New Books Network Bänoo Zan and Cy Strom, "Women, Life, Freedom: Poems for the Iranian Revolution" (Guernica Editions, 2025)
Jan 20, 2026
Bänoo Zan, a renowned poet and curator, and Cy Strom, an editor with a focus on history and literary genres, dive deep into their anthology, 'Woman Life Freedom: Poems for the Iranian Revolution.' They discuss the anthology’s genesis in response to Mahsa Amini's tragic death and the empowerment behind its feminist message. With an emphasis on inclusivity, they share how submissions were anonymized to broaden diverse voices. The duo also reflects on the role of art in advocating for human rights, aiming to connect global audiences to the Iranian struggle.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rapid Response From Grief To Anthology
- Bänoo Zan recounts sending the anthology proposal days after Mahsa Amini's death and Guernica accepting it quickly.
- She and Cy Strom then ran an open, year-long anonymous submission and edited blind to widen participation.
Use Blind Reading To Find New Voices
- Do anonymize submissions to reduce insider bias and find unexpected voices.
- Bänoo Zan and Cy Strom read blind and only revealed identities after selection to ensure fairness.
Art Transcends National Ownership
- Inclusion matters more than shared nationality for authentic artistic engagement.
- Bänoo argues that Iranians don't have monopoly on writing about Iran and art should welcome strangers.
