Exhibition, held on Thursday, April, 17th, overall went well and was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. During the first forty minutes my group (C) was free to roam about the school. We went into the Great Room and looked at the other projects, one of which had to do with a game called "Clue". This time period was very interesting and gave us somewhat of an idea of what we would be doing over the next three years.
Next, we were to do Humanities shift. We worked at our station on the actual project while visitors came around and asked us questions. During this time period we were to actually work on the project to show the people our process and how we were actually accomplishing this task.
I think that some of the strengths of this shift were that we explained things thoroughly and engaged our audience with tales of witchhunt and such. One weakness that I noticed was that sometimes we weren't sure how to explain what exactly Puritans were. I knew that their religion was very similiar to the Catholic religion, if not exactly that.
Throughout this shift, we came across some challenges. Mr. Nuthall did come over and ask many questions that were difficult to explain at times. Finally, in the end I ended up explaining the entire history of the Salem Witch Trials and how they came about to avoid the awkward questions. The questions that were asked were somewhat intense. My favorite part of this shift was when a woman and I had a very interesting conversation about witchcraft. I truly enjoyed this part.
Finally, for the final shift, we were in Ms. Mohr's room and were presenting to people who came to our booths what the project was and how we used trigonometry and such to take pictures. This was interesting because a lot of people had many interesting questions about our project.
Some strengths that I found that Christian and I displayed was that we were able to explain everything that we were asked about light. We told people the answers to their questions and more. We definetely showed the visitors how much we knew about light and how we made the cameras and why and why not our pictures came out.
During this time we came across a few obstacles. Our pictures did not come out the best, for as simple a reason as technical difficulties. It was a little tiring having to tell people the number of things that could have gone wrong with our camera. A few parents also asked some intense questions.
If we were to do exhibition again, I would definetely research my Spanish before hand, considering we did have a visitor who didn't know very much English. But, other than that, overall the exhibition night went well.
-Shellina
Friday, April 18, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Character Acting Reflection
Today we did an exercise in which we were to play the part of our own characters, and portray them to the class. I played the part of Pierre Cotton, the investigator of Salem and Amelia's future lover, when they first meet. Through this process I really got a chance to learn about things deeper in Pierre's life... how he walks, how he talks, if he's deaf in one ear, how he acts under pressure, (etc.). To play him was a lot different and slightly more difficult than making him up and writing about him. You find that even if you think you know your character... you really don't.
Through watching the other acting performances I realized that when you see a character, the way they present themselves, their mannerisms, (etc.) it tells their story of their lives, because they got the idea to act like this from someone. I also realized that we should make Pierre, perhaps, a bit more exciting and put more of an edge to him. This would make Amelia's attraction to Pierre more understandable. I want to show how his values are, how he copes with things, what his beliefs are without just saying "Pierre's beliefs were bla bla bla...". I want to incorporate it into this art.
What I want to do with Pierre Cotton is I want to make him more complex, edgy, and outspoken instead of this monologued thing we have now. I want him to have a personality behind the professional skin that he is, being an investigator for a town that is "under attack" by withcraft sources.
Specifics on how we are to do this... hmm... perhaps we could give him more troubles of his own? Like, say, his mother just died or such. What we did not want to do, however, is turn this into an overwhelming story of bad things happening (if our readers want a story like that they can always read A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I recommend the series.).
So, somehow, through the events happening (for we still aren't very sure about what exactly is going to happen in the actual story) we want to make Pierre more interesting and more complex.
Amelia, on the other hand, I thought, was portrayed very well in the performance. I thought we showed her witchy side very well and how she acted around this sudden man who comes into her home to inspect where she keeps her witchcraft tools. We got to see her lie as well, which made it all the better because that is very important in this story. Lying is the key element in The Devil's Trial. Without it the story would become deceased.
In the end I thought that most of the groups that we saw did a good job and I look forward to writing more about our characters.
Through watching the other acting performances I realized that when you see a character, the way they present themselves, their mannerisms, (etc.) it tells their story of their lives, because they got the idea to act like this from someone. I also realized that we should make Pierre, perhaps, a bit more exciting and put more of an edge to him. This would make Amelia's attraction to Pierre more understandable. I want to show how his values are, how he copes with things, what his beliefs are without just saying "Pierre's beliefs were bla bla bla...". I want to incorporate it into this art.
