Nexus between Masculinity and Culture in Cyrus Nowrasteh’sThe Stoning of Soraya M.
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Faculty of Art in English
Abstract
This research work explores the nexus between masculinity and culture in The Stoning of
Soraya M. (2008). Soraya, the protagonist of the movie is the victim ofstrict Muslim culture of
her society. She is also the victim of masculinity and stoning culture. Despite her innocence,
Soraya is stoned to death blaming her an adultress. Due to strict rules and norms of her culture
she has to accept this cruel fate. Including Soraya, other female characters are also restrictedby
social and cultural taboos. But they cannot raise their voice against such dominations due to
male’s control towards female. Soraya can be taken as an example of courageous lady to
fightagainst male’s superiority. Only females have become the victims of their culture but not
males. It is because males are regarded as the decision mekers and they heve power to control
females. But females have a very low status in the society due to masculinity. Muslim/ Iranian
Feminism is taken as a significant approach to analyze the movie in this research work. Anitta
Kynsilehto’s Islamic Feminism as well as Miriam Cooke’s Women ClaimIslam are taken as
supporting theoretical toolto analyze the text.
Likewise, cinematography has played a significant role in the movie.Various cinematic
techniques used in the movie clearly present central character’s suffering.The cinematography
which consists of camera angle, light, setting, dialogue etc justifies the suffering and pathetic
condition of the protagonist and other characters. Light is very necessary to create an image
exposureon a frame of film. Lighting contributes to the emotional response to an audience
watching a film.