June 3, 2025, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Middle East Institute, 1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036 (Map)

Azar Nafisi in Conversation: The Role of Literature in Times of Crisis

The Middle East Institute Arts and Culture Center is pleased to invite you to a special event with acclaimed author and literary scholar Azar Nafisi, best known for her international bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran. Drawing from both personal experience and literary tradition, Nafisi will explore the vital role of literature in times of crisis and the power of the written word to serve as an act of resistance, refuge and renewal. 

In a one-on-one conversation with Leeya Mehta, director of the The Alan Cheuse International Writers’ Center at George Mason University, Nafisi will discuss how storytelling creates a space for freedom, imagination, and individuality, helping readers question authority and empathize with others. She’ll also explore how it has empowered women in Iran and across cultures to find their voices and reclaim agency in the face of repression.

This event is part of the public programming supporting the MEI Art Gallery’s current exhibition, Maximal Miniatures: Contemporary Art from Iran, available for viewing through August 22, 2025. 

Speakers
To read the speakers' full biographies, visit our webpage on mei.edu.

To register: Azar Nafisi in Conversation: The Role of Literature in Times of Crisis | Middle East Institute