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Journal of Linguistic Anthropology

ISSN 1055-1360

1 paper in the library · publishing 2026

Papers

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The keys to the garden: Capital, class, and the repurposing of Persian mystical poetry in Los Angeles

Journal of Linguistic Anthropology December 1, 2026 Zia Khoshsirat

Abstract: This article traces the social life of medieval Persian poetry as it is repurposed within Los Angeles's Iranian diaspora. Based on 5 years of immersive ethnography in private erfān classes and mystical assemblies, I argue these gatherings function as contemporary diasporic courts, mobilizing core texts within a spiritual marketplace structured by economic exclusion. While historical...