College English Mar 2008

Pleasurable Pedagogies: Reading Lolita in Tehran and the Rhetoric of Empathy

Theresa A. Kulbaga

Abstract

This essay examines Azar Nafisi’s bestselling memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran (2003), in the context of U.S. book club culture. It argues that the memoir appeals to U.S. audiences by mobilizing a neoliberal rhetoric and a pedagogy of empathy that positions the United States as the geopolitical center of feminist empowerment and human rights.

Journal
College English
Published
2008-03-01
DOI
10.58680/ce20086363
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy gender and writing
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Chen (2025)
    Research Brief: Transnational Feminist Rhetorics
    College Composition and Communication
  2. Al-Khateeb (2021)
    Toward a Rhetorical Account of Refugee Encounters: Biometric Screening Technolo…
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  3. Gindlesparger (2018)
    “Share Your Awesome Time with Others”: Interrogating Privilege and Identificati…
    College English
  4. Mannon (2018)
    Spectators, Sponsors, or World Travelers? Engaging with Personal Narratives of …
    College English

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