World Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World Cinema - Essay Example The Iranian cinema is an example of how the social and cultural perspectives and challenges are represented in the cinema. Questions of politics and religion in Iranian cinema can’t be separate from any of the films that are produced in the region. These are intertwined with the representation of culture, society’s identity and the belief systems that are continuously challenged within the region. Each era has specific approaches to religion and politics with the cinema, all which are a reflection of society at the time. Silent Era The first era of cinema that noted the religious and political views in Iranian cinema was with the silent era. The silent era was attributed to the years of 1900 - 1930 with a combination of documentaries and fictional settings that were used. The footage that was used for these specific films consisted of footage news, events and spectacles that were related specifically to royalty. These different clips were combined together to show histo rical accounts of what were occurring during a specific time and how this linked to the identity that was a part of the Iranian culture. The concept was combined with the ability to shoot rituals, religious events and to show the diversity of culture in the area, such as with investigations of Christianity and by looking at ethic and religious minorities. This approach was able to provide insight into the time frame while allowing a new type of history and sense of identity to take place through the political and religious concepts (Smith, 2006). Sound Era The foundation of film in the silent era led to new technical innovations that were approached in the sound era. However, this point also focused on the same ideals of religion and politics, specifically because it was a representation of the identity of those that were spectators to the film. The silent era had established this with the different approaches which were taken to showing the non – fiction elements of the film . From the 1930s and until the 1970s, there was a focus on providing insight into the different topics which were associated with the film. The main ideology was to present the socially engaged film, specifically which was highlighted in the 1960s. This was based on showing the realities of the Iranian culture, such as through minority groups and those which were suffering because of the current political regime and religious laws. The ideas were combined with the religious morality that was based on the Islamic practices, specifically with the belief that bringing the information to the public would also lead to a day of judgment for those who had turned away from the social issues which were at hand (Ridgeon, 2003). The concept of the â€Å"day of judgment† and the approach to religion and politics from this perspective led to the growing ideology of the third world of cinema as well as the Muslim ideologies that were engrained in the culture. The themes which were used in each of the films helped to bring light to the current issues which had been raised as well as created a sense of justice that was a part of the religion and politics. However, this was combined with the deeply embedded belief systems in the culture. The concept of religion, belief in the Quran and the continuous teachings were known and praised throughout society. The Iranian culture was expected to live under these religious beliefs, which is what created the differences and changes that were a part of society. The concept of building a Muslim ideology from the movies, while showing the concept of justice, then became intertwined with the films that were a part of the sound era (Ahmad, 2010). Modern Era The new wave, or modern era of cinema, began in the 1960s and led into 1978 with new challenges that were