What I want to do with Pierre Cotton is I want to make him more complex, edgy, and outspoken instead of this monologued thing we have now. I want him to have a personality behind the professional skin that he is, being an investigator for a town that is "under attack" by withcraft sources.
Specifics on how we are to do this... hmm... perhaps we could give him more troubles of his own? Like, say, his mother just died or such. What we did not want to do, however, is turn this into an overwhelming story of bad things happening (if our readers want a story like that they can always read A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I recommend the series.).
So, somehow, through the events happening (for we still aren't very sure about what exactly is going to happen in the actual story) we want to make Pierre more interesting and more complex.
Amelia, on the other hand, I thought, was portrayed very well in the performance. I thought we showed her witchy side very well and how she acted around this sudden man who comes into her home to inspect where she keeps her witchcraft tools. We got to see her lie as well, which made it all the better because that is very important in this story. Lying is the key element in The Devil's Trial. Without it the story would become deceased.
In the end I thought that most of the groups that we saw did a good job and I look forward to writing more about our characters.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Story Synopsis
The Devil’s Trial
The Devil’s Trial will open in a fight between Amelia and John Hathorne, fighting about her previously planned engagement. She wishes not to marry the wealthy Jason Wayne, the owner of the town bank who she has been betrothed to for all her life. Against her will, she is married to Jason, planning a horrible life for her in her mind.
They are married on July 19th, 1692, coincidentally being the same day that the first witch, Sarah Good, is hung in response to an accusation of witchcraft. She, with her dying breath, places a “curse” on the town, condemning them to a lifetime of misfortune. This scares the town to no end and thus begins the mad hunt for witches, fearful of further droughts and deaths to their village.
Amelia, after this first hanging, being a witch herself, hid in her room for three days, cutting herself off from all around her, including her husband. She is scared of being found out, for her mother taught her witchcraft most of her life, and fears for her own life.
Not long after the second hanging, the mayor of the town appoints the searching of all homes in
When he comes to Amelia's house, she does everything she can to keep him from finding a room of hers. Her "secret room" in which she keeps her tools for her witchcraft.
Jason, because
At the hanging of Rebecca Nurse Amelia see
Pierre and Amelia go back to Amelia's house to continue there conversation on witchcraft. Soon an hour passed and they fall in love they don't tell each other at that moment and they still are to shy to talk much about Amelia marriage to Jason.
Jason comes back and finds out about Pierre and Amelia
Finally one day Amelia and Pierre are talking over tea and they get to overwhelmed with lust that they kiss at right at that moment Jason, Amelia's husband walks in on them…
Jason later talks to
This story ends in a surprising twist involving betrayal, death, and revenge.
Character Biographies
Shellina (Shellby) Hefner
Kathleen Love Smith
March 22, 2008
HUMANities
Character Biographies
Amelia Marina Hathorne:
Amelia was born on October 31st, 1664 to Judge John Hathorne and his wife in the fairly sized town of Salem, surrounded by farmland and forests. She grew up under the parenting of a religious judge, yet a mother not so; the only child.
She lived her childhood under her religious father and mother, who were very well off though not wealthy, as was the rest of the town. Salem was a Catholic town, against anything that might even suggest the devil. At the tender age of nine, Amelia witnessed her father, who was believed by the town to beat his wife, kill her mother after a brutal beating. With her last few moments, her mother gave her a necklace, decorated with a flower. Thus, she discarded her ambitions to pursue any sort of religious life and began to practice witchcraft.
She was taught by a private tutor at her home until the age of fourteen, where she began to learn to write poetry and music and perform to large audiences of the town. She was a fan of romance novels, which were believed to damage a woman’s brain. When she was thirteen, she took in a stray bird, a dove... yet black. Her father disapproved greatly but, with much begging, she was able to keep him.
Amelia Hathorne was a tall woman for her age (5’6 around the height of most of the men), with fiery curly red hair and brown eyes, she didn’t not have the perfect figure that women were supposed to have back then (a hour-glass figure). She has very fair skin from being kept inside all her life and never being able to go outside and play and an oval face.
