Picturing Ayatollahs' Iran: Laurence Deonna and Higinio Polo

Abstract

In this paper I will compare two recent views of Westerns towards contemporary Iran: the view of a journalist, the Swiss Laurence Deonna, and another by the Spaniard Higino Polo. I try to establish how the subjective interests of both contribute to a differentiated construction of the representations of a country in many aspects far away Western perspectives, mainly in the role of religion in everyday life and the position of women. Deonna is interested in reporting what she sees, thus giving voice to different people she meets, even if she does not hide her critical position. Polo instead wants to travel, to observe everyday life and contrasts today's Iran with the old Persian culture.