Persepolis Stereotypes

Words: 819

Pages: 4

Open Document

The graphic novel, Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, challenges the American perspective through an intimate, cultural narrative of a country’s people devastated by the Islamic Revolution. This course delves into how a particular gaze such as the popular male gaze or Anglo-centric “white” gaze can have a heavy influence on how women are depicted in the media. For example, Laura Mulvey’s research suggests that the male gaze is eroticized through seeking pleasure for the male (Byerly and Ross 20). A narrow perspective can be uneducated in other cultures and has the ability to create a stereotype that is unfitting for women. Middle Eastern countries are not as understood in the general American population and Satrapi’s biography debunks the previous assumptions of gaze. Through a refreshing female-controlled lens, Satrapi overcomes the American …show more content…
American stereotypes of Middle Eastern women include dark hair or fully covered clothing, narrow mindset, and quiet lives centering on religion. Right out of the gate, Satrapi seeks to defy stereotypes by initiating a clear understanding that she will be taking control of the story. Throughout the beginning of the novel, the audience learns of her interest in demonstrations against the government and big dreams of becoming the “last prophet” through her discussions with God (Satrapi 1-7). Although there is evidence of the patriarchal figure in Iranian families, the female characters are still highly valued and exhibit core qualities that shape the novel. Satrapi, her mother, and grandmother are all described as outspoken, forward-thinking women that stand apart from the crowd. Satrapi’s mother was recognized in European magazines for protesting and later on her grandmother inspires her with a tale of liberation from

Stereotypes About Women In The Middle East Summary

The article “Stereotypes about Women in the Middle East” by Mahek Punjabi talks about how people often stereotype other groups of people and make controversial judgements about them. There can be positive and negative stereotypes. These stereotypes can be harmful to society because they oversimplify people’s qualities and create an inaccurate image of them, leading to discrimination. There were several stereotypes listed in this article that relates to the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. This…

Words 665 - Pages 3

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Essay

coastal city (Luebering). Satrapi was raised by her secular, Westernized and Marxist parents in Tehran, Iran (Luebering; Satrapi 3). Although she has written many books, it is the first of her two autobiographical books, Persepolis , that I want to draw your attention to. In Persepolis , little Marjane starts off as a six year old. She tells the story of her life and the Iranian Revolution, up until she has to leave for France at fourteen to escape Iran’s religious regime. Though at the same time poignant and comical…

Words 659 - Pages 3

Gender Roles In Gilgamesh Essay

Literature 2 February 2016 Gender Roles in Gilgamesh and Persepolis Roles of both men and women are clearly depicted in both Gilgamesh and Persepolis. In Gilgamesh, men are often portrayed as strong, powerful, and hardworking characters. Women in this text are more often than not a mixture of power, influence, and beauty. Men coexist in a society in which women are close to men in terms of power. The same cannot be said for the men and women in Persepolis. Women in the text are suppressed so much that they…

Words 1460 - Pages 6

Satrapi's Persepolis

Persepolis issues are she is concerned with how the chaos of war (cultural or otherwise) and how it affects the society, and mainly the children of that society. The book represents the Iran’s fall into the hold of radical Islam, showing the gradual limitation of rights and increased event of bloody violence, as well as how those new horrors change and shape the people and culture. The novel itself is graphic, this is for a board audience and it also limits the audience. The format is unconventional…

Words 484 - Pages 2

Persepolis Research Paper

The Iranian Government, during the Cultural Revolution, made it mandatory for all females to wear a veil, which caused uproar and protests in Iran. Throughout Persepolis, Marjane, also known as Marji, illustrates a modern picture of Iran before and after the Cultural Revolution. Before the Revolution, Iran was a very modern country with western cultures. Marji shows us through the graphics that not everyone wears veils, instead jeans and other western clothing items. All this takes a turn when Reza…

Words 367 - Pages 2

Female Characters In Star Wars

female characters are stereotyped by many people with a vulnerable label, for example, Princess Leia, who is the only female character portrayed in “Star Wars”, another great example is an Iranian girl named Marjane, the protagonist in the book Persepolis. Female characters should have individual, and independent identities, personalities, and be able to become a protagonist, female characters should not be stereotyped in any situation because the image of the female has been…

Words 1366 - Pages 6

Nine Parts Of Desire Analysis

In Persepolis, the top panel on page 5 shows a stark contrast between the women advocating for and against the veil using color. The women on the left, wearing the veil, have their eyes closed; this shows them to be literally and figuratively blind to the opinions of the other women (E). Like the author of Persepolis, I think that women must open their eyes to see both sides instead of blindly accepting what…

Words 1275 - Pages 6

Third Wave Feminism In The United States

In today's world almost every person is discriminated against based on their gender. This discrimination is shown through stereotypes, differences in pay and chances at opportunities in life. Feminism gives females the way of living in a world where they are treated and seen as an equal sex as males. According to an article about feminism, “Feminism to me and most sane people is a movement for equal rights. For everyone. Feminists aren’t monsters. They are human beings who fight the monster of inequality”…

Words 2329 - Pages 10

Iwc1 Literature, Arts and Humanities Essay

IWC1 Test 1.02 Module Pre-Test Question 1: Multiple Choice The historical revival of Classical culture began during the: a) Middle Ages b) Renaissance c) Baroque Era d) Romantic Era Feedback: The correct answer is b. The historical revival of Classical culture began during the Renaissance. Question 2: Multiple Choice Which of the following was a key feature of ancient Chinese humanism? a) An emphasis on theoretical philosophy. b) A subordination of intellectual life to religious…

Words 10011 - Pages 41