Shirin Neshat’s Turbulent: A Look Inside Gender in Muslim Society
Format
Oral Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Merrill Schleier
Faculty Mentor Department
Visual Arts
Abstract/Artist Statement
Shirin Neshat is Iranian-born visual artist and feminist whose works provide thought- provoking insight into lives of Muslim men and women. In Neshat's video piece Turbulent (1998), she focuses on the differences between the sexes and the strict rules of interactions that have been instilled in them since birth. Turbulent brings the status of women in Iran to light and shows the ways they have been rebelling and exerting power. For this paper I employ biographical information about Shirin Neshat in order to show how her upbringing influenced her vision of the separate spheres for men and women. This is supplemented by a consideration of the cultural, social, and religious codes in Muslim countries, in particular Iran. I also examine the gender roles of men and women in the Muslim world, which clarify that, through her work, Neshat is trying to convey her belief that despite women’s limited rights, they still have a powerful voice. Finally, I conduct a formal analysis of the video in order to show that despite their separation, the fate of men and women are powerfully linked.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Room 218
Start Date
21-4-2012 1:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2012 5:00 PM
Shirin Neshat’s Turbulent: A Look Inside Gender in Muslim Society
DeRosa University Center, Room 218
Shirin Neshat is Iranian-born visual artist and feminist whose works provide thought- provoking insight into lives of Muslim men and women. In Neshat's video piece Turbulent (1998), she focuses on the differences between the sexes and the strict rules of interactions that have been instilled in them since birth. Turbulent brings the status of women in Iran to light and shows the ways they have been rebelling and exerting power. For this paper I employ biographical information about Shirin Neshat in order to show how her upbringing influenced her vision of the separate spheres for men and women. This is supplemented by a consideration of the cultural, social, and religious codes in Muslim countries, in particular Iran. I also examine the gender roles of men and women in the Muslim world, which clarify that, through her work, Neshat is trying to convey her belief that despite women’s limited rights, they still have a powerful voice. Finally, I conduct a formal analysis of the video in order to show that despite their separation, the fate of men and women are powerfully linked.