Persepolis Essay
The movement of people across borders is a common feature of today’s increasingly global society. However, when there is a forceful movement of people to a new religion, this migration results in a diaspora where the group is removed from their country of origin. An example of this is visible in Persepolis, a film adapted from Marjane Satrapi’s novel. The story shows the life of Marjane as she flees the Iran following the Shah’s overthrow in 1979. It shows the struggles of assimilating into a new community while maintaining a cultural identity, and the re-assimilation that follows when returning to their place of origin. It brings forth the question of religion and more specifically the role of a secular government in regards to
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There is a constant struggle upon moving to fit into the new society and to become an active and successful participant in it. However, assimilation can be hindered due to cultural differences, racism, and fear. For example, in the movie Persepolis, Marjane encounters remarks regarding her nationality as an insult. This causes a separation between herself and the Austrians she is living with. It begins to make her consider ditching her identity and adopting a more appealing background. As with many refugees, she finds herself homeless, this is the fate of many migrants trying to make it on their own in a new place. This forces her to return home, which upon arrival she realizes that she no longer belongs in her old country either. She was a stranger in Austria and became a stranger in Iran. The diaspora led to a disconnection between her and her former neighbors. She did not live through all the same experiences they encountered and spent a long period of time in a new society. Unknowingly, she had changed during her attempts to join a European culture and lost parts of her Iranian identity. This identity crisis is what many face after being relocated leaving them stranded and asking, “where is
There is a constant struggle upon moving to fit into the new society and to become an active and successful participant in it. However, assimilation can be hindered due to cultural differences, racism, and fear. For example, in the movie Persepolis, Marjane encounters remarks regarding her nationality as an insult. This causes a separation between herself and the Austrians she is living with. It begins to make her consider ditching her identity and adopting a more appealing background. As with many refugees, she finds herself homeless, this is the fate of many migrants trying to make it on their own in a new place. This forces her to return home, which upon arrival she realizes that she no longer belongs in her old country either. She was a stranger in Austria and became a stranger in Iran. The diaspora led to a disconnection between her and her former neighbors. She did not live through all the same experiences they encountered and spent a long period of time in a new society. Unknowingly, she had changed during her attempts to join a European culture and lost parts of her Iranian identity. This identity crisis is what many face after being relocated leaving them stranded and asking, “where is