AMES3857: Iranian Society through Cinema

In this course, we will understand contemporary Iranian society and culture through the lens of Iran's postrevolutionary cinema. Internationally renowned for its artistic, thematic, and narrative prowess, post-revolutionary Iranian cinema is unique in its ability to capture the aspirations, struggles, and triumphs of ordinary Iranians as they manage life in the Islamic Republic. In moving beyond stereotypical images presented by mass media, modern Iranian cinema provides a medium for us to delve into the complex makeup of issues such as religion, gender, class, and politics in Iran today. How does Iranian cinema reflect Iran's culture, society and politics? What role does Iranian cinema play in shaping Iran's national identity? What new insights does Iranian cinema shed onto the interests, subjectivities, and desires of Iranians themselves? Throughout this course, we will attempt to answer these questions by viewing a number of masterpieces of Iranian cinema and reading related social, historical, and political analyses. By engaging in an exploration of daily life in Iran through film, we will gain a more nuanced understanding of Iran's modern landscape and the diversity of opinions and experiences that it constitutes. This course will also serve as an introduction to Iranian history, especially following the 1979 revolution. By examining how Iranian cinema is intimately linked with this history, students will gain a better understanding of the significant role that cinema has played in shaping Iran today.

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