Iranian/ Persepolis Background

1. Iranian/Persepolis Background

2. Pre-revolution Iranian art Kneeling Bull holding spouted vessel, Proto-Elamite;Susa, Iran; Around 3100-2850 BCE (Animal bodies were popular) During 1950-1960s “Spiritual Pop Art” (Calligraphy and talisman imagery) became popular Late 1960s- changed from nature to political artwork “Iranian art has gone through numerous phases of evolution. The unique aesthetics of Iran is evident from the Achaemenid reliefs in Persepolis to the mosaic paintings of Bishapur. The Islamic era drastically brought changes to the styles and practice of the arts, each dynasty with its own particular foci. The Qajarid era was the last stage of classical Persian art, before modernism was imported and suffused into elements of traditionalist schools of aesthetics.” Nasser Oveisi, “Five Goblet- Dance,” late 1960s, Oil on Canvas

3. Pre-revolutionary cinema1950s-70s • “The 1960s was a significant decade for Iranian cinema, with 25 commercial films produced annually on average throughout the early ‘60s, increasing to 65 by the end of the decade. The majority of production focused on melodrama and thrillers.” • Pre-revolutionary Iranian cinema • The Bride of the Sea, by the late Arman (1965) • Siavash at Persepolis, by the late FerreydunRahnama (1967) • The Brick and The Mirror, by EbrahimGolestan (1967) • The House of God, by Jalal Moghaddam (1966) • The Husband of AhooKhanom, by DavoodMollapour (1968) • Siavash at Persepolisby FerydounRahnema • “In this Iranian costume epic based on an 11th-century book by FerdowsiShahnameh, the exploits of a daring prince are chronicled. The young knight is the son of the king of Iran. The boy gets in trouble with his father after he refuses the advances of his father's first wife. Bitter at being refused, she tells the king that she and the prince are lovers anyway. She also informs her husband that with his son, she has borne several children, all of whom were murdered. The enraged king sentences his son to be burned to death. Miraculously, the prince survives the ordeal and ends up taking charge of the army. He leads them to battle against an evil enemy. Later he forgives the jilted first wife and offers her a full pardon. On the battle front, the ruler of the rival country, Turan, makes a peace offering with Iran and offers 100 hostages to appease the prince. Unfortunately, the prince's distrustful father wants these men killed. His son refuses and ends up moving to a safer country. En route he passes through Turan and marries the other ruler's daughter despite the objections of her uncle. The uncle then has the prince murdered for being a traitor. According to Iranian legend, the blood of the slain prince changed into a useful herb called the blood of Siavash.”

4. Iranian music (pre-revolution) • Traditional religious and classical songs were popular. • Such as Kurdish and Korasan music • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsBKYMSr3YI

5. Iranian Sports • Soccer was the most popular sport in Iran. (3 World cup appearances) • “Sports and athletic exercises were among the most fundamental daily pursuits of the people in Ancient Iran.Thesociety attached special status to sportsmen who thanks to their physical strength and courage, defended their family and homeland when the need arose.” • Wrestling is the national sport. • Polo originated amongst the ancient Iranians. • “In Ancient Iran, youths under 24 years of age received thorough training in the sport of their time which included miming, horsemanship, polo, dart throwing, wrestling, boxing, archery, and fencing. They were taught under conditions of severe hardship so that when the need arose they could endure the adverse conditions of war such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, heat, cold, etc.”

6. Iranian Cuisine Famous Tabrizikufta (meatball) with herbs such as tarragon, chives, cilantro, mashed yellow peas, rice and a variety of spices. The stuffing inside is composed o f dried fruits such as sour cherries, prunes, walnuts and almonds mixed with fried onion and a hard-boiled egg. A kufta can be large enough to have a whole chicken stuffed inside. The bread, sangak, is torn into pieces, soaked in the kufta broth and eaten with turshu (relishes), Prepared by PariAbadi, Tabriz, specifically for Azerbaijan International. • “Bread is arguably the most important food in Iran, with a large variety of different bread, some of the most popular of which include: nan and hamir, which are baked in large clay ovens (also called “tenurs”).” • “ In Iranian cuisine, there are many dishes that are made from dairy products. One of the most popular of which includes yoghurt (“mast”)—which has a specific fermentation process that is widely put to use amongst most Iranians.” • “Iranian cuisine involves a lot of dishes cooked from rice. Iranians believe that rice grain contains the inscription ‘it is the god’. By eating rice grains, Iranians feel as though they are getting closer to their creator.”

