Witnessing Iran: 1979 and 2009   Tags: iran, middle-east  

A discussion of the changing role of the eyewitness account in the creation of historical narrative--with Iran as the context. Speakers will include:

Mark Bowden, author of Guests of the Ayatollah : The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam (check availability @ Duke). Bowden will talk about the interviews he conducted with hostages and hostage-takers in the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979, as well as the information he obtained from military officials about the failed rescue attempt. Duke's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library holds the interviews Bowden conducted (finding aid) as well as Tim Wells' interviews (finding aid) with 36 of the hostages; these interviews are the basis of his book, 444 Days: The Hostages Remember (check availability @ Duke).

Negar Mottahedeh, associate professor in the Literature Program. Based on her knowledge of social networks and new media, Mottahedeh will talk about their relevance for understanding current events in Iran, where Twitter and Facebook are playing such a prominent role in the reporting of political events. Mottahedeh posts frequently on Twitter about developments in Iran.

The program will be moderated by Bruce Kuniholm, dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy and a member of both the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Policy Planning Staff during the Carter administration. Kuniholm is an historian who does research on U.S. policy in the Middle East; U.S. diplomatic history, and national security.