Urban Iran

Contemporary Iran is a complex place. The 1979 Revolution incited many changes, influencing how the country was perceived by its residents as well as by the rest of the world. Today, Iran serves as one of the pivot points for international economic and diplomatic policies because of its location, huge oil reserves and nuclear capabilities. These multifaceted issues can overshadow the lives of individuals doing nothing more than trying to live their lives. Our forthcoming book Urban Iran gives voice to these people, focusing on how creatives - writers, musicians, photographers, artists, publishers and designers - grapple with a daily existence that is very much complicated by the government, and the gaze of Western media. One such issue that many of the book’s contributors touch on is censorship, which has been a salient aspect of Iranian culture for decades, especially when it comes to books. Publishing houses have long been forced to either comply with governmental laws restricting certain subjects or close their doors.