The Language of the Paintings -Metaphoric Expression and Semiotic Moods- In the Meaningful Layers of the Paintings of the Tahmasepi Shahnameh

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Abstract

Iranian paintings during its glorious years enjoyed a particular and gifted trait in the field of language and expression. An excellent case of this claim can be sought in a number of paintings of the Tahmasepi Shahnameh which belonged to the Safavid Tabriz school. In this article, the visual language and expression of two selected paintings taken from the Tahmasepi Shahname have been studied and analyzed. Today, in analytical and critical studies, linguistic theoretical devises which were once applied merely in literary criticism are becoming common among scholars and experts. In this paper, by using renowned theories of semiotics- sign moods, structural method of analysis, meaning levels, rhetorical terms such as metaphor and metonymy, the structure, form, denotations, connotations, pictorial metaphors and metonymies in two prominent historical artworks in the history of Iranian art will be focused upon. In other words, the expression and visual language and also the implied and visible meaning of these artworks will be revealed. Hence, in this study, two main chapters of the story of Siavash from the Shahnameh will focused upon: “Siavash passes the fire challenge” and the “the death of Siavash”. Initially, the main principals and notions will be focused upon and next the visual expressions of the paintings will be discussed upon based on the mentioned principals. The results of this study indicate that the narrative structure of the pictures is based on the opposition of the protagonist and antagonist and for connotation of the literary text, the metaphoric and allegoric expression and implicational meaning of pictorial signs have been used.

