Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Mass Communication and Media Arts
Advisor
William H. Freivogel
Abstract
During the Qajar era, photography was exclusively in the hands of the king and the courtiers. After many years, it first made its way into the studios of the capital and then into studios in other major cities. The revolution, the war, and the subsequent years brought about various social and cultural conditions in Iran. Following the emergence of new intellectual and ideological movements, artistic trends also underwent changes, leading to the teaching of various art disciplines, including photography, in art universities and the pursuit of artistic photography in a new form. As a result of these changes, women were also able to participate more extensively in this field. It can be said that Iranian women played a significant role in the growth and flourishing of many social and artistic arenas in the post-revolutionary era. The present research paper aims to recognize the most prominent female photographers in Iran after the revolution and analyze their works. It also seeks to understand the status and direction of photography in today's Iran and to examine the perspective of Iranian female photographers regarding the subject matter. The author aims to answer the question of how post-revolutionary Iranian culture has influenced the works of Iranian female photographers and what characteristics it possesses. This study also examines the evolution of the applications of photography before and after the revolution, considering how political, social, and cultural changes have influenced images, photographers' perspectives, and the choice of subjects. The research method is descriptive, and the statistical population consists of the works of five Iranian female photographers: Maryam Zandi, Rana Javadi, Shadi Ghadirian, Azadeh Akhlaghi, and Newsha Tavakolian, in Iran after the revolution. It can be said that throughout history, photography and its functions have been subject to change and influence in accordance with political, cultural, and social conditions.
