED TO BRIEF BOTH USG PERSONNEL AND PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO DO BUSINESS WITH AND IN THIS COUNTRY. END INTRODUCTION.

¶3. PERHAPS THE SINGLE DOMINANT ASPECT OF THE PERSIAN PSYCHE IS AN OVERRIDING EGOISM. ITS ANTECEDENTS LIE IN THE LONG IRANIAN HISTORY OF INSTABILITY AND INSECURITY WHICH PUT A PREMIUM ON SELF-PRESERVATION. THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF IT IS AN ALMOST TOTAL PERSIAN PREOCCUPATION WITH SELF AND LEAVES LITTLE ROOM FOR UNDERSTANDING POINTS OF VIEW OTHER THAN ONE’S OWN. THUS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO AN IRANIAN THAT U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW MAY PROHIBIT ISSUING HIM A TOURIST VISA WHEN HE HAS DETERMINED THAT HE WANTS TO LIVE IN CALIFORNIA. SIMILARLY, THE IRANIAN CENTRAL BANK SEES NO INCONSISTENCY IN CLAIMING FORCE MAJEURE TO AVOID PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT OF INTEREST DUE ON OUTSTANDING LOANS WHILE THE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH IT IS A PART IS DENYING THE VAILIDITY OF THE VERY GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE CLAIM IS MADE WHEN CONFRONTED BY SIMILAR CLAIMS FROM FOREIGN FIRMS FORCED TO CEASE OPERATIONS DURING THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION.

¶4. THE REVERSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL COIN, AND HAVING THE SAME HISTORICAL ROOTS AS PERSIAN EGOISM, IS A PERVASIVE UNEASE ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE WORLD IN WHICH ONE LIVES. THE PERSIAN EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT NOTHING IS PERMANENT AND IT IS COMMONLY PERCEIVED THAT HOSTILE FORCES ABOUND. IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST BE CONSTANTLY ALERT FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT HIMSELF AGAINST THE MALEVOLENT FORCES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE HIS UNDOING. HE IS OBVIOUSLY JUSTIFIED IN USING ALMOST ANY MEANS AVAILABLE TO EXPLOIT SUCH OPPORTUNITIES. THIS APPROACH UNDERLIES THE SOCALLED “BAZAAR MENTALITY” SO COMMON AMONG PERSIANS, A MIND-SET THAT OFTEN IGNORES LONGER TERM INTERESTS IN FAVOR OF IMMEDIATELY OBTAINABLE ADVANTAGES AND COUNTENANCES PRACTICES THAT ARE REGARDED AS UNETHICAL BY OTHER NORMS. AN EXAMPLE IS THE SEEMINGLY SHORTSIGHTED AND HARASSING TACTICS EMPLOYED BY THE PGOI IN ITS NEGOTIATIONS WITH GTE.

¶5.COUPLED WITH THESE PSYCHOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS IS A GENERAL INCOMPREHENSION OF CASUALITY. ISLAM, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD, APPEARS TO ACCOUNT AT LEAST IN MAJOR PART FOR THIS PHENOMENON. SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY, EVEN THOSE IRANIANS EDUCATED IN THE WESTERN STYLE AND PERHAPS WITH LONG EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE IRAN ITSELF FREQUENTLY HAVE DIFFICULTY GRASPING THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF EVENTS. WITNESS A YAZDI RESISTING THE IDEA THAT IRANIAN BEHAVIOR HAS CONSEQUENCES ON THE PERCEPTION OF IRAN IN THE U.S. OR THAT THIS PERCEPTION IS SOMEHOW RELATED TO AMERICAN POLICIES REGARDING IRAN. THIS SAME QUALITY ALSO HELPS EXPLAIN PERSIAN AVERSION TO ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE’S OWN ACTIONS. THE DEUS EX MACHINA IS ALWAYS AT WORK.

¶6. THE PERSIAN PROCLIVITY FOR ASSUMING THAT TO SAY SOMETHING IS TO DO IT FURTHER COMPLICATES MATTERS. AGAIN, YAZDI CAN EXPRESS SURPRISE WHEN INFORMED THAT THE IRREGULAR SECURITY FORCES ASSIGNED TO THE EMBASSY REMAIN IN PLACE. “BUT THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TOLD ME THEY WOULD GO BY MONDAY,” HE SAYS. AN MFA OFFICIAL REPORTS THAT THE SHERRY CASE IS “90 PERCENT SOLVED,” BUT WHEN A CONSULAR OFFICER INVESTIGATES HE DISCOVERS THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED. THERE IS NO RECOGNITION THAT INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED UP, THAT COMMITMENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION AND RESULTS.

