Staging a Revolution: The Art of Persuasion in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Middle Eastern Studies) (Hardcover)

~ Peter Chelkowski (Author), Hamid Dabashi (Author)

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Product Description

The Islamic Revolution in Iran was one of those remarkable historical events when the power of words and images successfully challenged the military might of an established state. From the fiery words of Ayatollah Khomeini, the charismatic leader of the Revolution, to revolutionary posters, banners, murals, graffiti, songs, and declamations, to the compelling symbols of its shared sacred history, an avalanche of public sentiments was mobilized by the leading figures of the revolutionary movement.

In Staging Revolution, designed by award-winning Jonathan Barnbrook, Peter Chelkowski and Hamid Dabashi examine how this massive orchestration of public myths and collective symbols propelled the Islamic revolution of 1978-9 and the war with Iraq that followed from 1980 to 1988. Employing a wealth of primary sources from various active organs of the Islamic Republic, the authors demonstrate how popular belief and ritual were converted into stamps, banknotes, posters, even chewing gum wrappers, and directed towards mass mobilization for revolution and war. Staging Revolution represents a remarkable portrait of a pictorial revolution in which the interplay of sacred sensibilities, revolutionary action, and visual imagery were inextricably bound together.

About the Author

Peter Chelkowski is Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at New York University. Hamid Dabashi is Professor of Iranian Studies at Columbia University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814715974
• ISBN-13: 978-0814715970
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,529,917 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful to look at but try not to read it, June 25, 2006

By	Christopher J. Weeks - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Visually, this book is beautifully produced and designed, and a joy to flip through. It's easily one of the very best fusions of contemporary Middle Eastern/Islamic history, politics and art that's been published. The text, though, is some of the densest bunch of lit crit, post-modern gibberish I've come across. Still, the visual half of the book succeeds brilliantly and makes it worth purchasing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Book, October 27, 2009

By	Ali Reza - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Staging a Revolution: The Art of Persuasion in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Hardcover)

Surprised this book was published in 1999 and it took so long for me to find it or even hear about it. It's basically a textbook on the subject matter if you were to take a university course. Very well researched and full of great examples of Iranian political art. My father who was in the streets of Iran in 1979 really dived into the book and was really impressed by the objectivity as well. Thank you to the authors.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on Iranian Revolution, October 24, 2000

By	Alan K "gorky2000" (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

The authors have created a guide that serves towards understanding the antecedents to the revolution. The photographs, content and level of clarity is remarkable. It is tour de force. If interested in Persian studies, one needs to have it.