Browse oral history

Interview with Saffari, Bijan

Personal and educational background; on the encounter between the traditional and the modern in twentieth century Iran; revival of interest in the traditional art forms in the 1970s; cultural crisis in the late Pahlavi era; on the cultural roots of the Revolution; beginnings of the Shiraz Art Festival; Festival’s aim and agenda; impact of the Festival on the artistic circles outside of Iran; reaction of SAVAK and the media to the Festival; influence of the Festival on the development of performing arts in Iran; on Queen Farah’s patronage of the Festival; recollections of the contribution of the National Iranian Radio and Television Organization (NIRT) to the performing arts in Iran; workings of NIRT; on the creation and objectives of the Queen Farah Foundation.

Part 1

Part 2

Transcripts

Bijan-Saffari-APt-I Bijan-Saffari-English

Contents

34pp. + summary + biographical note + index + photograph

About the interviewee