My opinion about Shahin Najafi's comment regarding Golshifteh Farahani

Share/Save/Bookmark

My opinion about Shahin Najafi's comment regarding Golshifteh Farahani
by Anahid Hojjati
18-Jan-2012
 

Beautiful and talented Golshifteh Farahani has posted nude pictures of herself. So far so good. I have no problem with that. She is beautiful and free to do this. My issue is with Shahin Najafi's comment. In part of his comment, he writes:"

"آی خط شکن . من در برابرت سر تعظیم فرود می آورم و شرمنده ام و از هم اکنون ، تمام وجودم اشک و ترس است از دشنام هایی که نثارت می شود. آی دختر وحشی و معصوم-نگاهِ شرقیِ غمگین. تو را به برهنگی آسمانی ات سوگند که آنچه کردی ،کرد دیگرانی را که تو را محصور و مهجور می خواستند."

Golshifteh has taken off her clothes. Najafi's comment makes it look like as if Golshifteh has done some kind of sacrifice. For all we know, Golshifteh might have had business motives for her action. Now she is signaling that she has no problem with nudity. Also as an artist, even though she is originally from Iran, she might be much more comfortable with nudity than average Iranian woman.

I don't agree with those criticizing Golshifteh for posing nude. On the other hand, I don't believe in elevating her to a higher position because she has taken off her clothes. I see Madonna/whore complex in action in the comments that people make regarding Golshifteh posing nude. Here is a definition of this complex from Wikipedia. :

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, (and the dark one today)

In Freudian psychoanalysis, a Madonna–whore complex is a psychological complex that is said to develop in the human male when he sees all women not as individuals, but as either saintly Madonnas or debased prostitute-like personalities. This dichotomy limits women's sexual expression because it offers two mutually exclusive ways to construct a sexual identity.[1] The duality implies that women must assume subservient roles, either as madonnas to be protected or as whores to be punished by men.[2]"

This started as a comment in respose to second posting of Najafi's comment and then I realized that a blog would be better. On a thread regarding Golshifteh's pictures, one commentator correctly noted, that people's comments reveals more about them and I think Najafi's comment reveals his mentality. By the way, I don't know much about him. I know he is a singer.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Anahid HojjatiCommentsDate
This is how it happened
-
Jul 24, 2012
یک نهر در شهر
1
Jul 23, 2012
Legendary Patience
2
Jul 18, 2012
more from Anahid Hojjati
 
Souri

I like Najafi's works in general but......

by Souri on

This time I can say his motivation is purely commercial!

He wants to take advantage of an important new of the Day for his new work. As simple as that.


Masoud Kazemzadeh

the actual video

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

the previous one had ony the lyrics, this one is the actual video:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdAjTje6L4s&feature=related

 


Masoud Kazemzadeh

Najafi's views on women

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

Anahid jaan,

I think this song clearly shows Najafi's views on women:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9EiCQynp7g

 


Ari Siletz

Yawn!

by Ari Siletz on

Looking forward to the day when an Iranian actress can pose nude without starting a  culture war and Shahin Najafi writing a new Helyat al-Awlia about it.

Good blog, Anahid and keenly observed. In the current state of affairs though, Najafi's canonizing Farahani to the rank of "The Naked Imam" (Imamess?) seems to be his way of using the occasion to push the cause of freedom. Good intentions, though there's too much sineh zani in the expression.


Masoud Kazemzadeh

my 2 cents

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

Anahid jaan,

Shifteh is one of the best-known, and highly successful Iranian actresses. She is NOT short of money. She could get media attention any time she wants.

Najafi sees this as her rebellion and challenge to the traditional mores of our culture.

Masoud


Masoud Kazemzadeh

Najafi's OWN words

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

از امروز تو یک خط شکنی.  چه بخواهی چه نخواهی.  نمی توانم فرض کنم که نادانسته سنگی را در آبی‌ها‌ی خالی و خیالی اذهان فسیلی انداخته باشی.

