Oliver Vass

Outsmarting Digital Censors

Freedom of expression has always been central to literature. Writers, poets, and journalists give form to experiences that might otherwise remain hidden. Yet in many parts of the world today, digital technologies are not only tools for creativity but also instruments of control. Firewalls, shutdowns, and surveillance do not simply restrict political debate — they…
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Digital Repression – 2026

Did you know… These are just some of the systems our contributors have lived through. Now in Norway, they’ll tell how digital repression works—and why it’s spreading. What is digital repression? Digital repression refers to the use of digital information and communication technologies to surveil, manipulate, or coerce individuals or groups in order to control…
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Translation Across Borders

Cross Cultural Translation Workshop Translation Across Borders is a series of six public workshops exploring poetry and the art of translation across languages and cultures, with a focus on exile, censorship, and creative resistance. Curated by poet and translator Fatemeh Ekhtesari, each event invites participants into a hands-on translation process, guided by guest writers, translators,…
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How Technology Enforces Gender Apartheid

Explore the full report: IBA Gender Apartheid Inquiry Report Technology is increasingly weaponized to uphold oppressive regimes, and the Gender Apartheid Inquiry Report reveals chilling insights into its use in countries like Iran to enforce gender apartheid. Surveillance as a Tool of Oppression Why This Matters This technological oppression institutionalizes gender apartheid, stripping women of…
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Understanding Gender Apartheid

Gender apartheid refers to the systematic segregation and discrimination based on gender, often enforced by laws, policies, and cultural practices. It denies women and girls equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and basic freedoms, perpetuating a cycle of oppression. This form of institutionalized inequality is prevalent in various parts of the world, restricting women’s rights…
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Documenting Gender Apartheid

We are now well underway with our three-year project Documenting Gender Apartheid, which explores the lived experiences of women in Norway who have grown up under laws and practices that systematically discriminate against women and girls. Over the past year we have recorded in-depth interviews with women who have migrated to Norway from across the…
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Siavash

The story of Siavash in the Shahnameh, penned by Ferdowsi, begins with his birth to a woman who becomes the wife of Kay Kavus, the king of Iran. However, astrologers and soothsayers predict a dark and troubled fate for the handsome Siavash, which deeply disturbs Kay Kavus. Soon after, Rostam, the noble warrior, approaches the king and…
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How Poetry Touches the Brain and Sparks Emotion

Verse and nerve, the hidden power of poetry on the human mind Poetry has been woven into nearly every culture throughout history, but its impact on the brain and body remains unclear. In an intriguing study, “Wassiliwizky” et al. set out to uncover how poetry affects our emotions and brain activity. This interesting study conducted…
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Rostam – Persian Literary Characters

Continuing our journey through Persian literary icons, leading up to the release of our translated poetry collection, today we spotlight one of the most formidable heroes in Persian mythology: Rostam. Rostam is the central hero of the Shahnameh, the epic masterpiece composed by the 10th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi. As the strongest and most revered warrior…
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Majnun – Persian Literary Characters

As we continue our exploration of iconic characters from Persian poetry, building up to the release of our own translated collection, we turn our attention to one of the most enduring figures in Persian literary tradition: Majnun. Majnun is the tragic protagonist of the legendary love story Layla and Majnun, penned by the 12th-century Persian…
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