Witchcraft, as she got older, became her ambition for life. She used it as an escape from her father and the dreary life of Salem. Amelia was a hard worker and a quick learner. In her early childhood she was a singer for the town and played piano. As Amelia got older she began writing her own songs and music about things such as nature and virtues. This disturbed the town for her songs were not based off the Catholic Religion or God. Though Amelia was intelligent and beautiful she was open minded and spoke her opinion, making it hard to hold her tongue when she was around others. She was witty and fiery, and often got into heated debates with the representatives of the church and law. Under all this though, she felt weak and exposed without the protection of her mother.
Pierre Cotton
Pierre Cotton, the investigator of the town, was born on June 14, 1661 in the town of Salem as well, the oldest of three children to Stephen and Mary Cotton. He was named after his great grandfather of French descent. His father was an investigator as well and expected Pierre to continue his work.
Pierre grew up in the middle class and knew that he would have to continue on with his fathers work when grew old enough. Pierre went to school until he was 18 and then became an investigator like his father, he didn’t like being an investigator always having to amuse that people were guilty of doing something before he had any clue as to what the crime was that they were supposed to have committed. Pierre’s father was his biggest influence as he was growing up. When Pierre was 31 at the start of the “witch trails” he met Amelia, as you will hear more about during the story.
Pierre was smart, witty, and practical. He was not as outspoken as Amelia but outspoken nonetheless when he saw something that was not to his liking. He based his opinions off facts more than his religion, though he was brought up a Catholic and respected God. He was looked down upon by some of the judges and lawyers for they thought that he was not useful enough, no matter how many people he “brought to justice”.
He, as a man living on his own, was well off enough, due to the money that his father left him, yet with his own money, he was near poor. He did find time, however, in his life to read and watch theatre. His favorite books were practical ones such as the works of scientists and philosophers. He enjoyed listening to piano and violin, any type of classical music.
Pierre Cotton was a tall man, the height of 5’7 with black hair, somewhat ragged but nonetheless clean, and brown eyes. Is skin is tanned, though not too, and a scrawny figure, making this his worst characteristic.
His life ambition is to rid the world of the terrible people in the world, therefore, when an innocent person is put in jail, they become his enemies. Many families dislike him as well, for putting their relative in jail, whether they are innocent or otherwise.
Jason Wayne:
Jason Wayne, at the age of 35, born on September 12, 1657, is the banker for the town, wealthy and sophisticated. He is an only child to John and Johanna Wayne, betrothed since young childhood to Amelia Hathorne. His father was a banker as well, owning the Wayne Bank. Like many other men, Jason continued his father’s work and continued to bear the family name. Both of his parents died when he was very young, leaving him to live with his aunt and uncle on the outskirts of Salem until he was old enough to live on his own and inherit his father’s money, accepting the job at the bank. He was educated by his aunt and uncle until the age of eighteen. It was said throughout his family that his father was killed by a woman of witchcraft, making witches his main enemy.
He is not the smartest person on earth, though he is intelligent, and runs a business well though he is very easily subjected to pressure from his superiors. He is a full on Catholic and respects the law to the fullest extent.
He was also a practical man, never reading fiction books or writings of any kind except writings of philosophers and, of course, his records for the bank.
Jason is a short man, bald and overweight, though very well off. He does, however have amber eyes, which is considered to be his best trait. However, to many women in Salem... his wealth is the only thing they see in him.
Kathleen Love Smith
March 22, 2008
HUMANities
Character Biographies
Amelia Marina Hathorne:
Amelia was born on October 31st, 1664 to Judge John Hathorne and his wife in the fairly sized town of Salem, surrounded by farmland and forests. She grew up under the parenting of a religious judge, yet a mother not so; the only child.
She lived her childhood under her religious father and mother, who were very well off though not wealthy, as was the rest of the town. Salem was a Catholic town, against anything that might even suggest the devil. At the tender age of nine, Amelia witnessed her father, who was believed by the town to beat his wife, kill her mother after a brutal beating. With her last few moments, her mother gave her a necklace, decorated with a flower. Thus, she discarded her ambitions to pursue any sort of religious life and began to practice witchcraft.
She was taught by a private tutor at her home until the age of fourteen, where she began to learn to write poetry and music and perform to large audiences of the town. She was a fan of romance novels, which were believed to damage a woman’s brain. When she was thirteen, she took in a stray bird, a dove... yet black. Her father disapproved greatly but, with much begging, she was able to keep him.