7. Works cited • Porada, Edith. "The Art of Elamites ." www.iranchamber.com. Iran Chamber Society. Web. 15 Sep 2013. <http://www.iranchamber.com/art/articles/art_of_elamites.php>. • "SAQQĀ-ḴĀNA ii. SCHOOL OF ART." http://www.iranicaonline.org/. IranicaEncyclopaedia, 15 Aug 2009. Web. 15 Sep 2013. <http://www.iranicaonline.org/pages/citing-iranica>. • "Culture of Iran." http://en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia, 13 Sep 2013. Web. 15 Sep 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Iran>. • "Cinema of Iran." http://en.wikipedia.org/. Wikipedia, 12 Sep 2013. Web. 15 Sep 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Iran>.

8. Major Beliefs in Islam Jake Purvis

9. Major Beliefs of Islam • One god • Belief in angels • Books given to man by god • Messengers and Prophets • Day of Judgement • Al-Qadar • Abu-Harb, A.. N.p.. Web. 16 Sep 2013. <http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-2.htm>.

10. How Does Islam Compare? • Many more followers than a lot of other religions • There are other religions that are very similar • Has an afterlife where many religions do not • Has two holy books instead of one • Anonymous, . N.p.. Web. 16 Sep 2013. <http://www.religionfacts.com/big_religion_chart.htm>.

11. Major Figures and Books • God is the main religious figure and then they follow the prophets • Muhammad is the prophet that Allah transmitted the Qur’an to • The Islamic faith uses the Qur’an for scripture and the Hadith for their traditions • Anonymous, . N.p.. Web. 16 Sep 2013. <http://www.religionfacts.com/big_religion_chart.htm>. • Howie, K.. N.p.. Web. 16 Sep 2013. <http://www.spaceandmotion.com/religion-islam-muslim-islamic-quran.htm>.

12. Overthrow of the Shah of Iran • They were unhappy with the rule of Reza Shah • The Shah wanted to get rid of the religious faith of the land • Fundamentalists rose up in a revolution • Saw this revolution as a return to authenticity • Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of this revolution, was very popular because of his opposition to the White Revolution • Was a return from religious oppression from the Shah and the United States • . N.p.. Web. 16 Sep 2013. <http://www.slideshare.net/galcec/the-shah-of-iran>.

13. Shah of Iran Cameron Terry

14. When and how did the Shaw of Iran (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) come to power? What was the U.S.’s role in his becoming Shaw • September 16, 1941 • The U.S. made his dad give up the throne so the only option was for Mohammad to take the throne

15. What kind of Government did the Shah lead? • He ran a monarchy that turned more into a dictatorship because he made himself Emperor (talk about the Napoleon complex) and did not rule outright but tried to get inside peoples head and manipulate them.

16. When and how did the Shaw lose power? What role did Islamic fundamentalists play? Who took over after he lost power? • The Shah lost power in January of 1979 because he did not listen to the people and upset many people in religious aspects of his rule. He was succeeded by an Islamic Republic.

17. What relation did his exile have to the Iranian hostage crisis? • His exile caused him to move around frequently and end up in New York for medical treatment. The Iranian hostage crisis was in response to his presence in America.

18. Bibliography • "Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi." Iran Chamber Society. Iran Chamber Society, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. <http://www.iranchamber.com/history/mohammad_rezashah/mohammad_rezashah.php>. • "Mohammad Reza Pahlavi." Wikipedia. N.p., 13 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi_of_Iran>.

