HuSunday, Oct 11, 4pm.  At the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 338 Lighthouse Ave, SINY 10306.

A brave and inspiring professor taught “The Great Gatsby” in to her class at the University of Tehran as revolution raged. Some students criticized the book as decadent, while others said it exposed the corruption of the filthy rich. The professor had a clever response; she and her students put the book on trial. In the spirit of Jacques Marchais, the Tibetan Museum’s founder, this event will explore how art and literature can foster cross-cultural dialogue.

This Big Read discussion of “The Great Gatsby” is inspired by a chapter from “Reading Lolita In Tehran” by Azar Nafisi. The author shares her experience teaching Nabokov, Fitzgerald, Henry James and Jane Austen in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A story of courage, discipline, hard work and hope.

Co-hosted by James Anthony Phillips.  James is a freelance writer and a longtime instructor in the ESL and the writing departments of Kingsborough Community College.