Functions of Cinema in Iran (1995-2006)

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Abstract

This paper aims to explore the relationship between Iranian cinema and Iranian society and tries to evaluate the potentials of Iranian cinema in depicting the multiplicity of social fact. A functional distribution of films was used in order to describe this multiplicity. The 12 years were divided into three periods: the pre-Kahtami era, and the first and second Khatami administrations. The films have been studied according to the four functions of socialization, showing the reality, making new ideas, and escapism. Results show that in the first two periods there was a proportional distribution of these functions, while in the third most of the films were escapist. The research that inspired this paper was done in the field of sociology of cinema. The methods used are documentary and qualitative content analysis.

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