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The Collapse of the Male Gaze in the Cinema of Bahram Beyzaie: The Crow and Maybe Some Other Time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2024

Seyed Aria Ghoreishi Open the ORCID record for Seyed Aria Ghoreishi [Opens in a new window]
Seyed Aria Ghoreishi*
Affiliation:
Dramatic Literature, University of Tehran, Iran
*
Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This article explores the correlation between two of Bahram Beyzaie's films and Laura Mulvey's theories on the male gaze. The films in question are The Crow (Kalāgh, 1977) and Maybe Some Other Time (Shāyad Vaqti Digar, 1987). This article delves into the films’ narrative structures, revealing a subtle yet significant shift in the dynamics of power and gaze. Initially, both films appear to conform to conventional representations of male dominance, establishing a seemingly patriarchal landscape. However, as the narratives unfold, a gradual transformation occurs, subverting conventions of the male gaze. By employing Mulvey's framework, this article deciphers the interplay between Beyzaie's cinematic language and Mulvey's theoretical underpinnings, highlighting Beyzaie's role in deconstructing patriarchal structures and crafting a more nuanced portrayal of gender relations.

Keywords

Bahram BeyzaieLaura Mulveymale gazefeminist film theorygender representationIranian cinema
Type
Article
Information
Iranian Studies , Volume 57 , Issue 3 , July 2024 , pp. 451 - 471
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Association for Iranian Studies

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