Investigating female subject in discoursal atmosphere of Iran´s cinema (Discourse analysis of Leila, Two Women, and Separation of Nader from Simin)

Abstract

The role of media in today´s world is undeniable and no border can be imagined for information transfer. Among these, one controversial issue in the media is gender and women. This study examines female subjects in discourse atmosphere of Iran´s cinema. It probes their situations and the way of confrontation with them regarding common discourses in two traditional and modernist structures in Iranian community. This study selects cinema and picturesque symbols to know the way of women´s confrontation with the world they live in, regarding their discourse between reality and cinema among movies influenced by the society as the cultural contexts that influence it simultaneously. Based on Laclau and Mouffe (1985)´s ideas about society, policy, subjectivity, and power, this study analyzes typology of three movies including Leila (1996), Two Women (1998), Separation of Nader from Simin (2010). This analysis showed that women´s relations in the context of social hierarchy and common discourses in the society and family atmosphere is heterogeneous and disparate. However, a definite direction can´t be identified for the way of women ´s reactions in the social contexts. This can be attributed to the suspension of the relationships in transitioning society of Iran.

Keywords

• discourse analysis
• iranian cinema
• laclau and mouffe
• modernism
• tradition
• women