Athena Farrokhzad

{{Infobox person

| name = Athena Farrokhzad

| image = Athena Farrokhzad at Göteborg Book Fair 2013 02.JPG

| caption = Athena Farrokhzad (2013)

| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1983|8|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Teheran, Iran

| occupation = Poet, playwright

| known_for =

| height =

}}

Athena Farrokhzad ({{langx|fa|آتنا فرخزاد}}; born 23 August 1983) is an Iranian-Swedish poet, playwright, translator and literary critic.

Career

Farrokhzad was born in Teheran, Iran, and grew up in the Hammarkullen and Askim areas of Gothenburg, Sweden. She now lives in Bagarmossen, a suburb of Stockholm.{{cite web |url=http://www.gp.se/kulturnoje/1.1293047-vitt-pa-svart-med-athena-farrokhzad |title=Vitt på svart med Athena Farrokhzad |newspaper=Göteborgs-Posten|url-status=dead |accessdate=2 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092603/http://www.gp.se/kulturnoje/1.1293047-vitt-pa-svart-med-athena-farrokhzad |archive-date=6 October 2014}} She is an instructor in the writing program at Nordens folk high school on the island of Biskops-Arnö in Lake Mälaren.{{cite web |url=http://www.biskopsarno.se/athena-farrokhzad-sommarpratar-21-juli/ |title=Athena Farrokhzads sommarprat den 21 juli |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903085121/http://www.biskopsarno.se/athena-farrokhzad-sommarpratar-21-juli/ |archive-date=3 September 2014}}

Publications

In 2013, Farrokhzad published a collection of poems titled Vitsvit (White Blight) with Albert Bonniers Förlag.{{cite news |url=http://www.svd.se/kultur/ordkamp-som-utmanar_7897466.svd |title=Ordkamp som utmanar |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |date=8 February 2013 |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014 |last1=Bremmer |first1=Magnus |archive-date=3 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903084031/http://www.svd.se/kultur/ordkamp-som-utmanar_7897466.svd }} The same year, her translation into Swedish of work by the Romanian poet Svetlana Cârstean appeared,{{cite web|url=https://biblioteket.stockholm.se/inspiration/poesibazaren/svetlana-c%C3%A2rstean-och-athena-farrokhzad |title=Svetlana Cârstean och Athena Farrokhzad |url-status=dead |accessdate=2 September 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903081143/https://biblioteket.stockholm.se/inspiration/poesibazaren/svetlana-c%C3%A2rstean-och-athena-farrokhzad |archivedate=3 September 2014}} and she made her debut as a playwright with Päron, which was performed by the youth section of Östgötateatern (the county theatre of Östergötland), directed by Kajsa Isakson.{{cite news|url=http://www.svd.se/kultur/scen/galen-teaterdikt-om-tillvaron-som-fruktsallad_8715682.svd|title=Galen teaterdikt om tillvaron som fruktsallad|first=Lars|last=Ring|work=Svenska Dagbladet|date=12 November 2013|accessdate=13 September 2014|archive-date=13 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013160323/http://www.svd.se/kultur/scen/galen-teaterdikt-om-tillvaron-som-fruktsallad_8715682.svd|url-status=live}} "White Blight", Jennifer Hayashida's translation of "Vitsvit," was published by Argos Books in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://argosbooks.org/?p=2393|title=White Blight « Argos Books|accessdate=5 February 2019|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006173711/http://argosbooks.org/?p=2393|url-status=live}} It was shortlisted for the 2016 National Translation Awards (NTA) in Poetry,{{cite web|url=https://literarytranslators.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/2016-nta-shortlists/|title=Announcing the 2016 NTA Shortlists in Poetry and Prose!|last=bpenzer|date=29 September 2016|accessdate=5 February 2019|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006173710/https://literarytranslators.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/2016-nta-shortlists/|url-status=live}} named one of Boston Globe's best poetry books of 2016,{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2016/12/07/best-books/YogFuxKTVPooo8odn8UQBP/story.html|title=Best books of 2016 – The Boston Globe|first=Paul S.|last=Makishima|website=The Boston Globe|accessdate=5 February 2019|archive-date=30 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130213006/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2016/12/07/best-books/YogFuxKTVPooo8odn8UQBP/story.html|url-status=live}} and reviews appeared in Slate,{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2016/04/athena-farrokhzads-white-blight-reviewed.html|title=Lonely, Beautiful Poems About Iranian Immigrants in Sweden|first=Jonathan|last=Farmer|date=7 April 2016|website=Slate|accessdate=5 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207072334/https://slate.com/culture/2016/04/athena-farrokhzads-white-blight-reviewed.html|url-status=live}} the Rumpus,{{cite web|url=https://therumpus.net/2016/07/white-blight-by-athena-farrokhzad-translated-by-jennifer-hayashida/|title=White Blight By Athena Farrokhzad Translated By Jennifer Hayashida - The Rumpus.net|website=therumpus.net|date=July 2016|accessdate=5 February 2019|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006075232/https://therumpus.net/2016/07/white-blight-by-athena-farrokhzad-translated-by-jennifer-hayashida/|url-status=live}} Kenyon Review,{{cite web|url=https://www.kenyonreview.org/reviews/white-blight-by-athena-farrokhzad-738439/|title="A Fever That Escalates With Every Blow": Athena Farrokhzad's White Blight|website=The Kenyon Review|accessdate=5 February 2019|archive-date=24 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624121401/http://www.kenyonreview.org/reviews/white-blight-by-athena-farrokhzad-738439/|url-status=live}} and the Southeast Review.{{cite web |url=http://southeastreview.org/review-white-blight/ |title=Review: White Blight {{!}} The Southeast Review |website=southeastreview.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821094634/http://southeastreview.org/review-white-blight |archive-date=21 August 2016}} As of 2018, Vitsvit has been translated into 12 languages.

