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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until September 01, 2027

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Exploring Iranian Feminist Activism through 2022 Street Photography and Visual Culture

Sadeghzadeh, Mina
http://orcid.org/0009-0005-2320-1950
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1715708911544739

Abstract Details

2024, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Art History (Fine Arts).
The ideology of the Islamic revolution has influenced the representation of Iranian women in photography after the 1979 revolution. Typically, women are portrayed passively, even in fine art photography, and their representation is often isolated and objective. Equality movements for Iranian women's rights have periodically existed in the years after the 1979 Revolution. However, with the expansion of social networks, photography plays a significant role in the representation of Iranian women and in creating an image in contrast to the previously passive Iranian woman who was repressed and socially excluded. The influence of social networks and photography on the representation of women's bodies in Iran can be traced back to 2017, with the repetitive of Vida Movahed's figure, whose photo protesting the mandatory hijab led to the display of similar images. The influence of photography in turning women's figures into memes has expanded in Iran and worldwide, especially after the moral police killed Mahsa Amini in September 2022 over the issue of hijab. Many Iranian women are inspired to join the WLF/Woman, Life, Freedom movement after seeing viral images of other female figures. These images capture the figures of schoolgirls, protesters cutting their hair, and individual female figures that resemble the iconic figure of Vida Movahed. The WLF representatives can be seen in these photos, and the movement continues growing as more women participate. In this research, I analyzed the street photos of the Women, Life, Freedom movement in 2022 using anthropological and interview methods. In addition, interviews with Iranian photographers and their lived experiences show that due to the oppression system of the current regime of Iran regarding the female bodies and femineity, representation of the body was one of the concerns of their art formation. Furthermore, this research analyzes how Western magazines, like Time, portray the visual culture of the Middle East and Iran. It also highlights their misconceptions about the differences in feminist issues between the West and the Middle East.
Jennie Klein (Advisor)
93 p.
Art History; Middle Eastern Studies; Womens Studies
Visual culture/ Photography/ Iran/ Feminism/ Feminism activism

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sadeghzadeh, M. (2024). Exploring Iranian Feminist Activism through 2022 Street Photography and Visual Culture [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1715708911544739

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sadeghzadeh, Mina. Exploring Iranian Feminist Activism through 2022 Street Photography and Visual Culture. 2024. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1715708911544739.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sadeghzadeh, Mina. "Exploring Iranian Feminist Activism through 2022 Street Photography and Visual Culture." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1715708911544739

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1715708911544739
© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.