Clothing helps define people. What people wear can help express their characteristics. When a government takes away people's right to express themselves by requiring them to wear fundamentalist clothing, like in the graphic novel, Persepolis, it forces people into conformity and tears away individuality as a standard in people's mind. Once civilians are forced to wear specific clothing, the government can force citizens to do anything because people will often assimilate to society’s standards, thinking that it is the right thing to do. Satrapi’s depiction of clothing in the graphic novel, Persepolis, helps portray the victimization of Iranian citizens.
Clothing can have impressions on people. Even small impressions can show whether someone …show more content…
Not only did the government change, but also ordinary people underwent a transformation. Marji and her parents protest against those in power twice. They first protest against the Shah (18.1), then they protest against the Islamic Republic (76.5). Although the protests are for different causes, there is a visual distinction between the two. In the first protest, the protesters are all wearing modernist clothing, however, in the second protest that is shown, half of the protesters are wearing fundamentalist clothing, which is depicted by full beards and long sleeve shirts, while the other half are wearing modernist clothing. Satrapi includes a diagram to show the clear difference between fundamentalists and modernists (75.1-2). Satrapi makes the fundamentalists in the protest look identical to show how the Republic forces them to physically look the same, which in turn, makes them think similarly. It became a protest of civilians against civilians, the modernists against the fundamentalists. It did not become a fight against the government anymore, the government manipulated people into thinking that their ideals are the only correct way, creating an “army” to fight for them. The fundamentalist men were influenced by the government to fight other victims, making them pawns of the Republic. Through the use of clothing, Satrapi is able to portray violence between divided citizens depicting the manipulative tactics of the regime, showing how both sides are
Clothing can have impressions on people. Even small impressions can show whether someone …show more content…
Not only did the government change, but also ordinary people underwent a transformation. Marji and her parents protest against those in power twice. They first protest against the Shah (18.1), then they protest against the Islamic Republic (76.5). Although the protests are for different causes, there is a visual distinction between the two. In the first protest, the protesters are all wearing modernist clothing, however, in the second protest that is shown, half of the protesters are wearing fundamentalist clothing, which is depicted by full beards and long sleeve shirts, while the other half are wearing modernist clothing. Satrapi includes a diagram to show the clear difference between fundamentalists and modernists (75.1-2). Satrapi makes the fundamentalists in the protest look identical to show how the Republic forces them to physically look the same, which in turn, makes them think similarly. It became a protest of civilians against civilians, the modernists against the fundamentalists. It did not become a fight against the government anymore, the government manipulated people into thinking that their ideals are the only correct way, creating an “army” to fight for them. The fundamentalist men were influenced by the government to fight other victims, making them pawns of the Republic. Through the use of clothing, Satrapi is able to portray violence between divided citizens depicting the manipulative tactics of the regime, showing how both sides are