Intercultural Communications
A. Abbaszadeh; H. Bashir; S.M. Emami
Abstract
The hymn "Salam Farmandeh" was a phenomenon that was reproduced in at least 35 copies in different languages and dialects less than a year after its first launch in Iran. From the perspective of an intercultural communication that can be seen as a cultural phenomenon, this anthem was also reproduced ...
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The hymn "Salam Farmandeh" was a phenomenon that was reproduced in at least 35 copies in different languages and dialects less than a year after its first launch in Iran. From the perspective of an intercultural communication that can be seen as a cultural phenomenon, this anthem was also reproduced in the language of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The aim of this research is to investigate the comparative discourse analysis of Persian and Turkish versions with an intercultural communication approach. The data analysis is based on two methods of semiotics and discourse. The theoretical framework of the research is based on the theories of diffusion and, identity negotiation. The findings show that this hymn, in general, is understood and reproduced outside the borders of Iran, especially for Shia minorities in the Caucasus, as a manifestation of a cultural resistance against the globalized western culture. The discourse governing the Turkish version is formed around three basic aspects: "Introducing Imam Zaman (AS) to the youth", "Actively waiting for his reappearance “and "Building the future of Azerbaijan, according to its religious identity". In comparing the Turkish version with the Persian one, the two basic meanings of "introducing Imam Zaman to teenagers" and "actively waiting for the appearance of Imam Zaman" were repeated, around which the discourse of the Persian version was also formed.
Theory and Criticism
M. Mazhari; M. Armaghan; F. Alborzi
Abstract
Edward Said's analysis of "Orientalism" critically examines how the East is portrayed in Western art and how this portrayal reinforces the colonial mindset. It goes beyond just distorting the ideology to establish a new political order. Instead, it creates a separate reality of the Orient, distant from ...
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Edward Said's analysis of "Orientalism" critically examines how the East is portrayed in Western art and how this portrayal reinforces the colonial mindset. It goes beyond just distorting the ideology to establish a new political order. Instead, it creates a separate reality of the Orient, distant from the West and objectifies it as a source of Western knowledge. The world exhibition serves as an arena to showcase various Western and Eastern cultures. It juxtaposes logical and imaginary, chronological order, and mythical disorder. The exhibition has been used to shape transcultural and advance Orientalist discourse strategies and expectations of imperialism. The representation and construction of “self” and “others” found an ontological and epistemological relationship with Orientalist alienation. Also, due to the newly acquired strategic position during the first Pahlavi era and the ancient history of the country's science and art, Iran's presence there earned special position in the eyes of Orientalists and the Western knowledge domain. Therefore, it was necessary to depict it by classifying the structure of knowledge and related historiography. In fact, the concepts and political rules of the historical interpretation of Orientalism were derived from Iran's participation in international exhibitions. The goal was to identify a connection between Orientalist ideas and the pavilions' physical, content, and functional aspects. The study found that Iran's pavilions, in particular, reflected Orientalist expectations. They were designed like museums showcasing Iranian art and arranged exotically to appeal to Western audience.
Higher Education
M. Sepehr; S.H. Serajzadeh; B. Zare; K. Habibpour Gatabi
Abstract
The signs of change and transformation in education have always been floating signifiers while articulating educational policy actions and various other semantic conflicts. This article uses a combined theoretical framework from Laclau, Mouffe, and Fairclough to analyze these semantic conflicts in policy ...
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The signs of change and transformation in education have always been floating signifiers while articulating educational policy actions and various other semantic conflicts. This article uses a combined theoretical framework from Laclau, Mouffe, and Fairclough to analyze these semantic conflicts in policy texts formulated in the first decade after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The results of this analysis show that semantic conflicts in the field of education, in the context created by cultural struggle (or Jehad Farhangi), articulate the fundamental change in the goals, content, structure, programs and philosophy of education with a focus on Islamization. This nodal point found semantic stability with signs such as: changes to the course content, purgation of manpower and elimination of former discourse, foundation of "Omor Tarbiyati" (Educational affairs), orientation to extracurricular activities in schools and, governmentalization of schools, etc. The credibility and accessibility of this meaning was linked to the necessity of signs of the Islamic Revolution discourse, and became a metaphor in the field of policy texts.
