Academic Papers
A collection of academic texts.
Symbols and Metaphors in New Iranian Cinema: The Apple by Samira Makhmalbaf
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the metaphors and symbols used in The Apple by Samira Makhmalbaf and to investigate the way in which and the reason for which these devices are used to unfold the story. The paper begins by giving brief background information about film policy in Iran since it is crucial in the understanding of the metaphors and symbols used in the film. Then, the essay explores the uses of metaphors and symbols in cinema overall, before analyzing them in-depth in regards to The Apple. The paper ends by concluding that the reason these devices are used in The Apple is the censorship imposed on Iranian films that force directors like Samira Makhmalbaf with ‘controversial’ messages to lean on devices such as these to express their ideas and to pass censorship laws at the same time.
The Mix of Documentary and Fiction in Abbas Kiarostami’s Close-Up
In this paper, I will look into the mix of documentary and fiction in Close-Up and investigate how and why the two forms are mixed. The paper begins by giving a brief summary of Close-Up, which is crucial in understanding the mix of documentary and fiction in the film. The first chapter of the essay gives an introduction to what a hybrid documentary is and how and why it is used, especially in Iranian Cinema. The second chapter of the essay explores the techniques that are used by Abbas Kiarostami in Close-Up to mix documentary and fiction, with reference to scenes from the film.
A Poetic Battle: Metaphorical Strategies used in Iranian Cinema to Bypass Censorship
This bachelor thesis studies the metaphorical strategies used in Iranian cinema to bypass censorship. The paper aims to find out how a story can be told in a limited cinema and to help viewers of film understand how Iranian cinema is shaped by its political background. It contributes to the broad understanding of the unique quality of Iranian films, by providing a textual analysis of the elements for which Iranian cinema is known. Even though the different metaphorical strategies used to bypass censorship have been studied briefly before, they have never been bought together and studied as a whole to provide a comprehensive grasp of the political influence on Iranian cinema.