¶6. FINALLY, THERE ARE THE PERSIAN CONCEPTS OF INFLUENCE AND OBLIGATION. EVERYONE PAYS OBEISANCE TO THE FORMER AND THE LATTER IS USUALLY HONORED IN THE BREACH. PERSIANS ARE CONSUMED WITH DEVELOPING PARTI BAZI–THE INFLUENCE THAT WILL HELP GET THINGS DONE–WHILE FAVORS ARE ONLY GRUDGINGLY BESTOWED AND THEN JUST TO THE EXTENT THAT A TANGIBLE QUID PRO QUO IS IMMEDIATELY PRECEPTIBLE. FORGET ABOUT ASSISTANCE PROFERRED LAST YEAR OR EVEN LAST WEEK; WHAT CAN BE OFFERED TODAY?

¶7. THERE ARE SEVERAL LESSONS FOR THOSE WHO WOULD NEGOTIATE WITH PERSIANS IN ALL THIS:

- –FIRST, ONE SHOULD NEVER ASSUME THAT HIS SIDE OF THE ISSUE WILL BE RECOGNIZED, LET ALONE THAT IT WILL BE CONCEDED TO HAVE MERITS. PERSIAN PREOCCUPATION WITH SELF PRECLUDES THIS. A NEGOTIATOR MUST FORCE RECOGNITION OF HIS POSITION UPON HIS PERSIAN OPPOSITE NUMBER.

- –SECOND, ONE SHOULD NOT EXPECT AN IRANIAN READILY TO PERCEIVE THE ADVANTAGES OF A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP BASED ON TRUST. HE WILL ASSUME THAT HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER IS ESSENTIALLY AN ADVERSARY. IN DEALING WITH HIM HE WILL ATTEMPT TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS TO HIMSELF THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY OBTAINABLE. HE WILL BE PREPARED TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, INCLUDING RUNNING THE RISK OF SO ALIENATING WHOEVER HE IS DEALING WITH THAT FUTURE BUSINESS WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE, AT LEAST TO THE LATTER.

- –THIRD, INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIPS OF ALL ASPECTS OF AN ISSUE MUST BE PAINSTAKINGLY, FORECEFULLY AND REPEATEDLY DEVELOPED. LINKAGES WILL BE NEITHER READILY COMPREHENDED NOR ACCEPTED BY PERSIAN NEGOTIATORS.

- –FOURTH, ONE SHOULD INSIST ON PERFORMANCE AS THE SINE QUA NON AT ESH STAGE OF NEGOTIATIONS. STATEMENTS OF INTENTION COUNT FOR ALMOST NOTHING.

- –FIFTH, CULTIVATION OF GOODWILL FOR GOODWILL’S SAKE IS A WASTE OF EFFORT. THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE AT ALL TIMES SHOULD BE IMPRESSING UPON THE PERSIAN ACROSS THE TABLE THE MUTUALITY OF THE PROPOSED UNDERTAKINGS, HE MUST BE MADE TO KNOW THAT A QUID PRO QUO IS INVOLVED ON BOTH SIDES.

- –FINALLY, ONE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE THREAT OF BREAKDOWN IN NEGOTIATIONS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT AND NOT BE COWED BY THE POSSIBLITY. GIVEN THE PERSIAN NEGOTIATOR’S CULTURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS, HE IS GOING TO RESIST THE VERY CONCEPT OF A RATIONAL (FROM THE WESTERN POINT OF VIEW) NEGOTIATING PROCESS.

LAINGEN

CONFIDENTIAL

Source: WikiLeaks

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Nader Khalili — Racing Alone (1983)

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Letters from Frank Stella (c.1964)

Dear Barbara,

At last we arrived in Nothing the very large dismal capital of Nowhere. The people are really very reserved + probably very sweet if they ever get out of their catatonic state, but they are poor + apparently beyond hope if they ever even had an idea of what that is. The children are very beautiful and heart wrenching. The thing I keep seeing + find hardest to forget is the dirty ______ of dried tears on the children’s faces. They cry and whimper briefly. Then they hug either their parents or the gutter.

Every morning I wake up with basically the same nightmare. I have gone off somewhere + done something when I suddenly remember that I have left Rachel alone. By the time I reach home hopelessly panicked she has managed to get out of the crib and smash her head on the bathroom tub. I pick her up and look at the dried tears and then wake up. The motif everywhere conscious, unconscious, + subconscious seems to be dried tears. I guess it really suits this trip. Everything here is dry + dead + the only hope for life is the water which dries up very quickly. I ______ the conclusion from this that Nature is inadequate here + everyone else seems to draw the same conclusion. The only alternative that Nature provides is oil. The 20th century west has made do handsomely with it, but the Iranians still find it __________. Unless they can learn to develop ______ for oil rather than water they are doomed.
[…]

Love,
Frank

---

Sahara Hotel
Kerman, Iran
Phone, 3221

Dear Barbara,

I managed to get enough diarrhea to get 1 day behind the Woodwards. Henry, my friend, nursed me through the ordeal. He is getting the Florence Nightingale award from Farah Diba.