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
Mohammad Rashid Soofi; A. Ravadrad
Abstract
This paper aims to introduce a mixed research method for the analysis, reading, and interpretation of urban visual culture texts. To reach this goal, mural have been chosen as the most outstanding urban visual text. In order to do a case study, one of the outstanding wall-paintings located in Tehran`s ...
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This paper aims to introduce a mixed research method for the analysis, reading, and interpretation of urban visual culture texts. To reach this goal, mural have been chosen as the most outstanding urban visual text. In order to do a case study, one of the outstanding wall-paintings located in Tehran`s Vanak square, has been selected to be analyzed by a mixed method. The analysis of the visual text has been done in two stages including semiology and discourse analysis. For the first stage, we used O`Toole`s semiotic method suitable for analyzing urban murals, and for the second stage, we employed Laclau and Mouffe`s discourse theory. Findings of the case study for the micro level showed that, key signifiers - as nodal points - of the text have been recognized as nature, city, man, and woman and the relationship and interaction between them have been distinguished in the form of binary oppositions such as nature (village)/city and man/woman. At the macro level, the main competitive discourses identified in the text, are Environmental Protection vs. Urban Sprawl and Masculism vs. Feminism, that are lively and actively in an antagonistic situation using their key signifiers. Finally, the dominant and hegemonic discourses through positive representation of their key signifiers can be considered as Environmental Protection and Masculism.
Cultural Studies
M. Kousari; A. Tafreshi
Abstract
How an idea is born and how a marginalized discourse is outstood? This is the question that discourse analysts in various fields always try to respond. This responsiveness always needs filling the Archive gaps of discourse analysis, so researchers who have intention to analyze, with reference of Synchronicity ...
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How an idea is born and how a marginalized discourse is outstood? This is the question that discourse analysts in various fields always try to respond. This responsiveness always needs filling the Archive gaps of discourse analysis, so researchers who have intention to analyze, with reference of Synchronicity or diachronic, can understand and analyze the evolution of discourses in various fields inter-subjectively. This research is about to respond this question and understand women identity in the second Pahlavi discourse in contemporary Iran. In addition, this research tries to help discourse researchers to understand the nature of discourse controversy in the second Pahlavi era and in what extend the current controversies in Iranian society about the semantic hegemony on women identity these controversies have different or similar semantics with second Pahlavi and its affiliates' discourse. Based on the above matter, the Shah’s most important speeches along with Zan-e Rooz magazine, as a close magazine to the second Pahlavi's official discourse is being analyzed using Laclau and Mof method. One of the results of this research is understanding the nodal point of "being up-to-date" for the second Pahlavi's discourse, which stands in close attraction with “being social". This discourse has a big emphasis on beauty and appeal and marginalizes hijab, especially Chador, as opposing such epistemes with rationality and calls them dogmatism. In addition second Pahlavi severely antagonizes Marxism and religious identities, but if we want to discuss its dominant aspect, the most discourse controversies represented by Zan-e Rooz magazine and the Shah’s speeches are related to antagonizing religion and religious identities and deconstructing their bonds with women identity.
Hasan Bashir; Ali Eskandari
Abstract
Nowadays, mass media has prepared the ground to represent most issues of the human life in national and international levels. Cinema, as an example, becomes a suitable area for those who are keen to maintain the fundamental values of the society, such as "family". In this article, after introducing representation ...
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Nowadays, mass media has prepared the ground to represent most issues of the human life in national and international levels. Cinema, as an example, becomes a suitable area for those who are keen to maintain the fundamental values of the society, such as "family". In this article, after introducing representation theory, which is the most important theory in media and cultural studies, we try to analysis the Iranian film of "Yeh Habbeh Ghand" (One Cube of Sugar) with the "Practical Discourse Analysis Method" (PDAM). The result of this analysis shows that the director by testing the effect of the traditional and modem values on Iranian family, suggested that the best way is to maintain both the traditional and modern values in the family.
