Art and Activism: Analyzing Instagram Artworks During Iran’s ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ Movement

Abstract

This study conducts a content analysis of cartoons and illustrations published on Instagram during the first two weeks of a growing social movement in Iran before the government’s harsh reaction to protesters, from September 20, 2022, to October 3, 2022. Posts were collected based on the popular hashtag #mahsa_amini until a sample size of 100 was achieved. Based on the principle of saturation, indicating that additional posts were unlikely to reveal new themes or insights. By examining these visual narratives, the research aims to illuminate the core messages and demands of the protestors. This study also investigates the portrayal of characters in artworks depicting societal protests, focusing on the nuanced expressions and actions of protestors and suppressors. Through a detailed analysis of facial and body expressions, as well as gender representation and weapon association, the study aims to reveal the thematic and narrative choices made by artists on social media in conveying social tensions and dynamics.

Keywords

• social media studies
• social movement
• Iran politics
• visual analysis

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Project Number

1

Ethical Statement

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study and that all the sources used have been properly cited. The measures were also taken to respect the rights and dignity of individuals depicted in the illustrations.

Thanks

I would like to thank Assistant Professor Dr. Dilara Tekrin for her guidance and support in coding during this research. Her expertise and assistance were crucial to the success of this study.

Sanat ve Aktivizm: İran’ın ‘Kadın, Yaşam, Özgürlük’ Hareketi Sırasında Instagram Sanat Eserlerinin Analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, İran’da büyüyen bir toplumsal hareketin ilk iki haftasında, hükümetin protestoculara yönelik sert müdahalesinden önce, 20 Eylül 2022 ile 3 Ekim 2022 tarihleri arasında Instagram’da yayımlanan karikatür ve illüstrasyonların içerik analizini gerçekleştirmektedir. Paylaşımlar, popüler #mahsa_amini etiketi temel alınarak, 100 gönderilik bir örnekleme ulaşılana kadar toplanmıştır. Çalışma, doygunluk ilkesi doğrultusunda hareket ederek, ek gönderilerin yeni temalar veya içgörüler ortaya koyma olasılığının düşük olduğu varsayımıyla ilerlemiştir. Bu görsel anlatıları inceleyerek, protestocuların temel mesajlarını ve taleplerini aydınlatmayı amaçlamaktadır. Ayrıca, toplumsal protestoları tasvir eden sanat eserlerinde karakterlerin betimlenmesini araştırarak, protestocuların ve baskıcı figürlerin incelikli yüz ifadeleri ve eylemleri üzerine odaklanmaktadır. Yüz ve beden ifadelerinin detaylı analizinin yanı sıra, toplumsal cinsiyet temsili ve silah ilişkisi gibi unsurlar üzerinden, sanatçıların sosyal medyada toplumsal gerilimleri ve dinamikleri nasıl aktardıklarını ortaya koymayı hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

• sosyal medya çalışmaları
• toplumsal hareket
• İran siyaseti
• görsel analiz

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Project Number

1

Ethical Statement

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study and that all the sources used have been properly cited. The measures were also taken to respect the rights and dignity of individuals depicted in the illustrations.

Thanks

I would like to thank Assistant Professor Dr. Dilara Tekrin for her guidance and support in coding during this research. Her expertise and assistance were crucial to the success of this study.

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