Veiled Voices in Postrevolutionary Iranian Cinema

Women's Vocal Presence and Rethinking Acousmatic Sound
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-3-031-92272-5
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buch, Englisch, 160 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 341 g

This book examines the vocal presence of women in postrevolutionary Iranian cinema.  The research explores the concept of the veiled voice, which conceals the bodily aspects of the voice and suppresses its discursive elements. Studying the "veiling" of women’s voices in New Iranian Cinema, how they relate to authoritative voices, and their limitations in cinematic spaces, the book addresses the detachment of women’s voices from their bodies in some films. The book argues that this detachment is often used as a feminist strategy to bypass constraints on female portrayal on camera. The book dissects how these voices are often marginalized within the cinematic space, either structurally, narratively, or due to patriarchal adherence. It also discusses the concept of the acousmatic voice, particularly in the context of Iranian cinema, where the female voice-off is used as a spatial veil, contributing to the marginalization of women. Although Michael Chion's concept of the acousmêtre is based on classic Hollywood cinema, this book shows that the mere presence of an off-screen voice does not ensure a predictable impact in the filmic world.  In New Iranian Cinema, influenced by factors like modesty rules, the off-screen voice untethered to a body can serve as a presentational strategy rather than just a cinematic narrational device. The book also investigates the unveiling of the female voice as a subject of aesthetic admiration and desire within the cinematic realm, navigating censorship through religious and cinematic elements and explores how cinematic spaces manipulate the presence and embodiment of the unveiled voice to avoid revealing its true source. The book is also informed by the author's experience as the first woman sound designer working in the Iranian film industry.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Shojaei, Raha

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaften Medienwissenschaften
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaften Kommunikationswissenschaften

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1: Introduction: Her Veiled Voice.- Chapter 2: The Absence of Her Body and Mind.- Chapter 3: Unveiling Her Voice in the Realm of Male Voice.- Chapter 4: Female Subjects: Defiant Vocal Acts and Empowered Ears.- Chapter 5: The Evolution of her Voice: From Obedient Silence to a Defiant Roar.

Über Autor(innen)

Raha Shojaei is an assistant professor at the Department of Film, Theater & Dance at San Jose State University. Her research focuses on sound studies with an emphasis on gendered voices in film. This study has shaped her inquiry into how cultural conditions suggest new forms and strategies for a cinematic system and change structures of the interactions between image and sound. Beyond academia, Raha brings a wealth of practical experience to her research. Her professional background includes extensive involvement in the sound production and postproduction phases of diverse film genres, ranging from feature films to documentaries, short films, and animations. This hands-on experience enriches her academic insights, providing a holistic perspective that bridges theory and practice.