Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

AoE: Time & Space

IB English HL 1

The purpose of this assignment is to increase your schema in order to help you
understand the nuances of the historical and cultural allusions and context within the
graphic novel. Your goal is to explore each topic through online articles and videos as a
form of investigative research.

Dispelling your racist, preconceived notions...

Explain four current beliefs and/or conceptual understandings

that you currently have about the Middle Eastern & Muslim
culture (and it’s ok if they sound a bit ignorant--that’s the point
of this exercise!):

1. In terms of religion, they tend to focus on subjects such

as love, peace, and happiness.

2. Traditional marriages are often unfaithful and or arranged

solely for the purpose of breeding.

3. Temples often hold sexist beliefs where women and men

cannot pray within the same structure.

4. Skin exposure is important and considered to be one of

the lines of respect and professionalism.

Now, either watch the short clip or read the short article and
explain TWO reasons that Marjane Satrapi chose to create
Persepolis:

1. There is a misconception of terrorism surrounding Iran

and Iraq and that it is the height of their value as a
country within the media.
2. Exposing to both younger and middle generations the
environment in which Middle-Eastern families are
brought through to better understand the violent nature
people often assume them to possess.
 Iran’s Historical Background

For each of these topics, use credible, online sites, articles, and
videos to research the information required (hence, not
Wikipedia or similar sites…). You may bullet-point your
responses, but also include a hyperlink of each source that you
used directly following the information.

1. What is a Shah in Iran and who was the Shah leading up to

the 1979 Iranian Revolution? What was he trying to accomplish
for Iran and what was his relationship like with Western
countries, such as the US and the UK?

The definition of a Shah is a leading monarch within Iran and

during the time of the Iranian Revolution was Shah Mohammad
Reza Pahlavi. Although there is still an ongoing debate of what
caused the Revolution in the first place, it is believed that
westernization and technological evolution were two of the
main arguments that led to the revolt. The US and the UK both
maintained benign alignment shops with the Shah, offering
assistance during the Revolution against the criticism of Islamic
conservatives.

2. Research the main parties behind the 1979 Iranian Revolution

(aka The Islamic Revolution), as well as the political and social
reasons for the revolution. What were the social and religious
outcomes for the country and its citizens? What were the
resulting political relationships with Western countries?

Shah Reza Pahlavi westernized and modernized Iran. However,

he ruled as a dictator, often violating his people's civil rights in
an effort to stay in power. This ultimately led to the revolution
that removed him from power. The revolution of 1979 ended
the westernization and modernization of Iran, and set up a
traditional government and society based upon the Koran.

3. Discuss the main issues surrounding the Iran-Iraq War

(1980-1988), including instigating factors, why it takes place
merely a year after the Iranian Revolution, and its effects on
Iran, primarily the capital city of Tehran (which is where our
novel takes place).
During the Iranian Revolution, when the people overthrow the
Shah, and put in a religious government (theocracy) Hussein
was afraid the Islamic revolution would spread to Iraq and he
would be overthrown. The dispute over the Shatt AL-Arab
waterway also took place because the Islamic people would not
have been able to get oil into the Persian Gulf to trade as
necessary to the economy. Also, the Iranian Hostage Crisis,
where the U.S. agreed to help Iraq by giving them weapons and
money in exchange for their oil. Specifically targeting to Tehran,
the region and the surrounding regions were bombed, with
eleven in total left to crumble.

Some other stuff to know...

Conduct a little more research to discover how the city of

Persepolis got its name, as well as how the empire lost its
power (it’s the title of our graphic novel, so we know it’s clearly
important…). Bullet-point your research below:

● Persian Empire
● 330 BCE, it was destroyed
● Named after Greek city: Perses-polis, which is now
known as Persian City
● Persians titled it City of Persians beforehand
● Persepolis was originally supposed to be called the
Islamic Republic

Next, quickly explore the Investopedia article and take notes on

the fundamentals of Marxism, particularly in contrast to
Capitalism. *If you have the time and ambition, you may want to
research how Marxist ideals fit into the Iranian Revolution.

● Labor, productivity, economic development

● Communism, labor equals amount paid
● Disobeys social class and hierarchy, everyone is equal
● Social, political, and economical
● Oppose capitalism
● Go against the claims of the free-market system
● Aims to rid of terms such as rich and poor
 Vocabulary Preparation

Please research each of the following terms so that you are

aware of their meaning before encountering them in the text:

1. Avant-garde: ahead of the times, especially in the arts

2. Shah: a title of the former monarch of Iran; Persian word

for king

3. Imperialism: a policy in which a strong nation seeks to

dominate other countries poitically, socially, and
economically

4. Radicalism: the political orientation of those who favor

revolutionary change in government and society

5. Fanaticism: enthusiasm or zeal that is excessively

irrational

6. Fundamentalism: conservative beliefs in the Bible and

that it should be literally believed and applied

7. Terrorism: the use of violence and intimidation in the

pursuit of political aims

8. Coup: the violent overthrow of a government by a small

group; a victorious accomplishment

9. Covert: secret

10. Insurgency: a military strategy in which small, often

lightly armed units engage in hit-and-run attacks against
military, government, and civilian targets

11. Counterinsurgency: military or political action taken

against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionaries

12. Emigration: migration from a location

13. Regime: a government in power

14. Subversive: intended to undermine or overthrow; in

 opposition to authority or government

15. Proletariat: working class

16. Cyanide: blue poison

17. Nihilist: someone who rejects all theories of morality or

religious belief

What’s up with the Burqa (aka Hijab, Chador, or the “Veil”)?

Quickly skim through this article on the Burqa, which is a pretty

important religious and social symbol in our novel. Then,
answer the following questions:

1. According to your own preconceived notions, as well as the

article, how do most Western nations perceive the Burqa? Use
a direct quote from the article to support your response.

“Critics of the Muslim veiling tradition argue that women do not

wear the veil by choice, and they are often forced to cover their
heads and bodies.”

Before reading this article, I was not aware that the Burqa was a
type of veil, and when I read the question, I believed it to be
region in the Middle-East rather than a clothing piece. Western
nations have very little knowledge on Burqa specifically, really
only spreading knowledge of the entire country in general
because of how little or specific notes are known within the
states.

2. However, despite those notions, how do most Muslim

women view the Veil? Again, use a direct quote to support your
response.

“In contrast, many daughters of Muslim immigrants in the West

argue that the veil symbolizes devotion and piety and that
veiling is their own choice. To them it is a question of religious
identity and self-expression.”

It is a form of countenance and proof of one’s faith to her

religion; when she sports one, it is not because she is oppressed
or subjugated as a woman it is because she has the right and
the priviledge to don the veil as she pleases and she chooses to
do so on her own will.

3. Of the many types of Burqas described in the article, which

do the women of Iran wear?

Iranian women often don chadors, which in comparison to the

Burqa, is a shawl instead of a veil. Similar to the Burqa, they are
meant to cover the entire body and held in place by either a pin
or a hand, but, the main difference is that the face is meant to
be completely shown-through while a Burqa will

Last, watch both of these really short videos and summarize

two important ideas that you gleaned from each:

Why did Reza Shah order an end to veiling?

1. Encouraging the variety of tradition and culture
2. Spreading awareness of European culture and fashion

Why do women in Iran wear the veil?

3. It is required for women to don a veil, conservative and
modesty
4. Religious belief, in order to showcase one’s piety as it is
seen as proper