19. Culture in Iran (Post-Islamic Revolution) Ilse Isidro-Antonio

20. Describe and give examples of the major phases in Iranian art. Discuss What kind of art is popular during your time period (post revolution) Only two institutions in the US have post-revolutionary Iranian posters: the Hoover Institution at Stanford, and the Special Collections Research Center of the University of Chicago Library. • More than a million Iranians died during the revolution, this diverted the nation's attention and changed its artistic priorities. Large murals in surrealist figurative style celebrating war martyrs, religious virtues or leaders became permanent public images. • popularity was driven by a need to document events, by the fact that censors had less access to photography and by the limits placed on importing foreign films. • What remains from this period are some excellent photographs of key moments of the post-revolutionary years, expressed particularly vividly by SeifollahSamadian. • When Mohammed Khatami, previously minister of culture, became president in 1998, the artistic community benefited from a relaxation of the rules: galleries had more freedom in their choice of artists and artworks, and artists began to test the limits of what could be allowed. Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic revolution take to the streets of Tehran, in 1979. Photograph: SharokHatami/Rex Features

21. Describe some major Iranian movies, including their plots and directors. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-XWK5oPwlM • Following the Revolution in 1979, a few filmmakers went into exile as Khomeini altered the focus in features. Between 1979 and 1985, about 100 features were released. While Khomeini's censorship remained, the small number of features produced focused on sexual display and European influence. • In 1982 many foundations, such as Fajr Film Festival and The Farabi cinema Foundation, and the government provided financial aid for filmmakers. The focus then shifted to true stories, mystical drama, real life problems, and documentary footage among other topics. • Post-revolutionary Iranian cinema has been celebrated in many international forums and festivals for its distinct style, themes, authors, idea of nationhood, and cultural references • In 1998 the Iranian government began to fund ethnic cinema of the society in the name of the Islamic revolution ideal. • Post-revolutionary Iranian cinema has been celebrated in many international forums and festivals for its distinct style, themes, authors, idea of nationhood, and cultural references. Starting With Viva... • Example: by KhosrowSinai, The Lost Requiem (oryg. title: Marsiye-ye gomshode, مرثیه گمشده) (documentary about the Poles who found refuge in Iran during World War II, after being forcibly taken to Soviet labor camps in Siberia) Director: KhosowSinaei A famous documentary film by Khosrow Sinai "The Lost Requiem", telling the story of the Polish wartime exodus from the Soviet labour camps of Siberia to Iran. For many of the arriving refugees, Iran seemed like "paradise". In Farsi & English with English subtitles.

22. Describe major categories of Iranian music. Focus on the most popular kind of your time period (post-revolution) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2axSncvWRo (first artist listed) • The years after the 1979 revolution emerged Islamic Republic approved stars like Parviz Meshkatian, SodeyfRambod, HatamAskariFarahani, and Jamshid Andalibi. • The renaissance brought popularity to the Classic / Dastgahi genre. • Many Iranian conservatives disliked even the simple melodies and lyrics of classical music. • Women were banned from singing as soloists for male audience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_PUjkRzqCU (last artist listed)

23. What kind of sports are popular in Iran? Who participates, and who observes? • Every Friday Iranians by the thousands, including men and women of all ages, climb the Alborz mountains. • Football (soccer), bsketball, and volleyball are the most popular team sports. But soccer is by far the most popular. • Dance and figure skating are banned, because, according to the Islamic government, these sports conflict with Sharia (Islamic law). • Koshti (wrestling) has a long tradition in Iran and is considered the national sport. (combines physical training for moral and martial purposes) • Women are allowed to take part in almost all sports, as long as they wear the obligatory hijab (or maghneh, Islamic headscarf).

24. Describe Iranian cuisine. What kinds of dishes are popular? What are considered delicacies? • Mesopotamian cuisine, Anatolian cuisine, and especially the Central Asian cuisine influence Iranian cuisine. • Typical Persian main dishes are combination of rice with meat, lamb, chicken, or fish and some onion, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. • To achieve a balanced taste, characteristic Persian flavorings such as saffron, dried limes, cinnamon, and parsley are mixed delicately and used in some special dishes. • Chelow kabab (rice served with roasted meat: barg, koobideh, joojeh, shishleek, soltani, chenjeh), • khoresht (stew that is served with white basmati or Iranian rice: ghormehsabzi, gheimeh, fesenjān, and others) • polo (white rice alone or with addition of meat and/or vegetables and herbs, including loobia polo, albaloo polo, sabzi polo, zereshk polo, baghali polo and others)

