Thesis Title: A Post Structuralism Study of Non Differentiated Gender Identity Represented in directorial Photography
By: Bahare Soltani
Supervisor: Dr.Mehdi Moghimnejad
Degree: MA
Course of Study: Photography
July 2017
Abstract
In this thesis a study of non-differentiated gender identity represented in directorial photography with regard to post-structuralism is discussed. The topic begins with discussion of Gender. The important issue of gender is analyzed and sex and gender differences with their explanation in society will be examined. In this context, feminism will be important because of an effort that has been made in equitable action, which enters the main subject of research, namely, to disturb gender fitness, and we will study it in detail by explaining the gender spectrum. After that, in this context Subsequently, differences are noted in terms of structuralism and post-structuralism in order to be an entry point to the broad post-structuralism issue. The short history of this view and expressing the thoughts of Jacques Derrida, the founder, and focus on them, is to explain the term “deconstruction” and it’s role in breaking up the dual contradictions, and then on how to overturn the hierarchical system of gender. Directorial photography evolution from the Inception of photography to the 1980s, which includes post-structuralism influences on it. As it follows by the definition of the term “directorial photography” from the perspective of A.D Coleman and it’s subcategories is explained. Regarding the simultaneous re-soar of directorial photography and post-structuralism and their parallelism in the Western metaphysics deconstruction, it will be attempted to analyze the relation between these two issue. In the last chapter, gender mutual points, directorial photography, and post-structuralism are re-considered in order to be able to use them in analyzing the work of artists. First, we will analyze the photographs of Leland Bobbe, because he portray man and woman in one person simultaneously, which his photographs well-represent the subject of his study. Subsequently, the words of Petra Van Velzen, Nir Ariel, Francois Harry and Jouk Oosterhof will be analyzed, each of them, using the power of directorial photography at manipulating the reality of the image with their style and decomposition of dual confrontation between man and woman, which will be analyzed with the help of post-structuralism analysis.
Keywords: post-structuralism, directorial photography, non-differentiated, gender identity