I really enjoyed the last Format meeting - big privilege to hear about Iran from the perspective of artists. Shame I didn't manage to talk to Farshid in the pub - but did learn a lot from Barang. I was really taken with a couple of Farshid's books - his translation of Camera Lucida is a beautiful object and his book on Amnesia (not the full title) has stayed with me.  The way he uses photographs and juxtaposition to look at  exile and memory resonates. I liked his work and could relate to what I took to be his sentiments about the dangers of superficiality. From what Barang said, the situation in Iran is complex and there's a rich artistic culture with a plethora of highly educated women. The threat to this seems to be coming as much from commodification as from Islamic fundamentalism. Well that's my take on it anyway who knows! I've been reading some of Goethe's ideas recently about the nature of civilised society and some of what Barbang and Farshid had to say about Iran seemed to be closer to Goethe's ideals than the west is currently managing.