Keywords

References

Allen, Graham (2007), Roland Barthes, translated by Payam Yazdanjoo, Tehran: Markaz.
-Barthes, Roland (1974), S/Z, London: Cape.
-____________ (1977), Image-Music-Text, London: Fontana.
-____________ (1987) The Semiotic Challenge, trans. Richard Howard, London: Blackwell.
-____________ (2006), Mythologies, translated by Shirindokht Daqiqian, Tehran: Markaz.
- Bateni, Mohammadreza (1998) Language and Linguistics, Tehran: Agah.
- Borche.T & others (1999), Historisches Worterbuch der Philosophie, translated by Qurosh Safavi, Tehran: Hermes.
- Cressant, Pierre (1990), Levi Strauss, Edition Universitaires, Paris.
- Chandler, Daniel (2008), The Basics Semiotics, translated by Mehdi Parsa, Tehran: Mehr.
- Cobley, Paul (2002) Introducting Semiotics, translated by Mohamad Nabavi, Tehran: Shirazeh.
- Corbin, Henry (2004) Les Motifs Zoroastriens dans la Philosophie de Sohrawardi, translated by Ahmad Fardid & Abdolhamid Golshan, Tehran: Iranian Institute of Philosophy.
- Culler, Jonathan (2001), Ferdinand de Saussure, translated by Qurosh Safavi, Tehran: Hermes.
- Dinesen, Anne Marie (2002), Semiotics, translated by Mozafar Qahraman, Tehran: Porsesh.
- Eagleton, Terry (2005), Literary Theory, translated by Abbas Mokhber, Tehran: Markaz.
- Eco, Umberto & others (2005) Metaphor, the Basis and Implement of Thinking and Creating Beauty, Pesian translation, Tehran: Mehr.
- Faraboq-Dadgi (1990) Bundahishn, translated by Mehrdad Bahar, Tehran: Bahar.
- Ferdausi, Abolqasim (2007) Shanameh, Tehran: Rouzaneh.
- Guiraud, Pierre (1975), Semiology, London: Routhledge & Kegan Paul.
- Harland, Richard (2004) Super Structuralism: the Philosophy of Structuralism and Post Structuralism, translated by Farzan Sojudi, Tehran: Institute of Islamic Art and Culture.
- Hawkes, Terence (1992), Structuralism and Semiotics, London: Routledge.
- Hawkes, Terence (2008), Metaphor, translated by Farzaneh Taheri, Tehran: Markaz.
- Jakobson, Roman, Halle, Morris (1965), Fundamentals of Language, Mouton: The Hague.
- Kazazi. M (2001), Labyrinths of the Secret- Studies on Shahnameh. Tehran: Markaz.
- Khanlary, Parviz Natel (1966) Rhythm in Persian Poetry, Tehran : Iranian Cultural Institute.
- Kress, Gunther, Van Leeuwen, Theo (1996), Reading Images, The Grammar of Visual Designs, London: Routhledge.
- Langer, Susanne K (1951), Philosophy in a New Key:A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite and Art, New York: Mentor.
- Payne, Michael (2001) An Introduction to Barthes, Foucault and Althusser, translated by Payam Yazdanjoo, Tehran: Markaz.
- Peirce, Charles Sanders (1958), Collected Writings (8 Vols),Ed. Charles Hartshorn , Paul Weiss & Arthur W Burks, Harvard University,MA,Cambridge.
- Pooke, Grant. Newwal, Diana (2008), Art History the Basics, London & New York: Routledge.
- Razi, Hashem (2001) The Royal Wisdom- illuminative wisdom from Zoroaster to Suhrawardi, Tehran: Behjat.
- Safa, Zabihollah (2006), Epic in Iran, Tehran: Amirkabir
- _____________ (2005), Speeches on Linguistics, Tehran: Hermes
- _____________ (2002), From Linguistics to Literature (first volume- Poetry), Tehran: Mehr.
- Saussure, Ferdinand (1983), Course in General Linguistics, trans. Roy Harris, London: Duckworth.
- Scapiro, Mayer (1969), “On some Problems in Semiotics of Visual Art: Field and Vehicle in Image Signs”, in Theory and Philosophy of Art: style, Artist, and Society, Selected Papers, vol.4, NewYork, Reprinted from Semiotica Ì, no.3.
- Shafiee Kadkani, Mohammadreza (2007) Imagery of Persian Poetry, Tehran: Agah.
- Selden, Raman; Widdowson, Peter (2006) A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory, translated by Abbas Mokhber, Tehran: Tarheno.
- Scholes, Robert (1974), Structuralism and Literature, USA: Yale University press.
- Scholes, Robert (2005), Structuralism in literature- An Introduction, translated by Farzaneh Taheri, Tehran: Agah.
- Silverman, Kaja (1983), the Subject of Semiotics, NewYork: Oxford University Press.
- Sojudi, Farzan (2004) Practical Semiotics, Tehran: Qesseh.
- Tadié, Jean-Yves (2000), Introduction à la vie littéraire du XIXe siècle, translated by Mahshid Nonahali, Tehran: Nilufar.
- Toolan, Michael (2005), Narrative: a critical linguistic introduction, translated by Abolfazl Horri, Tehran: Farabi.
- Voloshinov, Valentin (1973), Marxism and Philosophy of Language, NewYork: Seminar Press.
- Welch, Stuart Cary (1972), A Kings Book of Kings- The Shamnameh of Shah Tahmasp, London: Thames & Hudson.
- Zarinkub, Abdolhossein (1975) Literary Criticism, Tehran: Amirjabir.
- Zomorodi, Homeira (2004) A Comparative Criticism on Religions and Myths in Shahnameh of Ferdausi, Khamseh of Nizami and Mantiq al-tayr, Tehran: Zawar.
- Barthes, R. (1974). S/Z, Cape, London,
- Barthes, R. (1977) Image-Music-Text, Fontana, London,
- Barthes, R. (1987). The Semiotic Challenge, trans. Richard Howard, Blackwell, London,
- Cressant, P. (1990). Levi Strauss, Edition Universitaires,Paris
- Guiraud, P. (1975). Semiology, Routhledge & Kegan Paul, London,.
- Hawkes, T. (1975). Structuralism and Semiotics, Routledge, London.
- Jakobson, R. & Halle,M. (1965). Fundamentals of Language,The Hague, Mouton,
- Kress, G. & Van Leeuwen, T. (1996). Reading Images,The Grammar of Visual Designs, Routhledge, London,
- Langer, Susanne K (1951). Philosophy in a New Key:A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite and Art, Mentor, New York
- Peirce, C. S. (1958). Collected Writings (8 Vols),Ed. Charles Hartshorn, Paul Weiss & Arthur W Burks, Harvard University,MA,Cambridge.
Pooke, G. &. Newwal, D. (2008). Art History The Basics, Routledge, london & New York,
-Saussure, F. (1383). Course in General Linguistics, trans. Roy Harris, Duckworth, London.
-Scapiro, M. (1369). “On some Problems in Semiotics of Visual Art: Field and Vehicle in Image Signs”, in Theory and Philosophy of Art: style, Artist, and Society, Selected Papers, vol.4, NewYork, Reprinted from Semiotica Ì, no.3, 223-242.
-Scholes, R. (1974). Structuralism and Literature,Yale University press, USA
- Silverman, K. (1983). The Subject of Semiotics, Oxford University Press, NewYork.
-Voloshinov, V. (1373). Marxism and Philosophy of Language, Seminar Press, NewYork.
- Welch, S. (1972). A Kings Book of Kings- The Shamnameh of Shah Tahmasp, Thames &Hudson, London.
Islamic Art Studies
Volume 11, Issue 23 - Serial Number 23
September 2015
Pages 23-44

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics