The photo, Speechless, was taken by Shirin Neshat, in 1996. The Persian inscription that was painted on the woman’s face by Shirin Neshat comes from a poem celebrating martyrdom (“Speechless”[1]). Shirin Neshat moved to the United States when she was a teenager and returned to Iran in 1990 where she encountered a country transformed by a revolution. Iran altered from a secular regime to an Islamic republic (“Shirit Neshat”[2]). The Persian culture was very different than the Islamic culture; the Islamic culture affected women’s political and social status in Iran. Women lost all their rights in Iran; the right to be equal to their husbands in the family was changed (“Women’s Rights under Iran’s Revolution”[3]). Women were not allowed to express their thoughts and were forced to obey the government. This painting is a representation of women’s submission after the Iranian Revolution.
This photograph portrays the loss of women’s rights. The lack of color depicts that there is no mixture of culture or diversity. The minimum colors illustrate that there is only a set way to think or act. Between the veil and her face is a gun that resembles a piece of jewelry. The gun between her face and the veil symbolizes a threat. This gun symbolizes that women have no choices but to obey and follow the Islamic government. It demonstrates that she is forced to wear the veil and if she does not wear it she will punished. The woman in the painting has something on her mind but cannot say what she wants to say. The words written on her face represent what she is thinking but is not able to open her mouth. The watery aspect of her eyes represents a restricted cry for help and freedom; her shut mouth symbolizes restrained oppression, inability to live life freely. She also looks disappointed and shocked how a country she used to love changed so quickly.
This photo represents the loss of dignity of women in Iran. The woman in this photo is forced to cover herself up which demonstrates voice, self -expression and self -esteem. She is also forced to believe and obey something that she does not believe in. The gun next to her face represents that she cannot speak out her mind or say what she stands for. The woman does not have the choice to not wear the veil or to accept the traditions of Islamic fundamentalist which represents loss of respect. The dark colors represent gloom and no hope for the future. In the painting, only half of the woman’s face shows which demonstrate that she knows what she wants and what she believes in but can’t do anything about it. The photo portrays that she may follow what the Islamic republic wants her to follow so she is not disciplined but deep down she knows the truth.
I think you may be confused about the meaning of this photograph and the Iranian Revolution. The Iranian revolution was a big turning point for women in Iran in a positive way.
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