Amelia Hathorne was a tall woman for her age (5’6 around the height of most of the men), with fiery curly red hair and brown eyes, she didn’t not have the perfect figure that women were supposed to have back then (a hour-glass figure). She has very fair skin from being kept inside all her life and never being able to go outside and play and an oval face.
Witchcraft, as she got older, became her ambition for life. She used it as an escape from her father and the dreary life of Salem. Amelia was a hard worker and a quick learner. In her early childhood she was a singer for the town and played piano. As Amelia got older she began writing her own songs and music about things such as nature and virtues. This disturbed the town for her songs were not based off the Catholic Religion or God. Though Amelia was intelligent and beautiful she was open minded and spoke her opinion, making it hard to hold her tongue when she was around others. She was witty and fiery, and often got into heated debates with the representatives of the church and law. Under all this though, she felt weak and exposed without the protection of her mother.
Pierre Cotton
Pierre Cotton, the investigator of the town, was born on June 14, 1661 in the town of Salem as well, the oldest of three children to Stephen and Mary Cotton. He was named after his great grandfather of French descent. His father was an investigator as well and expected Pierre to continue his work.
Pierre grew up in the middle class and knew that he would have to continue on with his fathers work when grew old enough. Pierre went to school until he was 18 and then became an investigator like his father, he didn’t like being an investigator always having to amuse that people were guilty of doing something before he had any clue as to what the crime was that they were supposed to have committed. Pierre’s father was his biggest influence as he was growing up. When Pierre was 31 at the start of the “witch trails” he met Amelia, as you will hear more about during the story.
Pierre was smart, witty, and practical. He was not as outspoken as Amelia but outspoken nonetheless when he saw something that was not to his liking. He based his opinions off facts more than his religion, though he was brought up a Catholic and respected God. He was looked down upon by some of the judges and lawyers for they thought that he was not useful enough, no matter how many people he “brought to justice”.
He, as a man living on his own, was well off enough, due to the money that his father left him, yet with his own money, he was near poor. He did find time, however, in his life to read and watch theatre. His favorite books were practical ones such as the works of scientists and philosophers. He enjoyed listening to piano and violin, any type of classical music.
Pierre Cotton was a tall man, the height of 5’7 with black hair, somewhat ragged but nonetheless clean, and brown eyes. Is skin is tanned, though not too, and a scrawny figure, making this his worst characteristic.
His life ambition is to rid the world of the terrible people in the world, therefore, when an innocent person is put in jail, they become his enemies. Many families dislike him as well, for putting their relative in jail, whether they are innocent or otherwise.
Jason Wayne:
Jason Wayne, at the age of 35, born on September 12, 1657, is the banker for the town, wealthy and sophisticated. He is an only child to John and Johanna Wayne, betrothed since young childhood to Amelia Hathorne. His father was a banker as well, owning the Wayne Bank. Like many other men, Jason continued his father’s work and continued to bear the family name. Both of his parents died when he was very young, leaving him to live with his aunt and uncle on the outskirts of Salem until he was old enough to live on his own and inherit his father’s money, accepting the job at the bank. He was educated by his aunt and uncle until the age of eighteen. It was said throughout his family that his father was killed by a woman of witchcraft, making witches his main enemy.
He is not the smartest person on earth, though he is intelligent, and runs a business well though he is very easily subjected to pressure from his superiors. He is a full on Catholic and respects the law to the fullest extent.
He was also a practical man, never reading fiction books or writings of any kind except writings of philosophers and, of course, his records for the bank.
Jason is a short man, bald and overweight, though very well off. He does, however have amber eyes, which is considered to be his best trait. However, to many women in Salem... his wealth is the only thing they see in him.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Persepolis... Truly an Amazing Graphic Novel (Inquiry Three)
When Marji goes to Vienna, Austria, she finds out what freedom really is. She is not forced to wear a veil and wears what she wants through the streets. Over the years she hears about the events going on in Iran (See Inquiry One) she becomes saddened, leaving her in misery and worry for a long time when she recieved no letters from her parents because of further restrictions to the country (I do not know for sure if this actually happened but... it is coming from my imagination). Finally, when the border dispute ends in 1996, Marji is surprised to recieve a letter from her parents saying that her father was taken into captivity by the "enemy" and he was released after two years. Marji, when she was ten or so, thought that being able to tell her friends that her parents had been to jail with the enemy... and they were tortured and refused to talk... would be cool... but, when she went to college classes that morning, she said nothing to anyone.
