Intertwined Histories and Perspectives: Contrapuntal Reading of Attar A book talk by Claudia Yaghoobi

Can modern concepts such as transgression, inclusion/exclusion, self/the other help us to better understand medieval subjectivity? Can medieval works shed light on out understanding of modern subjectivity? By looking at Attar’s poetry contrapuntally with medieval European literature and modern theory, this talk will map out the ways Attar’s poetry interacts with itself within the Persian cultural and historical framework as well as with medieval European culture and modern Western theoretical perspectives in regard to the concepts of transgression and the disciplinary boundaries, this talk calls into question the presumed differences between Medieval Islam and the West and makes possible a rich dialogue between civilizations that have historically been pitted against one another.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact mideast@unc.edu