PERSEP0LIS The Story of Childhood

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PERSEP0LISThe Story of Childhood

• Historical Context

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BEFORE the Islamic Revolution

• 1941-1979
• Shah Reza Pahlavi
• Supported the Europeanization of Iran
• Continued the secular and economic reforms of his
  father (previous shah)
• Emphasized military might, agricultural reform,
  industrialization
• Women were free to study abroad and serve
  important posts in government

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1979 Islamic Revolution

• Shiite leader Ayatalloh Ruhollah Khomeini
• Established a theocratic state based on Islam
• Staunch rejection of any Western influence
  (Europe and US)
• Resistance crushed by mass imprisonments and
  executions
• Womens lives were especially restricts (ex the
  veil, chaperoned excursions)
• Led to Iranian isolation

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IRAN-IRAQ War (1980-1988)

• 1979 Islamic Revolution (Iran vulnerable?)
• 1980 Saddam Hussein invaded Iran to acquire
  territory
• Iraq underestimated the Irans determination
• Iran lost thousands of young men who fought in
  the name of Islam
• Peace was brokered only after 8 years

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PERSEPOLIS

• Graphic Novel/Memoir
• Begins with the 1979 Islamic Revolution
• Story follows Marjane Satrapi from ages 6 through
  14
• Witnesses the devastating effects of the
  Iran-Iraq war

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Objectives

• To understand and appreciate
• the power of storytelling in words and pictures
  (build vocabulary and knowledge of graphic novel
  genre)
• the search for identity and bildüngsroman
• the ways in which our identities are shaped by
  culture and history

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• Excerpt from Persepolis