Kiarostami and the Aesthetics of Modern Persian Poetry

Abbas Kiarostami's filmmaking draws on the aesthetics of modern Persian poetry, especially the poetry of Forough Farrokhzad and Sohrab Sepehri. In his films, Kiarostami, impacted by Sepehri and Farrokhzad's “de-politicized” poetry, “de-experiences” our perception of reality. Kiarostami aestheticizes everyday life by employing non-manipulative film stylistics. In films such as Through the Olive Trees and Where Is the Friend's House? he uses a minimalist approach by employing amateur actors and children, depth of field, and minimal camera work to enhance Sepehri's philosophy of novel outlook. Through a masterful intermingling of poetic discourse with his film sensibilities, Kiarostami has achieved a profoundly humanist approach to cinema. Kiarostami mixes the two genres of documentary and fiction to remind the audience of the artificiality of constructing a factual point. To attain this goal, he sometimes uses an ironical and witty cinematic language that is harshly self-critical and self-reflexive. Kiarostami is a poet/philosopher who “writes” his poetic films with camera.     

Farmers Enjoy Modern Life

PROGRESSINRURALAREASStatisticsshowthatTibethashadbumperharvestssince1987:In1998,grainproductiontotalled850,000tons,and22.1millionanimalswereraised.Thecombinedoutputvalueofagricultureandanimalhusbandryreached4.38billionyuan,a30-foldincreaseoverthefigurefor1959.Ourmotorvehiclesnakedthroughthemountainvalleysfordays,butthemountainrangesaheadonlyseemedtoincreaseinnumber.ThisisTibet,aregiontuckedawayinthehighmountains,andsub-jecttoviolentweatherpatterns.Nevertheless,farmersinthispartofthew…     

Zhaxi Cering: Master Fresco Painter

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LOBSUM SHANGQUG: Accomplished Tibetan Painter

PROFILEThe 10th Panchen Erdeni is seatedon his holy throne. Holding the Diamond Club and bronze bells inhands, the kindly Buddhist mastersmiles and examines the landscape in the snowland with great zest and satisfaction. Around himare the majesticKangdese andQomolangmopeaks, and theTashilhungpoMonastery which ishis residence.These arepart of the Portraitthat LobsumShangqug createdto mark the firstanniversary of thedeath of thePanchen. When itwas published,hundreds of thousands of copie…     

生活方式:历史研究的深处——评李长莉著《中国人的生活方式:从传统到近代》

马克思指出:"现代历史著述方面的一切真正进步,都是当历史学家从政治形式的外表深人到社会生活的深处时才取得的."①马克思的这句话,让我们想到几个问题.其一,在马克思讲这番话之前,历史研究基本是在政治史范式下进行的,历史为政治服务,是政治的附庸和工具,历史体现着一种资政的功能.     

Lhasans leading A Modern Life

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