Yasmina Reza

The life in Iran during Reza Shah’s tenure was full of inequity, harshness and cruelty. This period affected not only the local population, but also the Armenian community. Both “Persepolis” and “The Armenian Community of Tabriz” are bright examples of how indigenous people and unwelcomed non-natives suffered from the decisions that government made. As Satrapi brings up in “Persepolis”, her early childhood was spent in an easygoing way. She was brought up in a well-to-do family. She had mother,…

From the book “The Complete Persepolis” by Maryjane Satrapi. “It had been four years since I had such a well-stocked store, the first Aisle I headed was the one with scented detergents, we couldn’t find them in Iran anymore’’. This quote has moved me because it reminds me the suffering and hardship of the people. Most of the country today were still living in the poverty and unhealthy lifestyles. Maryjane could not believe what she has seen in Vienna store a place she can buy whatever she wants.…

Ahmad challenged Iranians to look inward and embrace the force most resistant to change from outside forces: Islam. In particular, I found the dichotomy between Reza Shah’s westernization reforms and Aleh Ahmad’s Islamic Republic as an ideological battle for the hearts and minds of everyday Iranians. The Iranian government under Mohammad Reza Shah encouraged Westernization of the Iranian people; oftentimes this was not suggested, so much as it was imposed. The Shah took various initiatives to…

Persepolis Photo Essay Photography is an art of observation, it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. In the book Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi, the author, represents Iran through her young adolescent eyes. Marjane precisely portrays Iran throughout the book. Through certain images we may receive an enhanced representation of Iran by the revolution, imperialism, nationalism, social classes and religion. This photograph captures a group of…

In the Iran Hostage Crisis about 60 people were held hostage from November 4th, 1979 to January 21st, 1981, so that's a total of 444 days the people were held against their will. That's one reason why I want to be there during the Iran Hostage Crisis, and the reason being is because I want to see what all the people had to go through, and how they were treated like while there. To be honest I would want to experience what they had to go through, because maybe then I wouldn't take life for…

century, initiating a period of Islamic revivalism and the struggles against ‘modernisation’ involving the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty, under Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, and its eventual reinstatement of Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution that introduced Muslim fundamentalism. Political repression by the regime of Mohammed Reza Shah, particularly the SAVAK (secret police) and the concept of authoritarianism were the political features of the revolution. The opposing…

The essence of the Persian Empire from 2,500 years ago can still be seen throughout Iranian culture today (Stevens). The magnificent monuments constructed under Mohammad Reza and the beautiful green, lush gardens of north Tehran that are kept today add to the beauty of this timeless city. No matter who is guiding the political tide of Iran, the people of Tehran would continue to be educated individuals that are able to…

The beginning of the story started in the 1920s, when Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, assumed the position of the Shah, or King of Iran. From the early 1920s until the late 1970s, when he was overthrown, Shah Pahlavi, pushed for the westernization of Iran. Under his ruling, he instilled an anti-communist, and pro western nation…

(set in Iran) recounts the enduring story of these amazing people and those who suffer under their greatness hunt, focusing on the loss of identity and the effects of forced assimilation through the life and ventures of one fictional but legitimate Reza Pejman Khourdi. The main sufferers are the Kurds; indigenous peoples of the Middle East (primarily mountainous regions of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria) who remain one of the world’s largest ethnic…

Following World War II, many different countries were left in ruins and began to rebuild, especially in Europe. Iran specifically, was recovering from being invaded by Soviet and British troops after being a neutral country in the war. In the book titled All the Shah’s Men, we get a more focused glimpse on Iran and all the foreign powers influencing the nation. Iran was ruled as a monarchy until 1979, and each king or emperor is given the title of “shah”. Every Shah ruled until death or they…