After watching Middle of Nowhere, I was deeply moved by the strong female characters and powerful narrative techniques that make that piece so special. For my narrative analysis, I will be choosing the animated film adaptation of the graphic novel, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
Premise
Set in 1970s Iran, Marjane or “Marji” Satrapi witnesses through her life the defeat of the Shah, the birth of Islamic fundamentalism, injustices faced by her loved ones, and the rebirth of a new Iran. After being sent to Vienna to study and coming back home to Iran later in life, she comes to terms with the tumultuous complexities that face a young woman trying to find where she belongs and her true identity.
Protagonist and Focalization In this film, Marjane Satrapi is the protagonist. Throughout the film we, as an audience, are able to follow her life up to early adulthood through various personal vignettes and crucial pieces in her life. Marji narrates from time to time, and creates dialogue with her own character. As I said in the …show more content…
In the beginning of the film, she identifies the Shah and his regime as the common enemy. Then, she claims that Islamic fundamentalism and what she voices as oppressive Sharia law (wearing the hijab, banning Western culture and alcohol, etc.) are forces that harm her (getting trouble at school, police) and her family (imprisonment, death.) Although I see these as antagonistic forces, I personally identify the antagonist as herself in a way. Throughout the film, through each period of her life, I believe that her beliefs, the way she stands for injustice, the struggle with accepting her identity, and her idealistic tendencies, even though are positive attributes in my opinion, bring all the problems that she faces growing into womanhood. All these different antagonists all influence each other and ultimately want power and control over the lives of people and also her
Premise
Set in 1970s Iran, Marjane or “Marji” Satrapi witnesses through her life the defeat of the Shah, the birth of Islamic fundamentalism, injustices faced by her loved ones, and the rebirth of a new Iran. After being sent to Vienna to study and coming back home to Iran later in life, she comes to terms with the tumultuous complexities that face a young woman trying to find where she belongs and her true identity.
Protagonist and Focalization In this film, Marjane Satrapi is the protagonist. Throughout the film we, as an audience, are able to follow her life up to early adulthood through various personal vignettes and crucial pieces in her life. Marji narrates from time to time, and creates dialogue with her own character. As I said in the …show more content…
In the beginning of the film, she identifies the Shah and his regime as the common enemy. Then, she claims that Islamic fundamentalism and what she voices as oppressive Sharia law (wearing the hijab, banning Western culture and alcohol, etc.) are forces that harm her (getting trouble at school, police) and her family (imprisonment, death.) Although I see these as antagonistic forces, I personally identify the antagonist as herself in a way. Throughout the film, through each period of her life, I believe that her beliefs, the way she stands for injustice, the struggle with accepting her identity, and her idealistic tendencies, even though are positive attributes in my opinion, bring all the problems that she faces growing into womanhood. All these different antagonists all influence each other and ultimately want power and control over the lives of people and also her