Most of the time knowing that she was in Vienna, getting a wonderful education and everything she ever wanted, made her feel guilty and wish to go back home to suffer with her family again. For them to be together, but she knew her parents would not allow her to go home at this time... she may never leave.
In Austria she still wished to go to the United States, all the wonderful stories she had heard from her old friend who had gone there. Soon, she would get her wish.
In the year 2000, just after George W. Bush was elected president Marji moved to the States. New York city to be exact.
Living through 9/11 was probably one of the hardest things that Marji ever had to do. In her heart she wondered what it was coming to when the people of her own religion were doing things like this. As she walked the streets of New York she was stopped twice in a week by gangs, accusing her of being in league with the attackers of their buildings, their drunken breath intoxicating Marji. One of the attacks she never will forget:
Marji walked through the streets of New York, keeping her head down, the hood of her black hooded sweatshirt covering her hair. She wore a black leather skirt and boots, and her hair fell straight and long.
Suddenly, a group of voices fell prey to her ears as she walked, men's voices, and laughter. She walked quicker, already once that week she had been harrassed by a gang of people, blaming her for what happened to their country because of how she looked... she would not go through it again.
"Hey, guys, look what it is!" Marji walked faster again, this time almost in a run as she turned into an alley, rushing down it. She heard approaching footsteps behind her.
"Hey!" A voice called, "Stop! Hey you!" Marji slowed slightly, fearful of what would happen if she ran. She finally gathered the courage she had always had as a child and turned.
"Yes?" she asked. There was a gang of guys coming at her. Four she counted. They stopped.
"Look what we have here..." one of them said... "It's an Al Queda member..." Marji's eyes flared and she frowned, staring at the men before her.
"What did you just call me?" she asked.
"Well that's what you are aren't you?" they asked. Marji looked at them for a few moments.
. . .
She had walked away that day with a bruised eye and a cut lip... from that day on she decided that she would never put up with something like that again.
And she decided to write a book.
(There we are! That is Marji's life up until 2002!!)
Most of the time knowing that she was in Vienna, getting a wonderful education and everything she ever wanted, made her feel guilty and wish to go back home to suffer with her family again. For them to be together, but she knew her parents would not allow her to go home at this time... she may never leave.
In Austria she still wished to go to the United States, all the wonderful stories she had heard from her old friend who had gone there. Soon, she would get her wish.
In the year 2000, just after George W. Bush was elected president Marji moved to the States. New York city to be exact.
Living through 9/11 was probably one of the hardest things that Marji ever had to do. In her heart she wondered what it was coming to when the people of her own religion were doing things like this. As she walked the streets of New York she was stopped twice in a week by gangs, accusing her of being in league with the attackers of their buildings, their drunken breath intoxicating Marji. One of the attacks she never will forget:
Marji walked through the streets of New York, keeping her head down, the hood of her black hooded sweatshirt covering her hair. She wore a black leather skirt and boots, and her hair fell straight and long.
Suddenly, a group of voices fell prey to her ears as she walked, men's voices, and laughter. She walked quicker, already once that week she had been harrassed by a gang of people, blaming her for what happened to their country because of how she looked... she would not go through it again.
"Hey, guys, look what it is!" Marji walked faster again, this time almost in a run as she turned into an alley, rushing down it. She heard approaching footsteps behind her.
"Hey!" A voice called, "Stop! Hey you!" Marji slowed slightly, fearful of what would happen if she ran. She finally gathered the courage she had always had as a child and turned.
"Yes?" she asked. There was a gang of guys coming at her. Four she counted. They stopped.
"Look what we have here..." one of them said... "It's an Al Queda member..." Marji's eyes flared and she frowned, staring at the men before her.
"What did you just call me?" she asked.
"Well that's what you are aren't you?" they asked. Marji looked at them for a few moments.
. . .
She had walked away that day with a bruised eye and a cut lip... from that day on she decided that she would never put up with something like that again.
And she decided to write a book.
(There we are! That is Marji's life up until 2002!!)
Persepolis... Truly an Amazing Graphic Novel (Inquiry Two)
During the book, Persepolis, (the history of which is described in Inquiry One) the lead character, Marji Satrapi, experiences some extremely sad and angering experiences in her life, such as witnessing through her life friends and family being killed and hearing about them being executed. She learned a lot about not only her persona but the people and place around her.
