Handout for PRWR 6550 presentation of Iraj Omidvar's article on "Study of Photographs of Iran: Postcolonial Inquiry into the Limits of Visual Representation." Use of images covered under creative commons licensing with credit to Flikr photographer Looking4poetry.

1. Iraj Omidvar
A Study of Photographs of Iran:
Postcolonial Inquiry into the Limits of Visual Representation
Summary
A conversational approach to sharing images of Iran is more
effective in negotiating the stereotypes and ideological
frameworks of Americans and Iranians than simply trying to
overwrite perceptions with selective statistics and pictures. © looking4poetry
Pattern of Socratic Dialogues Who’s Looking?
1. Problem is posed or issue raised The situation of the
2. Various solutions are examined and rejected photographer and the viewer
3. Standards of judgment or values are challenged can be just as telling as the
4. Ideological issues are explored subject of photograph.
5. Conclusions are ambiguous, although better informed and
open to further discussion beyond the classroom
Influences on situation
*Composition students will recognize similarities between this dialectic and stereotypes:
model and critical pedagogy, particularly the socially aware dialogue
encouraged by Paulo Freire.
• Historical
• Cultural
• Legal
When examining photographs and exploring • Religious
stereotypical elements, ask yourself questions: • Sociopolitical
• Economic
1. What is highlighted? • Educational
2. What is considered positive, what negative? • Literary
3. How are negative and positive features indicated?
4. Do other photos contradict these stereotypes?
5. What conclusions can you draw about the photographer?
6. What relations are you aware of between the stereotyped
Workshop Activity
group and those doing the stereotyping?
1. Select a still image of a
stereotyped group.
2. Examine the stereotypes
Presenter Information depicted in the image.
3. Speculate about the
Presentation by Denae Eagen background and ideas of
PRWR 6550 Document Design the photographer.