出版社：University of Tehran Electronic Journals Database
摘要：Introduction This paper examines the question of how western media, especially movie industry, constructs cultural elements of Iranian society in order to promote Iranophobic sentiments. "IranoPhobia Project "is the backbone of some psychological operation plans which aims at demonizing Iran. This project has many aspects but its main goal targets Iran’s neighbors and depended on political necessities it later targets other countries around the world. The reasons behind the IranoPhobia project can be considered to be structural and non- structural reasons. Power, geographical affinity and aggressive capabilities can be considered as structural reasons why there is a need for the development of IranoPhobia. Aggressive intentions, spreading the Iranophobic sentiments and making other nations to accept such this discourse can be considered to be non-structural reasons (Shari’ati nia, 2009: 194). Recently IranoPhobia project has affected a wide range of media including cinema which certainly plays a significant role in controlling audiences. This influence can be better understood as means of suggesting certain beliefs and point of views. We believe Hollywood been following this line of plans since the 1979 Islamic revolution, to make and offer movies to their audience with such subjects as History and civilization of ancient Iran, and Iranian religion. The final objective of such movies is to challenge Iranian cultural identity. Hollywood has produced many movies in the last decade with the above mentioned subjects among which one can refer to Alexander (2004), one night with the night (2006), 300 (2007) and the stoning of Soraya M. (2008). Here we will try to study elements of the Iranian cultural identity which include religion, language, social system, cultural geography and history using content analysis as the methodology of explaining discourses, approaches and contents used in the selected movies. Statement of the Problem The main research question here is how Iranian cultural identity elements (religion, language, social system, cultural geography and history) are represented in movies such as 300, one night with the king, and Alexander? The research secondary question is that "how the cultural history, geography, religion, language and social system elements are represented in 300, One night with the king, Alexander and the stoning of Soraya M. ?" Theoretical Framework; IranoPhobia and Cultural Identity Iranian cultural identity consists of intertwined set of ethnic, religious and linguistic elements which have historically taken formed and coexisted. Iran enjoys cultural diversity within a geographical location that has always been identified with such diversity. There have always been tribal differences but each tribe has respected Iranian identity and set their effort to maintain it. Therefore, one of the specificities of Iranian cultural identity is the diversity. Iran has experienced cultural exchanges with other cultural groups throughout its history and this is of course related to its especial geographical location and today Iran still enjoys diversity of cultural identities (Zahiri, 2000: 191). Also it should be noted that there has been variety of approaches which have tried to address elements of Iranian cultural identity. Here, we believe that five elements of language, religion, cultural history and social system need to be selected as most important elements of Iranian cultural identity so to use them for constructing a theoretical claim on how Hollywood uses them to promote IranoPhobia. We came up with these elements after we reviewed the related researches and considered the experts opinions and comments on this issue. This framework is a suitable theory that can explain why Hollywood uses these elements to promote IranoPhobia. This framework follows Edward Saiid’s approach. Edward Said introduces Orientalism as a western method for dominating, restructuring and having authority over the East (Said, 2004: 16). Said emphasizes that using terms such as oriental human as being illogical, deprived and using terms such as European people to describe them as being logical, virtuous and sophisticated constructs an unreal image that is obvious in oriental studies (Said, 2004). In fact regarding American attitudes toward Arabs, Said believes that the American attitude is full of hatred and hostility and it resembles "self and other" theory (Said, 2004). But what now is taking shape is a new "Other" which is contrary to West dominant discourse. Research Methodology We chose content analysis as the proper research methodology in order to collect the necessary data that can meet the requirements of our theoretical claims. We also used documentary research to cross check our content analysis findings. For analyzing the movies’ contents, a list was designed and applied as follows: Elements Main issues Peripheral issues Samples
关键词：cultural identity; orientalism; Hollywood; content analysis; cultural history component; religion component; language component.
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