Iranian-American Muslim author and comedian Negin Farsad will present Carleton College’s Asian American History Month Convocation on Friday, May 6 from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in the Skinner Memorial Chapel. Author of the forthcoming book, “How To Make White People Laugh,” Farsad is at the forefront of social justice comedy.
In a presentation entitled “Comedic Justice,” Farsad will mix her real-world activist comedy experience, a dash of comedy philosophy, and a touch of public policy. This event is free and open to the public. Carleton convocations are also recorded and archived for online viewing at go.carleton.edu/convo/.
As one of few Iranian-American Muslim female comedian/filmmakers, this TED Senior Fellow uses humor to bridge the racial, religious, social, and immigrant gap. Her comedic routines often feature her frank and sharp-witted views on politics, sex, and her experiences navigating the cultural dynamics of her Iranian-born family. A seasoned filmmaker, her most recent work is a feature documentary, “The Muslims Are Coming!,” takes a group of Muslim-American comedians on the road to unlikely stops in generally red states to perform shows, meet locals, and dispel Islamophobia through jokes.
Farsad was named by The Huffington Post as one of their “50 Funniest Women” in 2011 and the following year the blog named her one of “18 Funny Women You Should Be Following on Twitter.” She has performed for national and international audiences and opened for the likes of Al Franken, Bobby Lee, and Colin Quinn, among many others. Her work has been called 'smart, funny, and fascinating' by the Wall Street Journal, a ‘Critic’s Choice’ by the Chicago Tribune, ‘a shining exception’ by the Dallas Morning News, and Backstage cheered that “it doesn’t get much funnier than this!” Her first ever musical, “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Romantic Comedy”, premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival.
Farsad (www.neginfarsad.com) has been interviewed and featured on numerous print, television and radio programs throughout the world, including AOL, CNN, IFC, MSNBC, MTV, Comedy Central, the Huffington Post, The Joy Behar Show, Rock Center with Brian Williams, the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang on Sirius XM, and many more.
This event is sponsored by the Carleton College Offices of College Communications and Intercultural & International Life. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4308. The Skinner Memorial Chapel is located First and College Streets in Northfield.