Vitsvit has been adapted into a theatre play on two occasions; one production by Unga Klara theatre company directed by Farnaz Arbabi,[http://www.expressen.se/kultur/fullandat-poetiskt-i-farrokhzads-vitsvit/ Review from Swedish newspaper Expressen] ("Fulländat poetiskt i Farrokhzads Vitsvit") {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901200153/http://www.expressen.se/kultur/fullandat-poetiskt-i-farrokhzads-vitsvit/|date=1 September 2017}} and one by the Swedish Radio Theatre, directed by Saga Gärde.[http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/609277?programid=965 Swedish Radio website]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902001944/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/609277?programid=965|date=2 September 2017}}

Farrokhzad has published two poetry anthologies, Manualen with Tova Gerge and Ett tunt underlag with the poetry group G=T=B=R=G, both in 2009. She edited the queer poetry anthology Omslag with Linn Hansén and has organized literary events such as Queerlitt, Demafor and World Poetry Day. She is also a literature critic for the newspaper Aftonbladet.{{cite web |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/bokrecensioner/article18217879.ab |title=Hans raseri hyllas av danska rasister |date=22 January 2014 |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122135201/http://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/bokrecensioner/article18217879.ab |archive-date=22 January 2014}}

''Sommar'' host

Farrokhzad hosted the Sveriges Radio show Sommar on P1 on 21 July 2014.{{cite web |url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/403967?programid=2071# |title=Athena Farrokhzad |date=21 July 2014 |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010120930/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/403967?programid=2071 |archive-date=10 October 2014}} Her show led to strong reactions from some listeners.{{cite news |url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1637&artikel=5921833 |title=Athena Farrokhzads sommarprogram |newspaper=Sveriges Radio |date=24 July 2014 |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014 |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814190215/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1637&artikel=5921833 }} Gunnar Axén of the Moderate Party expressed the opinion that her decision to play the Ebba Grön song "Beväpna er" ("Arm yourselves") was inappropriate and claimed to have thrown out his television so he could stop paying the license fee.{{cite news |url=http://www.svt.se/nyheter/val2014/toppolitiker-rasar-mot-sommar-i-p1 |title=Moderat toppolitiker rasar mot Sommar i P1 |newspaper=SVT Nyheter |date=22 July 2014 |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014 |last1=Salö |first1=Freja |archive-date=15 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815224315/http://www.svt.se/nyheter/val2014/toppolitiker-rasar-mot-sommar-i-p1 }} The license fee, which must be paid by all households with a television, is used to fund not only television but also radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20110113/31414|title=Swedish TV licence fees contribute to better society|last=Rapacioli|first=Paul|date=13 January 2011|work=The Local|accessdate=14 September 2014|archive-date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010120927/http://www.thelocal.se/20110113/31414|url-status=live}} Others reacted more positively, including Ebba Grön lead singer Joakim Thåström and some reporters and listeners.