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○ Key biographical information that contributes to the graphic memoir.

○ The importance of this literary form and its impact on future writers.

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○ Understanding the causes, major events, and outcomes of the revolution.

○ The change from a monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to an Islamic

republic.

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○ The status and rights of women before and after the revolution.

○ The symbolism and significance of the veil (hijab).

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○ The structure and ideology of education in Iran before and after the revolution.

○ The challenges and opportunities faced by young people like Marjane.

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○ The influence of Western culture, especially the U.S., in Iran.

○ The tension between traditional Iranian values and Western ideals.

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○ The reasons behind the war, key battles, and impact on the Iranian population.

○ The role of foreign powers in the conflict.

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○ The treatment of political dissidents, intellectuals, and activists.

○ Marjane's personal experiences with family members who were political prisoners.

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○ Historical importance and how it connects to the graphic memoir..

○ What the word might imply regarding the cultural identity of Iranians.

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1980: Iraq invades Iran.

1982: Iran recaptures Khorramshahr.

1984–88: “War of the Cities” and oil tanker attacks escalate.

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Territory: Iraq wanted control of the Shatt al-Arab waterway.

Religion: Saddam feared Iran’s Shi’a revolution would inspire unrest in Iraq.

Power Ambition: Saddam sought regional dominance, targeting a post-revolutionary Iran.

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High casualties (up to 1 million).

Child soldiers and chemical attacks.

Economic ruin and psychological trauma.

Stronger regime control through nationalism and religious messaging.

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USA: Backed Iraq with intel and logistics, yet sold arms to Iran in the Iran-Contra Affair.

USSR: Armed both sides at different points.

France & West Germany: Supplied arms and chemical components to Iraq.

Arab Gulf States: Gave Iraq financial aid, fearing Iran’s influence.

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🔹 Key Biographical Information that Contributes to Persepolis

1. Childhood in Revolutionary Iran:

Marjane was born in 1969 and grew up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution (1979) and the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988).

These events form the historical and political backdrop of Persepolis, showing how national upheaval shaped personal identity and freedom.

2. Liberal, Educated Family:

Her family was politically progressive, secular, and well-educated. Her uncle Anoush, a communist revolutionary, was imprisoned and executed — a key event in Persepolis.

This contrast between her home life and the public world is central to the memoir’s tension.

3. Exile and Cultural Displacement:

At 14, she was sent to Vienna to escape the war and political repression in Iran.

Her time abroad, where she struggled with identity, alienation, and independence, forms the second half of the memoir.

Eventually, she returns to Iran but continues to grapple with cultural duality.

4. Move to France and Artistic Career:

Marjane eventually settled in France, where she published Persepolis.

Living in the West gave her the freedom to critique Iranian politics while also defending her cultural identity from Western stereotypes.

🔹 Importance of the Graphic Memoir Form

1. Visual Storytelling Enhances Emotional Impact:

The stark black-and-white images reflect the moral and political binaries imposed by the regime (e.g., good vs. evil, West vs. East).

The simplicity of the drawings makes traumatic or violent scenes more accessible and emotionally powerful.

2. Bridges Literacy and Accessibility:

Graphic memoirs can reach wider audiences, including younger readers or those who might not typically read traditional memoirs.

They merge literature and art, creating a layered experience that words alone can’t provide.

3. Subjective and Personal Yet Politically Charged:

The format allows Satrapi to tell her own truth without claiming to speak for all Iranians.

She balances personal narrative with broader political commentary, making history intimate and humanized.

🔹 Impact on Future Writers

1. Legitimized the Graphic Novel as Serious Literature:

Persepolis helped elevate the graphic novel/memoir genre into the literary mainstream.

It proved that comics could tackle serious, complex issues like war, identity, feminism, and exile.

2. Inspired a Wave of Autobiographical Comics:

Influenced authors like Alison Bechdel (Fun Home), Riad Sattouf (The Arab of the Future), and Art Spiegelman (Maus, though it predates Persepolis, it helped solidify the genre too).

Inspired marginalized voices—particularly women and people from postcolonial nations—to explore identity and trauma through visual storytelling.

3. Opened Conversations on Intersectionality and Representation:

Satrapi's work encourages readers and writers to think critically about how politics, religion, gender, and culture intersect.

It helped challenge monolithic narratives about the Middle East and Muslim women, contributing to a richer, more diverse literary canon.

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Before and after Islamic revolution (1979)

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Before and after Islamic revolution (1979)

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Before

status: women could attend universities, work in various carriers and participate in politics

Women gained the right to vote in 1963

Family protection law was enforced in 1967 which extended women's rights in marriage, divorce and child custody

wearing a veil was not mandatory

After

wearing a veil became mandatory

segregation of sexes became mandatory in school, public areas and workplace

the Family protection law was replaced

age of marriage was lower from 18 to 9

women's testimony worth half of a man's

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Causes:

Authoritarian rule, political repression, and lack of freedoms.

Rapid Westernization clashing with traditional values.

Economic disparities and widespread social unrest.

Religious opposition to secular policies led by clerics like Ayatollah Khomeini.

Major Events:

Massive protests and strikes in 1978.

Violent government crackdowns that intensified opposition.

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled; revolution culminated in 1979.

Return of Ayatollah Khomeini from exile, consolidating power.

Outcomes:

Transition from monarchy to an Islamic Republic.

Implementation of strict Islamic laws affecting society and personal freedoms.

Realignment of Iran’s foreign policy, distancing from the West.

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○ The beliefs and practices of Shia Islam and its significance in Iranian culture and

politics.

○ The rise of Islamic fundamentalism during and after the revolution.