25. Works cited • "Post Revolution, Art's Revelation." Times Higher Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2013. • "Cinema of Iran." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 Sept. 2013. • "The Graphics Of Revolution And War: Iranian Poster Arts." Arts and Music RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2013 • "Iran Blog | World News | The Guardian." Iran Blog | World News | The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2013. • "IranianMovies.com: Error." IranianMovies.com: Error. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2013. • "Music of Iran." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 Sept. 2013. • Dr. AntonieDake, . N.p.. Web. 15 Sep 2013. <http://fanack.com/en/countries/iran-invisible/society-media-culture/culture/sports/>. • "Iranian Cuisine." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.

26. Society in Iran Post-Islamic Revolution

27. What religions are represented in the population of Iran? • After the revolution, the number of Iranian Jews declined. • The Islamic Revolution of 1979 guarantees religious freedom of Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians. According to the new Constitution, the religious minorities are permitted to follow their own religious laws in matters of marriage, divorce and inheritance. • Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians each have their own representative at the Parliament and are not legally forbidden from employment in the government sector. But since the authorities only employ Muslims and a 'Shari’a test' is required, these people are in reality once again barred from working for the government.

28. What is the role of women in society? • The holy law of Islam openly asserts the superiority of men over women. (Men can marry non-Muslims, but women must marry Muslims.) • The Quran also limits women's rights and defines her inferiority to man. • Women were looked at as nothing more than instruments of perpetuating one's progeny, to produce children and provide pleasures for their husbands. (Women no longer accept those laws today.)

29. Describe the education system in Iran, including higher education (universities), for most of the population. • General education is free. • They have segregated schools. • Education comprises of 5 years of primary, 3 years of lower secondary, 3 years of upper secondary and one year of pre-university education. • At first only men could get a higher education.

30. What is the family structure in Iran? • The Iranian culture has been patriarchal. • For Iranians, family is the most important social institution, and children are the focal point. • Children are loved, adorn, and sometimes spoiled. • Men have to earn a living while the women take care of the children. After the revolution, many women from all classes had to seek employment. • Parents make major decisions for their children.

31. Work cited • "Culture of Iran » Home." Culture of Iran » Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2013. • "Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: The Iranian Educational System." Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: The Iranian Educational System. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2013 • "Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: History of Higher Education in Iran." Iran Chamber Society: Education in Iran: History of Higher Education in Iran. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.

32. Pre-Islamic Society Austin Donahoo Mrs. Arndt

33. Pre-Islamic Religions “From the fourth to the third millennium BC, the Proto-Indo-Iranians forged a significant religious tradition that has influenced their descendants: the Brahmans of India and the Zoroastrians of Iran” (Price). The religions before the influence of Zoroastrianism were influenced by the mixes of tradition and the by the cults of the Stone Age.

34. Pre-Islamic Religions First taught amongst nomads on the Asian steppes around 3500 years ago, Zoroastrianism is one of the earliest revealed religions and is of enormous importance in the history of religions. It has links with the ancient Vedic beliefs of India and even possibly to a remote Indo-European past. It has influenced northern Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam and was the state religion in Iran from the 6th century BC to 7th century AD. Most information about Prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zardosht), son of Pourushaspa, of the Spitaman family comes from the Gathas, 17 hymns which were composed by the prophet and were preserved over the centuries by the Zoroastrian community. The beginnings of Zoroastrianism were based on utterances to God. The order of Zoroastrianism led to an attempt of destruction and wickedness in Iranian society to destroy wickedness and evil.

35. Pre-Islamic Gender Roles “Generally men had more rights than women and their pre-eminent position was guaranteed by the king’s orders and loosely formed legal codes. A close study of such texts reveals how gradually men’s superior legal and social status was created and consolidated over time. In general, texts indicate that women had freedom of movement, and the ability to buy and sell, attend to legal matters for their absent men, own their own property, borrow and lend, and engage in business for themselves with extensive employment opportunities. They were occasionally trained as scribes and upper class women were educated”(Price). The women were not very high in society as opposed to the men but some held some high jobs and wealthy women were able to gain education.