Sara Madandar Arani

Sara is a third-year PhD student in Persian and Iranian Studies with a focus on Comparative Literature. Her research delves into Gothic literature as well as modern and postmodern Iranian and American literature, with a particular emphasis on the representation of women, the male gaze, the uncanny, and the grotesque in both fictional and non-fictional works. She has a deep interest in Persian Gothic traditions and their manifestations in contemporary Iranian literature. Sara's current project is centered on the analysis of several Iranian magazines and journals, examining women's discourse and its contributions to Persian literary history. Additionally, Sara serves as an outreach scholar for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona. In her spare time, she writes poetry and short stories, blending her academic interests with creative expression.