Affective engagement with the national screen : the case of Iranian-Armenians in Tehran

Abstract

Cinema was brought to Iran by and flourished through Armenians, a minority Christian population in the country, who have worked extensively in the Iranian film industry over the past century. Despite their significant presence behind the scenes, Armenians have been almost entirely absent from representation on screen. This absence became especially pronounced after the Islamic Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. The new government viewed all Iranians as Islamic subjects. Accordingly, post- revolutionary cinema has been regulated according to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (MCIG) to protect the image of the ideal Islamic citizen. The institutional oversight of all Iranian productions has produced narrow representations that foreclose the diversity that has long marked Iran. In light of these narrow representations, how do Iranian citizens, who may not identify with this portrayed image, understand their national cinema? How do they use their experiences with cinema to define their national identity and to express a national sense of belonging? This paper examines the affective relationship between ethno- religious minorities and Iranian cinema. Specifically, it focuses on how the Iranian populations, whose identities may not align with national narratives, react to the national screen. In order to investigate the research questions, this paper implements an ethnographic methodology consisting primarily of participant observations and focus groups. It is built on watching Iranian films with Iranian- Armenians both at home and in movie theaters, and following up those experiences with targeted discussions about their reactions, sensations, and interpretations. The paper also employs film textual analysis in order to unpack the typical narratives about the Iranian-Armenian community and the negative stereotypes associated with its existence in Iran. Such a project begins the work of understanding how a state- controlled national screen that aspires to embrace the entire diversity