ReFocus: The Films of Shirin Neshat

Edited by Maryam Ghorbankarimi (University of Lancaster) and Mazyar Mahan (University of Texas at Dallas) 

We are pleased to invite chapter proposals for an edited volume dedicated to the work of Shirin Neshat, the internationally acclaimed Iranian-American filmmaker and visual artist. This volume aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of Neshat's oeuvre, encompassing her contributions to contemporary visual culture. Neshat's work, deeply rooted in Iran's historical and political upheavals, spans photography, video installations, and films, often addressing themes of gender, identity, exile, and the intersection of tradition and modernity. Her art embodies a fusion of personal memories and creative interpretations, providing a distinct viewpoint on cultural and societal issues. 

The edited volume seeks contributions that critically examine Neshat's artistic and cinematic productions from diverse disciplinary perspectives.We encourage chapters that go beyond textual analysis to incorporate historical, political, and social contexts, emphasizing how Neshat functions as an artist within society and her broader societal impact. Chapters focusing on single artworks, including feature and short films, video installations, and photography, or her work as a whole are welcome. We are particularly interested in chapters that address, but are not limited to, the following themes: 

• Gender and identity in Neshat’swork 

• The impact of political and historical contexts on her work 

• Memory and history in her films 

• Religion and its influence on her work 

• Nation and subjectivity in her work 

• Transnational and intercultural dialogue in her work 

• The role of exile and displacement in her works 

• Adaptation and intertextuality in her art 

• The role of poetry and literature in her work 

• Aesthetic strategies and visual symbolism in her work 

• Feminism and the representation of women in her work 

• Multimedia projects: blending film and visual art 

• The role of sound and music in her work 

• Neshat as a multidisciplinary artist 

• Distribution, exhibition, and reception of her work 

• Audience reception and interpretations of her work 

• Comparative studies with other contemporary visual artists 

Please send your 350–400-word proposal and a 100-word bio to both editors of the volume, Maryam Ghorbankarimi and Mazyar Mahan, by 15 September 2024 at the latest. Final submissions will be between 6,000 and 7,000 words, in English, and referenced in Chicago endnote style. Our volume will be published by the University of Edinburgh Press in the ReFocus series on international directors. Series editors are Robert Singer, Gary D. Rhodes, and Stefanie Van de Peer. 

Deadline for proposals: 15 September 2024 

Notification of acceptance: 30 September 2024 

Deadline for chapters: 15 January 2025 

Please direct any inquiries or questions to: 

Maryam Ghorbankarimi — m.ghorbankarimi@lancaster.uk.ac 

Mazyar Mahan — mazyar.mahan@utdallas.edu