Is Watching Television a Political Act?

Western Washington University Associate Professor of Political Science Shirin Deylami will use the film “Zero Dark Thirty,” and the television shows “The Wire” and “Homeland,” as examples of visual texts that influence our perceptions of gender, race and sexuality in the context of state power and political discourse. Deylami’s research focuses on the intersections of politics and popular culture, feminist theory, and Islamic political thought. She recently co-edited the book, “The Politics of HBO’s The Wire: Everything is Connected.” This event is offered as part of the Western Libraries Reading Series, dedicated to showcasing the scholarly and creative work of Western Washington University faculty and staff by featuring diverse speakers from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines who are engaged in research, writing, and teaching at Western.