IMU Sociology Student Club organized a movie analysis workshop on Thursday, May 11, 2023. The event, in which the film “Close Up” was analyzed, was open to the participation of all our students, academic and administrative staff and the public.
In the event, the movie “Close-Up” was opened to discussion on topics such as social class differences, the search for individual identity, the social impact of art and the ways individuals form their identities in modern societies. The film was analyzed through the individual’s struggle to find a place in society and the social conflicts brought about by this struggle, and the phenomenon of modern conflict was created among the participants.
Sabzian’s desire to present himself as someone else in the movie was evaluated as a sociological phenomenon in the context of economic inequalities in Iranian society and individuals’ search for status. However, based on the fact that the individual reflects the society, it was pointed out that the financial difficulties of individuals reflect the income inequalities in society. It was emphasized that when these inequalities lead to situations where people face unemployment, poverty and hunger, as in the film, they can lead to criminal elements and as a result, the impoverished and marginalized may face social exclusion. It was underlined that all these deepening problems would not only create a deep stratification in society, but would also eliminate the characteristics of an inclusive society. For this reason, it was stated that sociological phenomena seen in individuals are an important indicator for reading society.
In the event, students from the Department of Sociology, as well as students from other departments, evaluated the events in the film within their own professional fields, creating a rich discussion environment in terms of analyzing social phenomena and eliminating social inequalities. At the same time, Kiarostami’s blurring of the boundaries between documentary and fiction created a deep sociological discussion on what reality is and how art reflects this reality, which enriched the event.