Contemporary Photography in Iran

This book deals with Iranian photography from its first photography exhibition in 1964 until the present. Taking an interpretive-historical approach, this book will explain how photographic images in a particular context respond to the socio-political, technological, educational, and other determinants of the time, uncovering the internal logic of the evolution of the language of photographic images. Specifically, the book explores how these Iranian images and artworks have challenged traditional photographic conventions, defamiliarizing them, and how the perception of reality through the lens of photography has evolved in conjunction with changing conditions and perspectives.

Chapter 1. Photography as a New Art Medium: Exploring Early Experiments (1962-1978).- 1.1 Acknowledging Photography as an Art Form: The Role of Art Institutions.- 1.2 Towards the Independence of Photography in Art and Beyond.- 1.3 Photography's Response to the Rapid Socio-Cultural Transition of the 1970s.- Chapter 2: Experiencing the Reality: Photography as a "Committed Report " (1978-1989).- 2.1 The Authority of the Reality in Depicting the Revolution.- 2.2 Transparency in War Photography: Exploring the Ethical and Aesthetic Values.- 2.3 Expectations of Art and Education Policy Makers: A Committed Report on Reality.- 2.4 Rethinking Photojournalism from an Aesthetic Perspective: A Fresh Approach to Reporting.- Chapter 3: Experiencing the Media: Photography as a "Playful Report" (1989-2004).- 3.1 Easing the Intensity of Events: Towards Playful Arrangements in Photography.- 3.2 The Changing Face of Photography: The Role of Education, Theoretical Studies, and Technology.- 3.3 Mastering the Gaze of Art History: Aesthetic Perspectives on Reality.- 3.4 The Rise and Fall of the "Model of the 1990s": A Reflection on Changing Trends.- Chapter 4: Investigating the Reality and the Media: Photography as a "Questioning Report" (2004-).- 4.1 Challenging Approaches Across All Fields: From Politics to Photography.- 4.2 The New Waves in Photography Driven by Fundamental Developments in Diverse Disciplines.- 4.3 Shifting the Focus from Form to Idea: Transformations in the Boundaries of the Media.- Chapter 5: Experiencing Reality in a Virtual Realm: From the Mid-2010s and Beyond.- 5.1 Photography in the Age of Instagram: Exploring the Impact of Virtual Spaces.- 5.2 The Decline of Meaning-Oriented Trends in Photography: Post-Conceptual era.- 5.3 Exploring a Subversive Movement: Embracing Everyday Life and Privacy.

Aram Mohamadi is a photography critic, holding a bachelor's degree in photography, a master's degree, and a PhD in art studies. Since 2023, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Kurdistan, Iran. His teaching responsibilities encompass photography studio and visual art criticism. His research primarily revolves around contemporary photography in Iran, with a specific emphasis on art photography.