Bombs and Rock 'n Roll

Persepolis
A Make-up Blogpost

Well I only just realized today that the reading due tomorrow is actually supposed to be purchased and I have read the reading for the next part of the reader.
To make up for that, I'm writing about a movie I saw a while ago that could apply to this class, as this is very much activist film, and an animated one at that, an animated film that is meant for adults; it's kind of backwards for it has adult themes but children could still watch it, opposite of the current children movies which come off as childish but have some laughs for the adults. Without further adieu, here's the word:

If you have not read it, here's the summary.

• girl (Marji) grows up during a change in Iranian leadership, publicized to be a change for the better, but it actually leads to an oppressive tyranny.
  
• Marji goes off to Vienna to study, but finds herself lost culturally there, as she is not generally accepted in society
• Marji goes back home, not sure who she is, tries to deal with dual personality and growth in an uncertain direction.

Here are my thoughts on it

• the movie does kind of follow a pattern of oppression, departure, and return to origins, but this is about all that fits the said pattern.
  
• this movie is similar to past readings we've had from solo activist performers, because it deals with a lost identity, a woman trying to decide between her cultural origin and her progressive upbringing.
• I like how Marji's inner struggles are echoed by the current war going on in Iran; on one side, you have a revolution that isn't really exerting much change, a situation which is maybe supposed to indicate how Marji's struggles to find herself are ultimately futile. Also present is the Iraq-Iran war which was supported by America, a symbol of the Western world, which is trying to signify her progression out of Iran.
• Either way, Marji is unsure of who she is as a person.
• I kind of find similarities between this animated film and The Last King of Scotland. Both portray seemingly positive, revolutionary change that later turns out to be more oppressive than the past.
• About time we have a truly activist piece of film with a legitimate, heartfelt story at the middle.

So I'm going to try to read the play before class tomorrow, but I won't have a post up before it, probably after. Cheers.