Modes, Media, and Mood

How does the form of a work of literature affect our understanding of it?

Literary Terms

Mood: the effect of literature on the reader: it is usually controlled by imagery

Imagery: the use of language to represent actions, persons, objects, and ideas descriptively

Tone: the author’s attitude toward the material and/or readers (e.g., playful, formal, depressed, ironic)

Theme: the central and dominating idea in a literary work

Modes v. Media of Expression

Mode: A form or manner of expression Genre Examples: poems, fiction, nonfiction, essays,

opinion pieces

Medium: A means of conveying something A channel or system of communication,

information, or entertainment A form of artistic expression or communication Examples: novels, graphic novels, films,

television shows, pieces of art, songs

What is the mode of Persepolis?

Do the graphic novel and film have the same mode?

Persepolis

Film Graphic Novel

Mood

Tone

Under-standing of Theme

Persepolis Graphic Novel v. Film

How did the graphic novel medium affect the mood of Persepolis? The film?

How did the graphic novel medium affect the tone of Persepolis? The film?

How did the graphic novel medium affect your understanding of the theme of Persepolis? The film?

Repetition and Relation

Islamic Art and Persepolis

Traditions

Like many different faiths and religions, Islam has a strong artistic and creative tradition.

•Sculpture

•Calligraphy

•Handicrafts (Rugs, cushions, etc.)

•Paintings

Persian Art also has a strong tradition, particularly in painting.

Bottle, Greater Iran (Afghanistan), 9th - 10th century. Available at http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/intro.htm.

Be sure to see…

Common depictions: Glorification of

God’s word Transformation of

everyday objects into things of “transcendent beauty”

Everyday life Lives of the rich

and/or powerful Tughra of Sultan Sulaiman the Magnificent, 16th century; Ottoman period (ca. 1280–1924). Attributed to Istanbul, Turkey (Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/islamic_art).

Common motifs

• Nature – plants, animals, water, or wind

•Calligraphy

•Geometric patterns

•Verses from sacred or popular texts

•People – depends on regional cultural trends

Mihrab, A.H. 755/ A.D. 1354–55. From Isfahan, Iran (Available at http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/islamic_art).

Islamic Art and Persepolis

Iranian frieze of a Phoenix

Panel from “The Bicycle”

Compare/Contrast

Panel from “The Water Cell”

“Bahram Gur with the Dragon”

“Bahram Gur with the Dragon; Page from a Manuscript of the Khamsa of Nizami.” Iran, Qazvin, circa 1560. Available at http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/eia.htm

Islamic Tile Design

Color & Symbolism

For Muslim artists, colors symbolized cultural values, states of mind or emotion, and elements.

Red = Fire

Yellow = Air

Green = Water

(also, green is thought to be the prophet Muhammad’s favorite color, and therefore a

favorite among Muslims)

Blue = Earth

Zahhak Enthroned with the Two Daughters of Jamshid, Page from a Manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) Greater Iran, Bukhara, Circa 1615. Available at http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/intro.htm

Project!

Using one of the tile patterns, create your own piece of a mosaic mural.

Think carefully about which tile you would like to use and what colors you will include.

As each person completes his or her tile, we will combine them to create a class mosaic.

These mosaic panels will be arranged to create an entryway for this classroom and our continuing study of Persepolis.

Islamic Color Symbology

Red : immoral; the color of the life principle, blood, passion, emotion, danger, or daring;often associated with fire

Black : seen as a cold and negative aspect suggesting passivity, death, ignorance, or evil; black hens are used in witchcraft as are black cats

White : innocence, life, light, purity, or enlightenment

Green : inexperience, hope; new life, immaturity; a combination of blue and yellow, itmediates between heat and cold and high and low; it is a comforting, refreshing humancolor; it is the color of plant life

Yellow : rotting, heat, decay, violence, decrepitude, old age, and the approach of death

Blue : cool, calm, peaceful; an insubstantial color in the real world except as translucency,the void of heavens

Pink : innocence, femininity

Purple : royalty, bruising or pain

Brown : a color somewhere between russet and black; it is the color of earth and ploughed land and soil, it represents humility and poverty

Orange : symbolizes the point of balance between the spirit and the libido; it may be the emblem of divine love or extreme lust

Violet : composed of red and blue, it is the color of temperance, clarity of mind