Sisyphus and the absurdity of life!

The Myth of Sisyphus is a philosophical essay by Albert Camus.
"In the essay, Camus introduces his philosophy of the absurd: man's futile search for meaning, unity and clarity in the face of an unintelligible world devoid of God and eternal truths or values. Does the realization of the absurd require suicide? Camus answers: "No. It requires revolt." He then outlines several approaches to the absurd life. The final chapter compares the absurdity of man's life with the situation of Sisyphus, a figure of Greek mythology who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again. The essay concludes, "The struggle itself...is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.""

Attacking Iran!

U.S. Facing Global Diplomatic Crisis Following Massive WikiLeaks Release of Secret Diplomatic Cables

The whistleblowing website WikiLeaks has begun releasing a giant trove of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables that is sending shockwaves through the global diplomatic establishment. Among the findings: Arab leaders are urging the United States to attack Iran; Washington and Yemen agreed to cover up the use of U.S. warplanes to bomb Yemen; the United States is using its embassies around the world as part of a global spy network and asking diplomats to gather intelligence; and much more.Read or watch on Democracy Now.

Gulf of Wikileaks

Gulf of Wikileaks, a new cartoon by Kaveh Adel

Scent of Reunion

Love and union between nations through songs. Listen to a beautiful duet by Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClain : Scent of Reunion.

Michelangelo’s Moses

A symmetry of power in Michelangelo’s Moses

Below is an abstract of a significant, multi perspective article by Aladin Goushegir, Faculty of Literature and Humanities.

"Among the various interpretations of Michelangelo’s Moses, Freud’s is well-known. The founder of psychoanalysis reviews all the critics and interpretations of this masterpiece and then offers his own: this Moses is not about to spring up, as claimed by others, but on the contrary, is sitting down, suppressing his “rage”. In the light of recent works of Daniel Arasse, art critic (study of the “signification” of the index finger in Renaissance works), and Christian Bromberger, anthropologist (Trichologiaques, the analysis of the significations of pilosity, “beard” in particular), and by integrating some details neglected by critics up to now, the author of this paper intends to argue that the main theme of this set of three statues together (Moses, Rachel and Lea) is the power. The arrangement of the assembly is symmetrical: the divine power or celestial (horned Moses in the center, the Tablets of the Law and the contemplative posture of Rachel on the left) and the terrestrial power of the man-prophet (the palpable force emanating from exuberant musculature, the imposing beard, the statue of Lea staring the Earth)."

Where is My Humanity?

A humorous, yet haunting cartoon by Kaveh Adel, describing today's world! It reminds me so much of the novel "Peter schlemiel, the Man who Sold his Shadow" by Adelbert Von Chamisso, translated by Peter Wortsman. An incredible book on human tragedy.

Read my review of the novel.

In a poem, Kaveh illustrates his drawing:

I looked in my coat pocket,
And my sleeves,
Under my collar,
And around the buttons,
Tried to take off the coat,
but I saw what was not there.

Medea Was Born in Fallujah

A ten minute version of my play "Medea Was Born in Fallujah" is published in Istanbul Literary Review.


Anna Castenna Antonacci as Medea - Turin- Opera by Cherubini

Nubia Maat Ptah

I know Nubia Maat Ptah since 2004 when she took my class "Imagism and Poetic Vision in Play writing" at School for New Learning, DePaul University. In 2005 she took another class I taught "Single Mothers, Single Women, Single Fathers, Single Men"...Her passion for learning, her openness to new ideas, her persistence and diligent hard working were immense. She graduated and immediately started the Graduate School. Now she will be a PHD student soon. Her goal is serving humanity and her community, I believe. That raises enormous admiration!

It was my delightful surprise to learn that she published her first book "Unfinished Business", a book of poetry, essays, memoir and self improvement in 2007. In my astonishment I read in acknowledgments page that I was one of the people whom she thanked me for "guiding her to the vehicle that will never restrict her creativity".
This is my valuable gift for teaching at DePaul University!

Nubia begins her book with her own quote : "Fragmented pieces of my mind have a way of roaming into my dreams, altering the course of my life." And ends it with: "The self is such a delicate jewel that if chiseled incorrectly it will become worthless."
All my best to you Nubia!

Strangers

Watch Strangers.

Caligula in Tehran

Caligula by Albert Camus performed in Tehran

The Visit

Jan Lenica, 1928-2001, Wizyta Starszej Pani (The Visit), 1958. Poster for play by the Swiss dramatist, Friedrich Dürrenmatt.

Last night I visited one of my friends after several months. A friend whose greatest challenge was to become superbly successful with her persistence and hard working. She struggled silently over the course of twenty years.

I listened to her story while having dinner with the company of her little Maxi, contemplating the magnificent Chicago's glittering night under our feet. Maxi was not a luxury in her life...He was a true love...hairy, white with big eyes and a little green ball...I could transparently guess the result of the election. I did not bother to get the news from TV or Internet. I was haunted by her story, electrified by her soft, cold tone of her voice, hungry for all the details. Her story brought to my mind the essence of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's play "The Visit of the Old Lady".

I admired her every ingenious illuminating word she uttered...And the determination behind all these years....

At the end of the night, before saying goodnight, I knew I couldn't sleep. She immediately made me chamomile tea. I drank a sip, looked out from the wide windows. The city was alive, but cryptic, as she walked towards her room like a ray of light dissolved in darkness...

At home, I wanted so badly to read the play once again to remember the drive behind human's awakening soul.

Watch a scene from "The Visit" an adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's play.

La Vie En Rose

Watch a clip of La Vie En Rose a film based on Edith Piaf's life.

LA VIE EN ROSE (English translation)

Eyes that gaze into mine,
A smile that is lost on his lips—
That is the unretouched portrait
Of the man to whom I belong.

When he takes me in his arms
And speaks softly to me,
I see life in rosy hues.
He tells me words of love,
Words of every day,
And in them I become something.
He has entered my heart,
A part of happiness
Whereof I understand the reason.

Victory in Brazil

Dilma Rousseff wins the election for president of Brazil.