Shadi Ghadirian, Quajar, (1998).

Shadi Ghadirian, Quajar, 1998.

In this photograph a recreation of a traditional portrait setting of the Qajar era is portrayed through the use of classical painted backdrop and patterned carpet. Also the vintage clothes the young lady is wearing and her traditional style; the long head scarf and a dress over baggy trousers and her thick, dark, untouched eyebrows. Also the sepia tone of the photograph immediately creates an older, vintage style to the photograph.

However, the young girl is standing in an empowered, strong pose; her chin up, eyes fixed and focused and her hand on her hip. This pose alone goes against the ‘traditional’ idea that woman had no power- which would have been the majority opinion in the society of the time that the recreation was aiming for, (1785-1925). Also, the most obvious, how she holds a large stereo/ boom box on her shoulder, immediately creates a juxtaposition and contrast between the traditional and the current making the viewer realise the photograph is a recreation of an earlier time.

I believe this image is about how Middle Eastern traditions and religious traditions can make girls who have this heritage feel trapped by the religious and cultural expectations of them. Especially, how in today’s society with the wide variety of people and cultures creates a stronger desire to explore and it can therefore become more difficult to stick to, or want to stick to tradition. Girls may feel stuck between keeping to traditions and expectations and experiencing new things and involving themselves with modern day  Western culture. I feel the photograph portrays almost a rebellion against tradition through the girl’s strong, powerful pose with the stereo on her shoulder, holding it like a trophy, an object she is proud of, although it being a typically Western, contemporary object. Ghadirian said herself, “My pictures became a mirror reflecting how I felt: we are stuck between tradition and modernity.” and I think this photograph displays this perfectly.

https://collections.lacma.org/node/580927

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