تو بر روی "نباید"ها و "باید"هایی که قرن‌ها بر ما تحمیل شده است خط کشیدی

 

چرا شادی‌ام را پنهان کنم، وقتی روزهائی را می‌بینم که پرچم‌دار و خط شکن‌های سرزمین‌ام زنانی چون تو اند ،که رگ‌های متورم غیرت و حجب و حیا و شرم را از درد و حسرت و ترس می‌ترکانند

 آی خط شکن.  من در برابرت سرِ تعظیم فرود می‌آورم و شرمنده‌ام و از هم اکنون، تمام وجودم اشک و ترس است از دشنام‌هائی که نثارت می‌شود

 

 

 

 

 


CallmeRed

NO BIG DEAL!

by CallmeRed on

همه این کامنتها و نظرها و اینکه میان عکس برهنه ی گلشیفته رو ازمتن یک کار هنری بیرون میکشند و به عنوان موضوعی جدابه بقیه نشون میدن و بحث و جدل راه میندازن، نشون میده که ما هنوز چقدر ازمرحله پرتیم و بدون اینکه بدونیم چقدر عقبیم و چقدر سردرگم-حتی کسانی که با فرهنگ سنتی که با برهنگی مشکل داره تحقیر آمیز برخورد میکنند و فکر میکنند خیلی ازبقیه جلو هستند نتونستند این قضیه رو هضم کنند. وگرنه اینقدرشلوغ نمیکردند و درپی اثبات حقانیت برهنگی این خانم نبودند-جالبه -اصل موضوع به کلی فراموش شده و همه چسبیدن به نیمه برهنه بودن گلشیفته دراین کارهنری. . .

من با برهنگی گلشیفته هیچ مشکلی ندارم-بدن خودشه و بالطبع اختیارش هم دست خودشه!- اما مطمئن هم نیستم که به خاطر اعتراض یا ثابت کردن چیزی اینکارو کرده باشه. آیا بقیه آدمهایی هم که توی این ویدیو بودن ازایران اومدن؟؟!!!!مگر اینکه بعدا خودش اعلام کنه که قصد خاصی داشته .- محققا ایشون نه اولین هنرمندیه که برهنه جلوی دوربین ظاهر شده نه آخری خواهد بود-میدونم که لونا شاد درصحنه ای ازفریاد مورچه ها برهنه شده بود. اما این همه قیل و قال و سروصدا نداشت. خودش هم درجایی گفته بود درهنر خط و مرزی وجود نداره-یا چیزی شبیه به این- . 

فکر می کنم درنهایت گلشیفته میدونه چیکار میکنه و خودش درمورد نوع کارهنری و زندگیش تصمیم میگیره - نه حق داریم بهش فحش بدیم و ناسزا بگیم- نه نیازی هست با این شدت و حدت و هیجان ازبرهنه شدنش دفاع کنیم-چون به نظر میرسه نیازی به این حمایت ها نداره-


Anahid Hojjati

Masoud jan

by Anahid Hojjati on

How does Najafi know that Golshifteh posed nude to break taboos? Perhaps I have missed some announcements from Golshifteh. Has Golshifteh announced that she posed nude to break taboos?


Masoud Kazemzadeh

On Najafi's Support for Golshifteh

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

Dear Anahid,

You misunderstood Najafi’s comments. His comments are actually opposite to the Madonna/whore complex. In the M/W complex, men see women as either pure virgins (like Jesus’s mother who was virgin and gave birth!!!!) or a prostitutes (have sex for money). In reality women, like men, are complex multidimensional beings who enjoy sex, are honorable beings, have feelings, fall in love, fall out of love, are victims and victimize others. The M/W complex is harmful both for men and women.

Najafi does NOT see women as either Madonna or whores. Actually, he is the radical opposite of that.

Najafi is fully supporting Golshifteh. For Najafi, what Shifteh did is BRAVE. In Njafai’s interpretation of Golshifteh’s action, she broke centuries-long "kasif" taboos. She is not a whore (one who sells her body for sex), but rather a brave women who challenges the conservative traditional patriarchal rules of Iranian and Islamic polities. These conservative, traditional, patriarchal rules are not merely state laws, but closely held societal values, which make them even more powerful and oppressive than state laws.

So, for Najafi, Golshifteh is a brave, honorable, iconoclastic human being. He is proud that an Iranian women is the flag bearer of such iconoclastic action. He welcomes this person (soon to be victimized by the many accusations and attacks).

