The provocation in art as a political and social act with a focus on Iran

Abstract

In this master thesis I am investigating the provocation in art in the Western and Middle Eastern art scene with a special focus on Iran. I am trying to find out in as far provocation in art is only as obvious and scandalous as more political freedom one artist has or if there are different motifs for artists to be more or less provocative in order to engage social change. Artists who are working with provocation in their art have to decide according to the place they want to display their art work how obvious and scandalous it should be in order to gain a greater effect and spread their social and political message.Furthermore I try to highlight the obscure line between scandalous and hideous provocation and the different habits, beliefs and political situations that come with them. Therefore I showcase the different provocation formats with its history, the question about morality and especially the expression of different provocation formats regarding to their place of display and the society that has to deal with them. The thesis should display the challenges that artists have to deal with as well as their different effects on society in order to engage social and political change.Furthermore I want to have a closer look to the relationship between the provocation of Iranian artists inside and outside of their country. It is certain that the Iranian artists are having more freedom to be more provocative and political with their art work in Europe due to the strictly conservative restrictions in Iran. Consequently it follows that the expression of provocation in Iran is more hideous and outside of Iran more outstanding even though the hideous provocation could always lead to a scandal as soon as it would be detected by the conservative politicians. Nevertheless is it questionable if the scandalous provocation in the Western society or if the hideous provocation in the Iranian society has more effect in order to engage social change.In addition to my thesis my statements about the Iranian art scene and society will be supported by interviews with Iranian artists.

In this master thesis I am investigating the provocation in art in the Western and Middle Eastern art scene with a special focus on Iran. I am trying to find out in as far provocation in art is only as obvious and scandalous as more political freedom one artist has or if there are different motifs for artists to be more or less provocative in order to engage social change. Artists who are working with provocation in their art have to decide according to the place they want to display their art work how obvious and scandalous it should be in order to gain a greater effect and spread their social and political message.Furthermore I try to highlight the obscure line between scandalous and hideous provocation and the different habits, beliefs and political situations that come with them. Therefore I showcase the different provocation formats with its history, the question about morality and especially the expression of different provocation formats regarding to their place of display and the society that has to deal with them. The thesis should display the challenges that artists have to deal with as well as their different effects on society in order to engage social and political change.Furthermore I want to have a closer look to the relationship between the provocation of Iranian artists inside and outside of their country. It is certain that the Iranian artists are having more freedom to be more provocative and political with their art work in Europe due to the strictly conservative restrictions in Iran. Consequently it follows that the expression of provocation in Iran is more hideous and outside of Iran more outstanding even though the hideous provocation could always lead to a scandal as soon as it would be detected by the conservative politicians. Nevertheless is it questionable if the scandalous provocation in the Western society or if the hideous provocation in the Iranian society has more effect in order to engage social change.In addition to my thesis my statements about the Iranian art scene and society will be supported by interviews with Iranian artists.