| By Paula O. - Oct 29th, 2008 at 4:21 pm EDT |
| Also listed in: Campus Progress Updates |
Iranian Hip-Hop Artist Yas.
From Kalamazoo College Senior Carolyn DeChants and Campus Progress Intern Annabell Gould:
On October 17, 2008 students gathered at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo MI for a screening of the film “Nobody’s Enemy: Youth Culture of Iran” and a performance by Iranian rapper Yas.
The event began with a presentation by the film’s creator, Neda Sarmast. Sarmast explained how her experiences as an Iranian-American motivated her to make a film presenting the Iranian youth to American audiences. After the film was screened, Sarmast answered questions from the audience and discussed methods of increasing cultural diplomacy without engaging in cultural imperialism.
Following the film screening, Yas performed for the crowd. Currently, Yas is one of the prominent faces in the Persian rap movement, a trend that reflects the Iranian’s youth desire to gain more freedom of expression in a religiously and culturally strict nation. Yas’ performance was powerful and his explanation of each song allowed the audience to understand the social and economic difficulties associated with growing up in Iran.
The event sparked thought-provoking discussion about Persian youth. Through expressing the Iranian youth movement via music and film, Yas and Neda Sarmast allowed students to see how the lives of their peers in Iran contrast with their own.
Click here for more photos from the event.
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Think of underground hip hop today, and that impostor hip hop like T-Pain aand 50 Cent. Iran wants to be the underground hip hop artist. Others want the money and the fame.
Call it how it is.