Don't Be Afraid to Speak Out

Speechless was painted in 1996 by an Iranian artist named Shirin Neshat. Iran in 1996 became incredibly active in their desire to possess nuclear power and military artillery (www.globalsecurity.org). Iran tried numerous times to harness nuclear power within the country and consulted with countries like China and Russia about nuclear advancements in Iran (www.globalsecurity.org). While all of this was happening the people of Iran were dealing with the problems left over from the Iran-Iraq war and the continuous oppression from the Ayatollah. Shirin Neshat turns a country’s feeling into a work of art.
Iran’s large involvement with military technology could play a potential role in Speechless, explaining the gun next to the girl’s face. The girl looks fearful for her life and fearful of her circumstance. Her face looks surprised and doesn’t know what to do because she doesn’t want to make a wrong move that could cost her her life. Her eyes look full with sorrow but her mouth is drawn as if she wants to speak and be heard but she can’t because she is scared for her life. This girl could resemble Iran and its people. In 1996 Iranians were still feeling the repercussions of the Iran-Iraq war. The war only ended 8 years before the picture was painted, in 1988 (Persepolis). The country was devastated because not only were they being attacked by Iraq but they were being oppressed by the Iranian government. The painting can depict the concerns of the Iranians who don’t want potentially dangerous nuclear activity in Iran. The girl wanting to speak but can’t can symbolize the Iranians who want to speak out but can’t because they are afraid. The fear seen on the face of the young girl in Neshat’s Speechless signifies the distraught emotions of the Iranian people.

Coughlin, Con. "1996 Iran Special Weapons - Missile, Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons News." GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. May 9, 2011. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/1996/index.html.

"MoMA | Shirin Neshat. Speechless. 1996." MoMA | The Museum of Modern Art. April 18, 2011. http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/27/652.

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Pantheon, 2003. Print.