Discursive challenges of memory - forgetting in Iran's contemporary art: Studying photographs of the collection "By an Eyewitness" by Azadeh Akhlaghi

Photographs are the most important medium for memories: as historical documents, images provide powerful sources for approaching events including the ones that took place in the past, and therefore become part of the collective and historical consciousness of a society. By adopting a photographic drama, the artist disrupts the linear structure of the official version of a historical narrative and turns the dualism of memory and oblivion as the subject of thought and social construction into a means of disclosure. By drawing attention to the significant events, power systems seek to make recall the memories of victories and powers and to obliterate the historical failures. That is why the critics of power emphasize on the history’s rifts. Whether by portraying the glorious achievements of a nation in pictures and film or by revoking the forgotten memories through their critical attitudes, the artists play an important role in both formation of memories and reconstruction of forgotten one. Historical movies, historical photography and historical paintings are part of this effort. This study looks into the ‘By an Eyewitness’ collection using discursive analysis, and aims to discover the changes of the background and their effects on formation of ruptures in collective memory.