Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Post-Doc, Institute of Oriental and Asian Studies

BMBF-Project: Europe from the outside

About

In my current research project I will focus on three selected Persian travelogues to Europe from the late 19th and early 20th century mainly composed by travelers of the Qajar royalty. I aim at exploring the various ways in which Europe was perceived, what it represented and (geographically) consisted of according to each traveler and how these images were informed and (re-)shaped by inner-Iranian discourses and debates on different issues. Moreover, I’m interested to find out what the act of traveling meant for each traveler, to learn about their motives of writing a travel account and what functions the texts fulfilled in their individual contexts. Thereby, I will analyze the travelogues’ narrative techniques and structures to add to a deeper understanding of what the texts focus on and how and why they do so. To answer the latter, a consideration of the contemporary socio-political and cultural situation not only of Iran but also of the European destinations will be necessary. By following this path, I hope be able to gain further knowledge on the social contexts of the travelers, the changing and enduring perceptions of Europe among Iranian elites and on the literary development of travel writing during the Qajar era.
However, as this project is still in an early, formative stage, my research questions and scope will most likely not remain exactly as described above.

I am interested in an academic exchange with scholars working on travelogues from the Qajar era in general as well as with scholars researching travel accounts to Europe by authors originating from other regional areas to learn about their approaches to the topic and the sources. I’d also be grateful for any suggestion & comments!

My other areas of interest include the History of the Iranian Women's movement, the development of women's press in the Middle East and Studies on Gender Theory and the History of Sexuality in general.

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