Section V Of Your Final Project: Think Broadly

Section V Of Your Final Project Allows You To Think Broadly About Usin

Section V of your final project allows you to think broadly about using methods of cultural anthropology to understand other cultures as well as your own culture. Part of this section involves conducting an interview with one of your film's characters, and part of this interview is understanding the system of power surrounding your character. Remember that power comes from a variety of sources including kinship systems, social relationships, economic standing, religion, and politics. Compose your initial post as if you were conducting this interview. In your initial post, be sure to do the following: Identify the film. Name the character from the film. Briefly summarize the role of the character in the film. Compose at least five questions that would help you gain a better understanding of the character's cultural practices, including the character's position within some expression of power in the film. Explain how those questions would help you gain a better understanding of the character's cultural practices, including the character's position within some expression of power in the film. Remember to practice the principles of cultural relativism.

Paper For Above instruction

For this assignment, I will focus on the film "Persepolis," an autobiographical animated film based on Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel about her childhood and early adulthood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution. The film vividly portrays the cultural dynamics, gender roles, and political upheavals that shape individual identities and societal structures. My chosen character for this interview is Marjane Satrapi herself, as she navigates her cultural environment amid revolutionary change. Marjane’s role in the film is that of a young girl coming of age, trying to understand her identity within her family's cultural expectations and the broader societal shifts around her.

The first question I would pose is: "How has your family history and kinship ties influenced your understanding of cultural practices and authority structures?" This question helps explore the kinship systems and social relationships that underpin Marjane's cultural identity, revealing how familial bonds serve as sources of cultural transmission and social power. It also illuminates how kinship influences individual behavior and societal expectations in Iranian society.

Secondly, I would ask: "In what ways does religion shape your daily routines and moral decisions?" Religion plays a significant role in Iran, especially after the Islamic Revolution, affecting dress code, social interactions, and gender roles. Understanding her perspective would shed light on religious authority and its influence on personal and collective conduct, offering insight into how religion functions as a system of power.

A third question would be: "How do political changes impact your sense of identity and your relationship with authority figures?" This addresses the impact of the revolutionary regime on individual agency and perceptions of power, shedding light on political ideologies' role in shaping cultural practices and individual responses to authority.

The fourth question I would ask is: "What are some traditional cultural practices you observe or participate in, and how have they changed over time?" This helps understand the continuity and transformation of cultural practices amid political upheavals, illustrating how cultural expressions adapt to systemic changes and influence social cohesion.

Lastly, I would inquire: "How do social relationships and gender expectations influence your interactions and personal choices?" This question aims to uncover the gender roles and social expectations embedded within her culture, as well as their effects on her autonomy and power within her social environment.

By asking these questions, I aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how cultural practices are intertwined with systems of power and authority around Marjane in "Persepolis." These inquiries would help illustrate how kinship, religion, politics, and social relationships shape individual experiences and cultural identities, highlighting the importance of cultural relativism in understanding diverse worldviews without ethnocentric judgments.

References

• Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis: The story of a childhood. Pantheon Books.
• Moaveni, A. (2009). Lipstick Jihad: A memoir of growing up Iranian in America and American in Iran. PublicAffairs.
• Keddie, N. (2007). Modern Iran: Roots and results of revolution. Yale University Press.
• Milani, M. (2011). Iran modern: The post-Revolutionary right and the fall of Monarchy. Stanford University Press.
• Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner. Riverhead Books.
• Ghorashi, H. (2008). Culture, belonging, and power: An ethnography of women in Iran. Routledge.
• Sabet, M. (2014). Culture, politics, and religion in Iran. Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 48(4), 521–537.
• Huntington, S. P. (1996). The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order. Simon & Schuster.
• Shahidian, D. (2002). Female identity and activism in Iran: Women's organizations and the state. Routledge.
• Samii, M. (2017). Iran's political culture: Response to change. Middle East Policy, 24(3), 144–157.