What People Do with Images: Aesthetics, Politics and the Production of Iranian Visual Culture in Transnational Circuits

What People Do with Images provides a nuanced account of artistic practice in Iran and its diaspora during the first part of the twenty-first century, rejecting broad-brush definitions of post-revolutionary art. It details an ecosystem for artistic production, covering a range of media, and argues that creative artworks neutralize dichotomies by testing and shifting the boundaries of what is acceptable. It also has a wider significance in asking how identity politics is mediated by creative acts and images within transnational socio-political spheres.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Sean Kingston Publishing

What People Do with Images is a groundbreaking exploration of artistic practice in Iran and its diaspora during the early twenty-first century. By rejecting broad-brush definitions of post-revolutionary art, the book offers a nuanced account of the complex interplay of factors that shape artistic expression in this region.

The author delves into the effects of shifts in internal Iranian politics, including the impact of US elections, travel bans, and sanctions, as well as global media sensationalism and Islamophobia. Through a rich tapestry of critical theory drawn from cultural studies and anthropology, Mazyar Lotfalian paints a vivid picture of an ecosystem for artistic production that encompasses a wide range of media, from performance to installations, video art, and films.

One of the key insights of the book is that museum curators have struggled to categorize these works within their traditional frameworks of modern, contemporary, and traditional art. Instead, Lotfalian suggests that creative artworks neutralize these dichotomies, working around them and playing a sophisticated game of testing and slowly shifting the boundaries of what is acceptable. This is achieved in part by blurring the boundaries between what is considered inside and outside the nation-state, as artists navigate the transnational circuits in which the domestic and diasporic arenas reshape each other.

While What People Do with Images provides a valuable window into the Iranian art scene, its significance extends far beyond its borders. The book raises important questions about how identity politics is mediated by creative acts and images within transnational socio-political spheres. It challenges us to think beyond simplistic narratives of resistance, opposition, or counterculture and to recognize the complex ways in which art can shape and challenge our understanding of the world.

In conclusion, What People Do with Images is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of artistic practice in Iran and its diaspora. Through its nuanced analysis and rich theoretical framework, the book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the role of art in shaping our global socio-political landscape.

Weight: 512g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912385423