When story first begins, Marji thinks that the Shah was chosen by God, as it was said in her school books (and by God himself so she says). She wanted to be a prophet and make everybody's lives better. She was much more naive, and seemed to think she knew everything about her country and what exactly she supported and what she didn't. She did not understand at first, her parents motives for protesting in the street. Her views seemed to revolve around her troubles at school, such as the veil (yet again I mention it) and the fact that the boys and girls were separated in their school. Like I said, she was naive.
By the center of the book she began to realize what the war really meant and how detrimental it was to the people she lived with and around. Her uncle Anoosh comes to visit them and he tells her stories about his life under cover and fighting for a revolution. When he is taken to jail and executed, Marji realizes that the war is a terrible thing, and is ruining many lives. She no longer speaks of becoming a prophet and her visits from God stop. Her views of her family and her country begin to change, though she still holds the same headstrongness that she had before.
By the end of the book, when Marji "grows up" at the age of fourteen and her parents send her to Vienna for safety, her parents being forced to stay behind because of limits in the country, Marji has a much more mature view of the war and the situation at hand. She understands now that it is going to take much more than being a prophet to fix Iran. She realizes that she is only a small being in a large world and cannot fix everything herself, no matter how lovely it would be. She sees that she can play virtually no role in the fixing of her broken country... and broken it is as she realizes. As far as her family goes, she sees that, even though through the book she is trying to lie and say that her grandfather had been to jail and was tortured, and her relatives were heros of all kinds. I think by the end of her book she realizes that her family are heros exactly the way they were and how much she really loves and respects them. Overall, Marji becomes less naive and more informed of the world around her.
When story first begins, Marji thinks that the Shah was chosen by God, as it was said in her school books (and by God himself so she says). She wanted to be a prophet and make everybody's lives better. She was much more naive, and seemed to think she knew everything about her country and what exactly she supported and what she didn't. She did not understand at first, her parents motives for protesting in the street. Her views seemed to revolve around her troubles at school, such as the veil (yet again I mention it) and the fact that the boys and girls were separated in their school. Like I said, she was naive.
By the center of the book she began to realize what the war really meant and how detrimental it was to the people she lived with and around. Her uncle Anoosh comes to visit them and he tells her stories about his life under cover and fighting for a revolution. When he is taken to jail and executed, Marji realizes that the war is a terrible thing, and is ruining many lives. She no longer speaks of becoming a prophet and her visits from God stop. Her views of her family and her country begin to change, though she still holds the same headstrongness that she had before.
By the end of the book, when Marji "grows up" at the age of fourteen and her parents send her to Vienna for safety, her parents being forced to stay behind because of limits in the country, Marji has a much more mature view of the war and the situation at hand. She understands now that it is going to take much more than being a prophet to fix Iran. She realizes that she is only a small being in a large world and cannot fix everything herself, no matter how lovely it would be. She sees that she can play virtually no role in the fixing of her broken country... and broken it is as she realizes. As far as her family goes, she sees that, even though through the book she is trying to lie and say that her grandfather had been to jail and was tortured, and her relatives were heros of all kinds. I think by the end of her book she realizes that her family are heros exactly the way they were and how much she really loves and respects them. Overall, Marji becomes less naive and more informed of the world around her.
Persepolis... Truly an Amazing Graphic Novel (Inquiry One)
Persepolis, the story of a young girl in the seventies and eightees in Iran, from the age ten to fourteen. This book portrays history from touching up as early as 1925 when Reza Shah, becomes emperor after her own grandfather's father was thrown out of power. Though perhaps mentioned once in this story the rest of the history of Iran goes as follows: In 1935 Reza Shah has "Persia" which was what Iran's name was changed to, back to Iran. From 1939 to 1945 World War II is taking place, putting strict conditions for the Iranians, such as the repression of women. In 1951, the oil industry that was found in Iran in 1945 was nationalized, meaning the government took over and now owns the companies, mainly because other countries were beginning to show interest in the country's oil. Next, in 1953 Mossadeq, the new Prime Minister of Iran, was overthrown by the United States's CIA when they sent a coup after him. The Shah, son of Reza Shah, returns to power.