{{cite web |url=http://www.metro.se/nyheter/punkikonens-kommentar-till-p1-utspelet-bevapna-er/EVHngw!SDU0Nhys039r/ |title=Punkikonens kommentar till P1-utspelet: "Beväpna er" |url-status=live |accessdate=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729161927/http://www.metro.se:80/nyheter/punkikonens-kommentar-till-p1-utspelet-bevapna-er/EVHngw!SDU0Nhys039r/ |archive-date=29 July 2014 }} {{As of|2014|07|25}} there had been 70 complaints to the Swedish Broadcasting Commission concerning Farrokhzad's show, the most complaints received about any host of the program.{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=5920760|title=Omdiskuterat sommarprat uppe i sjutton anmälningar|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=23 July 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=2 September 2014|archive-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729011210/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=5920760}} The show was however cleared on all counts.{{Cite news |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6083272 |title=SR friat för Farrokhzads sommarprogram. Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 12 December 2021 |newspaper=Sveriges Radio |date=2 February 2015 |access-date=12 December 2021 |archive-date=12 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212145040/https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6083272 |url-status=live |last1=Engström |first1=Emma }} She was not included by SVT in the line-up for the television discussion show Sommarpratarna, but the program-makers denied she was left out due to the controversy surrounding her radio show.{{cite news |url=http://www.svd.se/kultur/svt-stoppar-athena-farrokhzad_3814652.svd |title=SVT stopper Athena Farrokhzad |work=Svenska Dagbladet |date=11 August 2014 |accessdate=6 September 2014 |archive-date=7 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907053445/http://www.svd.se/kultur/svt-stoppar-athena-farrokhzad_3814652.svd |url-status=live }}

Honors

Vitsvit was nominated for the 2013 August Prize in the literature category,{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Schibbye |url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=5680457 |title=De är nominerade till årets Augustpris |newspaper=Sveriges Radio |date=21 October 2013 |language=Swedish |access-date=4 September 2014 |archive-date=10 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010144630/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=5680457 |url-status=live }} for the Borås Tidnings debutantpris (a prize for new authors),{{cite news|first=Niclas |last=Sennerteg |url=http://www.bt.se/kulturnoje/bts_debutantpris/arets-fem-mest-prisvarda-debutanter%284125917%29.gm |title=Årets fem mest prisvärda debutanter |newspaper=Borås Tidning |date=10 February 2014 |language=Swedish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914010243/http://www.bt.se/kulturnoje/bts_debutantpris/arets-fem-mest-prisvarda-debutanter%284125917%29.gm |archivedate=14 September 2014 }} and the Catapult Prize of the Swedish Writers' Union. Farrokhzad was joint winner of the Karin Boye Literary Prize in 2013 and in 2014 won the Stora Läsarpriset (Grand Reader's Prize).{{cite web|url=http://www.albertbonniersforlag.se/Nyheter/2014/2/25/Athena-Farrokhzad-tilldelas-Stora-lasarpriset/|title=Athena Farrokhzad tilldelas Stora läsarpriset 2013 – Albert Bonniers Förlag|first=Anna|last=Arvidsson|publisher=Albert Bonniers Forlag|accessdate=13 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917142210/http://www.albertbonniersforlag.se/Nyheter/2014/2/25/Athena-Farrokhzad-tilldelas-Stora-lasarpriset/|archive-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead}}