Marta Simidchieva’s research interests focus on the intersection of religion, culture, and society of the countries in Central, West, and South Asia, whose premodern cultural legacies are a constituent part of the so-called “Persianite civilizations.” She is especially interested in the history of ideas, in their reception and acculturation, and in the cultural negotiations and contestations which occur when societies with strong cultural traditions appropriate Modernity. East-West cultural interaction is another aspect of her research, as are issues of cultural syncretism, hybridity, and cultural authenticity. The representation of women in literature and the arts, of female agency, creativity, and changes in gender mores in the wake of socio-political change, is another area of exploration for her. Classical and modern literature in Persian and its cognate languages provides the inspiration and material for most of her studies.

Current Courses

Upcoming Courses

Marta Simidchieva’s research interests focus on the intersection of religion, culture, and society of the countries in Central, West, and South Asia, whose premodern cultural legacies are a constituent part of the so-called “Persianite civilizations.” She is especially interested in the history of ideas, in their reception and acculturation, and in the cultural negotiations and contestations which occur when societies with strong cultural traditions appropriate Modernity. East-West cultural interaction is another aspect of her research, as are issues of cultural syncretism, hybridity, and cultural authenticity. The representation of women in literature and the arts, of female agency, creativity, and changes in gender mores in the wake of socio-political change, is another area of exploration for her. Classical and modern literature in Persian and its cognate languages provides the inspiration and material for most of her studies.

Current Courses

Upcoming Courses