“Speechless”

ShirinNeshat is the author of a series of photographed self-portraits call “The Women of Allah”. These portraits often contained guns and other symbols of oppression with messages written on her skin. These self-portraitsattack the traditional customs in Middle Eastern countries of oppression of women. In “Speechless”, the gun represents oppression, which, in this piece silences the woman symbolizing the oppression women face in Middle Eastern Countries. In some parts of the Middle East, women legally do not have equal rights(Zabel, Igor). This may have spawned from Islam which has been historically resistant to women’s rights. However, since the nineteenth century men and women have been fighting for women’s rights largely due to Western influence. Nevertheless, these laws of oppression have been kept because of the large influence of both the Quran and the traditional values that numerous men still hold (Zabel, Igor). Neshat is one of the advocates against the oppression of women. She uses her art to attract attention to this problem from both Western society as well as the Middle East. ShirinNeshat has become globally accomplished especially in the West for her work.

Using black and white photography, Neshat emphasizes a sense of sadness in her self portrait. The expression on her face and the gun all contribute to a feeling of solemn sadness. The gun pointed towards her silences her. She can only express her opinions by her facial expression. Neshat expresses her opinion of oppression by writing on her face in the photograph. The writing is a literal representation of what she was trying to express with her expression. In this piece, her message is blunt and simple; she is fighting for the women whose voices are oppressed.

Neshat stands up against the oppression of women in the Middle East. Her art is globally renowned for her messages against oppression and discrimination against women. She has become an extremely influential advocate for women’s rights.