| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation considers the coded portrayal of sexual moments in contemporary Iranian cinema. In accordance with government censorship regulations, in post-revolutionary cinema actors and actresses cannot display sexual intimacy and women should wear the hijab. These regulations imply that sexual moments are not present in Iranian cinema, however, Iranian filmmakers have developed a series of codes that enable sexual moments to be depicted through alternative methods. These codes are known to Iranian audiences as “the conventional codes of sex” but remain largely unknown to foreign viewers. In this dissertation, I unpack these codes and their function in different contexts, from romantic couples, and unwanted sex, to dark comedy through a close analysis of domestically popular Iranian films. My dissertation is guided by three intersecting research questions: How does censorship and coding effect the depiction of sexual moments in Iranian cinema? In what ways have Iranian filmmakers managed to negotiate strict regulations and audience interest with regard to sex? How the governing bodies interpreted the guidelines? I will show how Iranian filmmakers with cinematic techniques decode the forbidden moments and how the Iranian audience decodes them. Also, I will try to interpret visual images that represent sexuality in these three films and shed light on how the Iranian political and social context force filmmakers to represent these moments allegorically. | eng |