We stayed in the Ex Point 4 guest house in Yazd. There was one good Mosque in Yazd with a very good bold geometric inside dome. The only other interesting thing there were the Zoroastrian fire temples but we couldn’t [get] inside them. We did, however, get a good look at the outside of the Towers of Silence (_________) on the edge of Town. It is on these towers that the Zoroastrians expose their dead to the sun. What happens, of course, is that the vultures come down + pick them apart. The moslems think that this is pretty disgusting. Since we were a day late getting into Yazd, I didn’t have much time in the Bazaar which is famous for its textiles. If I had a little more money I could have got some pretty interesting fabrics, as it was I got you 3 yds. of some nice rayon that purports to be silk. It should make a nice blouse.

We have been in Kerman half a day and have seen the major or community mosque + a _________ tomb just outside the city. They weren’t too interesting. I’m getting pretty tired of Islamic art. It’s very lacking in crisis content. The design of the tile patterns is interesting up to a point, but the way the different sections are plastered on the facades is not interesting. The color gets to be the same nearly everywhere. I would say that finally even in the best works, say at Isfahan + Yazd, the architecture + the decoration never get together. The best that happens is that you are stunned by the size + complexity of the tile work + are finally only really convinced by the interior spatial organization of the architecture. This added to some high moments of decorative invention, however, makes for some visual beauty that the west will never see.
[…]
xxxx Frankie

Letters from Frank Stella, from the Barbara Rose papers at the Getty Research Institute.

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Why are Arab/Persian girls considered hot but not Indian girls?

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Sandy and There Unique Very Culturalistic Persian Music

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The Official Iranian Joke Book (1981)

Further reading »

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Sports Diplomacy II or “…and he plays for a jew!”

Sports diplomacy I

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Too Much Melisma

Marzieh, Morteza Mahjubi and Adib Khwansari at Radio Studio, Tehran.

Seated (right to left): Ahmad Ebrahimi, Bizhan Taraqqi, Hosayn Tehrani, Parviz Yahaqqi. Second row: Solayman Amir-Qasemi, Farhang Sharif, Zabih Malekpur, Mortaz? Mahjubi, Ebrahim Sahba, Sadeq Sarmad. Above Mortaza Mahjubi: Nabizadeh (Toyuri).

The Golha (‘Flowers of Persian Song and Music’) comprise 1400 radio programs consisting of approximately 886 hours of programs broadcast over a period of 23 years – from 1956 through 1979. These programs are made up of literary commentary with the declamation of poetry, which is sung with musical accompaniment, interspersed with solo musical pieces. For the 23 years that these programs were broadcast, all the most eminent literary critics, famous radio announcers, singers, composers and musicians in Iran were invited to participate in them. The programs were not only exemplars of excellence in the sphere of music but highly ornate and refined examples of literary expression, making use of a repertoire of over two hundred classical and modern Persian poets, thus setting literary and musical standards that are still looked up to with admiration in Iran today and referred to as an encyclopedia of Persian music and poetry.

Read full paper Flowers of Persian Song and Music: Davud Pirnia and the Genesis of the Golha Programs [pdf]

Visit Radio Golha online

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Download (my favourite) Barg-e Sabz CD featuring:

Barge Sabz 28 (tracks 1, 2, 3)
Khanandeh: Farah
Navazandegan: Parviz Yahaghi, Jalil Shahnaz, Salim Farzan, Naser Eftetah, Jahangir Malek
Ashaar: Ataar, Molavi, Eraghi
Dastgah: Segah
Gooyandeh: Roshanak

Barge Sabz 63 (tracks 4, 5, 6)
Khanandeh: Banan
Navazandegan: Habiballah Badiei, Jalil Shahnaz, Naser Eftetah
Ashaar: Ataar, Hafez, Eraghi
Dastgah: Avaze Bayat Esfahan
Gooyandeh: Roshanak

Barge Sabz 19 (tracks 7, 8 )
Khanandeh: Taaj Esfahani
Navazandegan: Jalil Shahnaz, Hasan Kasaei, Naser Eftetah
Ashaar: Ataar, Eraghi, Hafez
Dastgah: Segah

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