For the first time, a standup Iranian-American comic troupe entertained more than 100 in Stamp Student Union’s Colony Ballroom last night and attempted to break the stereotypes of Iranian politics and culture.
The Iranian Students’ Foundation hosted the event, F.A.R.S. A New Generation of Iranian-American Stand-Up Comedy, which featured comedian Tehran SoParvaz II, Reza Peyk and K-Von Kvon, all former acts with the comedy group Axis of Evil.
The show began with SoParvaz making fun of the half-hour delay, referring to it as “Persian time,” to which the audience responded in laughter.
Jokes during the evening covered an array of topics: Persian girls (the troubles with dating them, since they have what Kvon called “PPS: Persian Princess Syndrome”), college clubbing, troubles the older Iranian generation tend to have with learning English, the cultural emphasis on education and politics.
The politics coverage was especially heavy, with all of the performers applauding the high percentage of Iranian-Americans that voted this past election. The comedians also made fun of the terrorist stereotype many face.
For example, when the crowd cheered for Iran after being prompted by the comedians, the comedians responded, “The FBI just took all of your pictures.”
Later, Peyk asked the audience if there were any non-Iranians, to which he followed up with, “You’re in a terrorist camp.”
They even incorporated post-Sept. 11 airport security into their act, with Peyk imitating a “gay Muslim” asking for a colon bomb search.
While stand-up comedy is no stranger to the campus, Iranian-American comedy offers something different from the new generation of Iranian-American students, SoParvaz said.
SoParvaz, the emcee of the show, said before the event, “It’s just a different cultural perspective. The same way African Americans come out with an African-American point of view, we come out with an Iranian-American point of view. All types of minority comedy have paved the way for something like this.”
Professional comedy in Iranian culture is particularly rare, since many Iranians prefer professions that require higher levels of education, Kvon said.
“For the Middle Eastern people specifically, they don’t get to see people of similar backgrounds to them performing on stage,” he said. “Especially stand-up comedy. Most Middle Eastern people choose careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers and professions like that. As comedians, we are a rare breed.”
Through comedy, Persians are able to keep their Iranian heritage while also dealing with an American culture that tends to stereotype them, SoParvaz said. Comedy makes the message of culture preservation more appealing to the younger generation of Iranians, he added.
“This is the best way for minorities to express their angst, their struggles. It’s the best way we deal with integrating with American society,” SoParvaz said.
While Iranian-American comedy is unique, it is one that is gaining popularity among university students.
“It was amusing,” said sophomore finance major Jay Yousefzadeh. “They encompassed a lot of stereotypes that we don’t notice, but we do them.”
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