Persepolis

// Persepolis //, Marjane Satrapi **Summary:** The novel takes place in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It starts in 1979 when Marji, the main character, is ten. She is living through the Islamic Revolution and trying to understand what is happening in her life, culture, society and religion. o Islamic Revolution: refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran 's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution § The revolution was populist, nationalist and later Shi'a Islamic. It was in part a conservative backlash against the Westernizing and secularizing efforts of the Western-backed Shah, and not-so-conservative reaction to social injustice and other shortcomings of the ancient regime. The Shah was perceived by many as beholden to — if not a puppet of — a non-Muslim Western power (the [|United States] ) whose culture was contaminating that of Iran. § Apparently, the Shah was trying to westernize iran and Ayatollah Khomeini was attempting to enstill a more Islamic Fundamentalism in the country (an iran deeply entrenched and resorting more fully back to the Qur`an). o 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. With Marji dangerously refusing to remain silent at this injustice, her parents send her abroad to Vienna, fearing for her life because of her outspokenness, to study for a better life § Trust me, that`s not ruining the ending, there are two novels and //Persepolis 2// tells that story.

 ** o The book is not lengthy by any means, only 150 pages, and the language is quite simple However, through the medium and language, topics that would not normally be discussed in the classroom, by students of this age, are rendered accessible to them… this novel doesn’t place in the typical Canadian backyard… it takes students half way around the world. o There is some violence in the novel. However, I do not find it too over the top or inappropriate for kids of this age group (they can handle it!) I would suggest using this text for 11 and/or 12 University and College prep. Course; depending on the class, maybe even an open 11/12 English class; however, I think it could also be used in a history class or a (world) religion class  __ Social Knowledge __ o Social (in)equality issues § I word it this way, because what students may see as complete inequalities between two cultures may, in fact, be just that—discrepancies between two very different cultures, the Canadian and the Iranian. § Islam is a religion, particularly in our culture, society today, that is greatly misunderstood. § * Good discussion for a classroom: Muslim and Islamic religion, differences, similarities, etc. I feel that people don’t understand religions that are not as dominant in Canada. We tend to stereotype and judge based on media and negative images shown in the media * o peace and justice o “Gender representation: Inequality or fair representation?” § We often see and read text where the female voice/perspective is absent. However, in this text, it dominates the story. Could this be a problem in your classroom? __ Textual Knowledge __ <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o 1st person narrative; memoir; //bildungsroman// <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ It is told my Marji and her options are formed by her family. So the perspectives offered on the Revolution are very much one-sided. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o some flashbacks from other characters as they tell their personal story; voice/perspective changes as these stories are told. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ however, easy to follow and gives multiple perspectives. I feel this gives the novel and stories told more credibility <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msochartype: symbol; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings;">J <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Graphic novel; relatively new genre. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Combined with: memoir and history (could almost serve as a novel for a history class or, because my other teachable is religion, a world religions class) <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ At least I think. When I was in high school (five years ago), I had never heard of or been exposed to the genre. __ Cultural Knowledge __ <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Iranian culture is the primary focus, during the Islamic Revolution <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Difference between Cdn and Iranian culture could be quite overwhelming for students in high school <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ However, I think they know more then older generations give them credit for <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Islamic Revolution; Islamic Religion <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Especially in today’s society, I feel this could be a very rich place for development. Islam is such a misunderstood religion; we see Muslims portrayed, especially in our North America media, as all being extremists. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o At the end of the novel; Marji leaves for a boarding school in Vienna <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ In // Persepolis //// 2 //, we hear of her experiences in Vienna ; so there is also the topic of immigration and experiencing life in a new environment. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Students could discuss or do some sort of activity, to predict what may happen, what Marji experiences, what Marji feels, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Again, it is how a //child// comes to understand her own cultural identity <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ I think this could resonant with students at a high school age who are also coming to know themselves and discover who they are more fully at this age <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Also, we see Marji get really into ABBA and Iron Maiden and other punk bands; again, these would be names that //would// resonant with a great population of students. __ Topic Knowledge __ <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Historical: Islamic Revolution <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Such a dense topic and many `sides` to the story. I would probably predict that a whole lesson would have to be dedicated to this topic to fully contextualize the novel. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ This could, again, be tricky because this topic is very subjective as to what was right vs. wrong. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Geographical: Novel does not take place in Canada, not even North America. __ Assignment __ <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o // Culminating Task // <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Children will create their own Graphic memoir; or they will create their own friend or family tree (time dictates which will be done) <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ They will have to be, roughly, 6 pages with 6 `squares` on each page <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Because not all students are artistically gifted (I say this because //I’m// one of them!!), their memoirs can be made on the computer, they can use magazine cut outs, paint, what ever type of medium they choose. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o Sub tasks <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Students will learn the characteristics of a memoir and elements of the graphic novel genre <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ An excellent website to help students understand the historical background is [|www.iranchamber.com] and to start the unit, I would have my students do a mini-group-research project, to further understand the context and the Iranian Revolution. //To start the unit:// I will have students work in pairs and spend a class on this website to gain background knowledge on the culture and religion; they will complete a mini-research project to begin the unit. <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> students will also watch the movie once reading is complete
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