In 1963 a "White Revolution" takes place, as Iran becomes modernized and westernized, for a time, until the time of Persepolis, when they begin reinforcing the veil and many other traditions.
Beginning in 1974, which is more of where Marji's point of view is, Iran begins supplying Kurdish, a region in Iraq, with weapons and funding. To fix this, many things were proposed, including an embargo, which many believe would have worked well. In 1975, though, the border dispute between Iraq and Iran is compromised, and Iran is forced to stop supplying the Kurds with the weapons and funding they needed to break off from Iraq. Saddam Hussein, considered a secular, or non religious and is also suspected now to have a reservoir of "weapons of mass destruction" according to our President, ruler invaded Iran in 1980, hopefully to "reverse the 1975 border settlement and perhaps gain control of the rich, oil producing Iranian providence of Khuzestan" (Iran-Iraq War, article provided by Cortney). Starting back in 1978, Iran was put under "Marshall Law" reinforcing old traditions and laws based off the Qur'an, such as, the most influencial in Persepolis, women being forced to wear the veil. Many tried to be clandestine, secretly taking off their veils at school as Marji did repeatedly.
1979... the Islamic Revolution begins. Many terrible things happened, as this is where Persepolis starts, including killings at protests (one of which Marji attends) and Black Friday, where the military was basically allowed to whatever they wanted to the protesters. Many, many were killed during Black Friday. Many of the ones who died were martyrs, for they died for their cause, even not willingly. Because of all the harships in social class and deaths, Marji felt her family was decadent for they weren't proletariats and had very nice things (such as a cadilac). Also in 1979, the Shah was overthrown (exiled). Skipping ahead: in 1987, the United States decides to station warships in the Persian Gulf (beginning the Gulf War I believe).
To skip forward again, Iraq dropped their demands of Iran in 1990, supposedly marking the end of the Iran-Iraqi war. In reality, though, by the time all negotiations were made and prisoners released, the war did not end until 1996.
Thus was the basic history of Iran. Most of this relates to Persepolis, the story of Marjane (Marji) Satrapi, as she lives through the Iranian revolution. The way she puts the history of Iran into her own perspective, only makes you realize how veritable the issues in Iran and Iraq really were.
In 1963 a "White Revolution" takes place, as Iran becomes modernized and westernized, for a time, until the time of Persepolis, when they begin reinforcing the veil and many other traditions.
Beginning in 1974, which is more of where Marji's point of view is, Iran begins supplying Kurdish, a region in Iraq, with weapons and funding. To fix this, many things were proposed, including an embargo, which many believe would have worked well. In 1975, though, the border dispute between Iraq and Iran is compromised, and Iran is forced to stop supplying the Kurds with the weapons and funding they needed to break off from Iraq. Saddam Hussein, considered a secular, or non religious and is also suspected now to have a reservoir of "weapons of mass destruction" according to our President, ruler invaded Iran in 1980, hopefully to "reverse the 1975 border settlement and perhaps gain control of the rich, oil producing Iranian providence of Khuzestan" (Iran-Iraq War, article provided by Cortney). Starting back in 1978, Iran was put under "Marshall Law" reinforcing old traditions and laws based off the Qur'an, such as, the most influencial in Persepolis, women being forced to wear the veil. Many tried to be clandestine, secretly taking off their veils at school as Marji did repeatedly.
1979... the Islamic Revolution begins. Many terrible things happened, as this is where Persepolis starts, including killings at protests (one of which Marji attends) and Black Friday, where the military was basically allowed to whatever they wanted to the protesters. Many, many were killed during Black Friday. Many of the ones who died were martyrs, for they died for their cause, even not willingly. Because of all the harships in social class and deaths, Marji felt her family was decadent for they weren't proletariats and had very nice things (such as a cadilac). Also in 1979, the Shah was overthrown (exiled). Skipping ahead: in 1987, the United States decides to station warships in the Persian Gulf (beginning the Gulf War I believe).
To skip forward again, Iraq dropped their demands of Iran in 1990, supposedly marking the end of the Iran-Iraqi war. In reality, though, by the time all negotiations were made and prisoners released, the war did not end until 1996.
Thus was the basic history of Iran. Most of this relates to Persepolis, the story of Marjane (Marji) Satrapi, as she lives through the Iranian revolution. The way she puts the history of Iran into her own perspective, only makes you realize how veritable the issues in Iran and Iraq really were.
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