Inside a land poised between tradition and modernity

Iranian culture, like that of many Middle Eastern nations, can be difficult for Westerners to understand. The country has long-standing religious roots, but an influx of wealth and foreign education has brought in new, decidedly more liberal ideas and customs. Iranians, especially in the country's largest cities, tread the line between their traditions and their future. A look at Iran's changing cultural landscape.

 
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  • Posted By: supersymmetry @ 06/03/2009 2:19:25 PM

    It would have been a more nuanced presentation to not have nearly every other image served with mosques, martyrs or some other religious symbols in the backdrop. Nowadays, journalists and even politicians are often keen on pointing out that the Iranian youths are more progressive and less religious than their elders, and considering this image series is called "Emergin Iran" I think it would have been prudent not to completely ignore these emerging and more modern aspects of Iran.

  • Posted By: nickonino @ 05/27/2009 5:38:52 PM

    These photos, although enlightening to a certain degree, still maintain a bias and promote, albeit subtly, a broken image of Iran. They shy away from showing the more relatable aspects of Iranian life. I think we can all understand each other when the subject is war and death, but can we relate to one another on the everyday level of life? Also, why is it that almost every picture shows us a damaged landscape? I can go through the most advanced cities in the world and choose my pictures to represent it only in its most detestable and impoverished light and I think people would build their opinions about that city based on my carefully selected photos.

  • Posted By: Simoriah @ 05/24/2009 6:27:28 PM

    I'm really glad for these photos. Hopefully it will make people in the US see what people from that area of the world are truly like, rather than what's typically portrayed in the media, which is a terrible and completely inaccurate stereotype. They're just like all of us here in the US, different in their tastes and styles and ways of life, and just trying to live peacefully in the world and practice their beliefs as they see fit. I was born and raised in the heartland of the US, but I have an extremely open mind and love to learn about different cultures, countries, religions, etc., and I believe that these photos will (hopefully) be enlightening for people in the US who stereotype people from other countries, particularly countries with mostly Muslim populations. Thanks to the photographer. :)

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