Najafi is showing his support for a brave iconoclastic action as honorable and historic. Najafi considers himself as a feminist iconoclast at war with reactionary misogynist values and considers Golshifteh’s action as brave feminist action against misogynist values.

One may agree or disagree with Najafi’s interpretation of Golshifteh’s action. One may agree or disagree with Golshifteh’s action. But what Najafi says is a revolutionary feminist analysis supporting what he regards as a feminist action. It is a feminist undermining of the M/W complex.

Masoud

 


Anahid Hojjati

Complete comment of Shahin Najafi

by Anahid Hojjati on

 

 I copied and pasted this comment from the comment thread of MPD's poem blog regarding Golshifteh Farahani:

"

به گلی که شیفته کرد ما را...

تو نه دیگر آن دختر "میم مثل مادری،" و نه زنی در "سنتوری".  حالا حتی بازیگری جوان و مستعد و دل‌کنده از سینمای بیمارِ ایران و در سودای هالیوود هم نیستی.  دیگر همه چیز تمام شد.  دیگر مهم نیست که بگویند فقط برای حجاب و کار و پول و هرچه و چه و چه به بیرون زده باشی.  از امروز تو یک خط شکنی.  چه بخواهی چه نخواهی.  نمی توانم فرض کنم که نادانسته سنگی را در آبی‌ها‌ی خالی و خیالی اذهان فسیلی انداخته باشی.  یا شاید نمی‌دانستی و می‌دیدی و چه بهتر.  دیگر هیچ چیز مهم نیست.  تو بر روی "نباید"ها و "باید"هایی که قرن‌ها بر ما تحمیل شده است خط کشیدی.  خوش آمدی قربانی.  چرا شادی‌ام را پنهان کنم، وقتی روزهائی را می‌بینم که پرچم‌دار و خط شکن‌های سرزمین‌ام زنانی چون تو اند ،که رگ‌های متورم غیرت و حجب و حیا و شرم را از درد و حسرت و ترس می‌ترکانند و با نگاهی کودکانه ،لخت... برهنه در برابر چشمان از حدقه درآمدهِ تاریخی کثیف می‌ایستند و نعره می‌شکند که هی... های مرا ببین.

من همانم که تو مرا به زنجیر کشیدی.  در مقام خواهر و مادر و زن و با چماق عفت و عصمت و هر مفهوم بد بو و بدوی دیگر.  من اینم.  برهنه مرا ببین و در خلوت خویش به تدلیست ببغض، که در هزار توی مفاهیمی فسیلی، به لجن کشیده شده‌ای و نمی‌دانی.  آی خط شکن.  من در برابرت سرِ تعظیم فرود می‌آورم و شرمنده‌ام و از هم اکنون، تمام وجودم اشک و ترس است از دشنام‌هائی که نثارت می‌شود.  آی دختر وحشی و معصومِ نگاهِ شرقیِ غمگین.  تو را به برهنگی آسمانی‌ات سوگند که آنچه کردی، کرد دیگرانی را که تو را محصور و مهجور می‌خواستند.

تنها بدان که تنها نیستی،

شاهین نجفی
١٨ ژانویه ٢٠١٢

"


Anahid Hojjati

Dear omeedvar, what is your opinion about Najafi's comment

by Anahid Hojjati on

As I noted, I have no problem with Golshifteh's posing. My issue is with comments of Shahin Najafi. May I ask what you thought of Najafi's comments? since my blog is not really about Golshifteh's posing per se but Najafi' comments regarding that. However, your comment makes it appear that you are explaining to me that it is OK that Golshifteh posed nude. I already know that.


omeedvar

Dear Anahid,

by omeedvar on

I agree with you that people's comments reveals more about them. I personally believe in moderation, no forced hejob, no nudity. However, we have to understand why there is so much tension among Iranians, when the subject is sex.

Many years ago, an Iranian girl who went to Switzerland for higher education, told me that the first day in medical school, everybody had to take-off all his/her clothing with no exception. Although difficult at first, she realized after that session, that she and especially several Iranian boys in that class had less tension about sex and nudity, so they could concentrate on their education much easier. Golshifteh is an artist, and lives abroad. She did not pose for the playboy to make money. She is playing a role in a movie, innocently without make-up, and she looks beautiful. I wish her success in her profession as an artist.