Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

Polyphony in the Poetry of Ali Babachahi and Reza Barahani: A Comparative Study with Simile in Contemporary Visual Arts

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Leila Amini 1
Shahin Ojagh Alizadeh 2
Seyedeh Mandana Hashemi Esfahani 3
1 PhD student, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Roudhan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudhan, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Roudhen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudhen, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Roodehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roodehen, Iran
10.22034/ias.2023.405463.2235
Abstract
A significant portion of the elements and features of 1990s Persian poetry engage with postmodernist theories, among which polyphony stands out as one of the most prominent. This descriptive-analytical study defines and examines polyphony as a postmodernist characteristic, analyzing its manifestations in the works of two seminal poets of the 1990s—Ali Babachahi and Reza Barahani—while drawing parallels to the use of simile in contemporary visual arts. The findings reveal that polyphony in Babachahi and Barahani’s poetry emerges through diverse techniques: at times through meter and musicality, at others through linguistic distinctions, shifts between formal and colloquial tones, or fragmented writing styles. The use of majnun-nivisi (madness-writing) and schizophrenic personas further structures this polyphony. By employing these devices, both poets create space for multiple voices within their work—some in dialogue with literary tradition, others amplifying marginalized perspectives. Beyond intertextual voices, the study identifies the presence of institutionalized personas, whose disruptive narratives fracture monologic authority, reject vertical hierarchies, and destabilize thematic unity. Similarly, contemporary visual arts demonstrate explicit applications of simile, though its function diverges in medium and affect. This comparative analysis bridges poetic and visual practices to explore how both fields negotiate multiplicity, fragmentation, and postmodern aesthetics.
Research Objectives:

To analyze the mechanisms of polyphony in Babachahi and Barahani’s poetry.
To examine the role of simile in contemporary visual arts.

Research Questions:

Through what strategies is polyphony structured in Babachahi and Barahani’s poetry?
What significance does simile hold in contemporary visual arts?
Keywords
Postmodernist literary theory
Polyphony
1990s Persian poetry
Ali Babachahi
Reza Barahani

Subjects

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