Cultural Studies
M.S. Zokaei
Abstract
Knowledge and perspective about cultural studies have been debated extensively in the global academic spaces and partly within Iran. However, the pedagogical requirements of this tradition have rarely been a topic for discussion. As a matter of fact, cultural studies’ project inevitably requires ...
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Knowledge and perspective about cultural studies have been debated extensively in the global academic spaces and partly within Iran. However, the pedagogical requirements of this tradition have rarely been a topic for discussion. As a matter of fact, cultural studies’ project inevitably requires teaching critical skills and analyses in classrooms. Relying on educational experiences of the author, the current paper aims to introduce some major challenges in the process of cultural studies pedagogy. Reliance on a formal teaching separated from social context, ambivalence and confusion on the concept of culture and cultural theory, difficulties in providing critical teaching and drawing boundaries of popular culture are amongst the major challenges faced by academics attached with cultural studies in Iran. It therefore can be argued that to be efficient and dynamic, and to preserve its distinction as a critical discipline, cultural studies needs today to employ educational initiatives that not only serve multi-layered historical understanding of Iranian society and culture but also fit with a reformistic cultural policy-making.
Sociology
M.S. Zokaei; R. Eslami
Abstract
In recent years Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iran has many practitioners and visitors, so it becomes one of the main aspects of Shiite identity and Iranian religiosity actions. Relying on a case study of discourses and representations of Arbaeen pilgrimage, we try to understand Arbaeen pilgrimage as a social ...
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In recent years Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iran has many practitioners and visitors, so it becomes one of the main aspects of Shiite identity and Iranian religiosity actions. Relying on a case study of discourses and representations of Arbaeen pilgrimage, we try to understand Arbaeen pilgrimage as a social phenomenon and explore diversity and differences of Iran's society today. Concentrating on representations and discourses of Arbaeen pilgrimage that signifying this Practice, by addressing written texts published on paper or digital mass media (Newspapers, News Agencies and News Sites) in a 5 years period since 1392 to 1396 in Iran, diversity of representations have shown. Applying theoretical and methodological approach of Laclau and Mouffe's discourse analysis in the process of investigating 1800 day-record published on that 5 years period, 6 different discourses have found that representing power constellation of Arbaeen pilgrimage phenomenon. Findings of this exploratory research helps focus on cultural changes of post-revolutionary Iran's society and determine its diversity contexts.
Cultural Studies
Sh. Yusefi Moghadam; M.S. Zokaei
Abstract
The main question of this research is that how generational relations patterns in Iranian family are represented in six novels chosen from two periods: before and after the Islamic revolution of Iran. This research also tracks the changes that have been occurred in novels in regard with narrating generational ...
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The main question of this research is that how generational relations patterns in Iranian family are represented in six novels chosen from two periods: before and after the Islamic revolution of Iran. This research also tracks the changes that have been occurred in novels in regard with narrating generational relations during this period. Therefore novels have been considered as interpreting elements that clarifies major social changes including generation relations within the family. So Qualitative content analysis technique is utilized for analyzing texts According to the theoretical framework in this research, three general concepts in regard with generational relations is afforded: generation agreement, generation difference and interaction simultaneously, and generation gap. In spite of diversity of views about generational relations, generation gap was the dominant represented pattern in both pre and post revolution novels. Religious gap and idealistic views of characters are the main reasons of the generation gap in pre revolution novels. Generation gap in this period is of an ideologist character and shows a departure from tradition that should be interpreted in terms of tradition-modernity confrontation. Nowadays mass media and information technologies have transformed generational relations. These elements are expected to decrease generation gap or at least diminish the intensity of challenge between successive generations; especially due to the fact that they provide a nonlinear interpretation of these relations. But generation gap is still the main pattern represented in post revolution novels.
Mohammad Saeed Zokaei
Abstract
A recent interest in body issues on the part of academic and scientific circles should be seen as a reaction to the radical changes in relationship between body, economy, technology and society. The growth of nutrition, health and sport technologies along with the increasing importance of agency and ...
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A recent interest in body issues on the part of academic and scientific circles should be seen as a reaction to the radical changes in relationship between body, economy, technology and society. The growth of nutrition, health and sport technologies along with the increasing importance of agency and consumerism, have turned body and embodiment into major themes in the contemporary society. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data on young boys and girls having regular sport activity, the present paper aims to reveal the relationship and the feelings they have towards their body. The findings indicate that modernity has made the youths more sensitive towards controlling and disciplining their body. Similarly, the competing discourses in public sphere (including the masculine discourse) act as major references in forming, understanding, and representing the body. In addition to reproducing traditional norms and bodily behaviors, such young boys and girls having regular sport activity, the present paper aims to reveal the relationship and the feelings they have towards their body.
