Artistry and Aesthetics in Contemporary Mormon and Iranian Film

Authors

Travis T. Anderson

Keywords

Mormon studies, film, Iran, Mormon cinema, Iranian cinema

Abstract

Almost from their inception, cinematic media and technologies have been accepted and appropriated with surprising enthusiasm by Iranians and Mormons alike. Both cultures appear to have embraced cinema as a natural outgrowth of their lively and longstanding appreciation for art and family-oriented entertainment in general. The author finds that the artistic progress and quality of Mormon cinema as of 2009 has thus far, with few exceptions, fallen short of its potential, while Iranian film artists have made an astonishing number of spiritually profound, culturally insightful, and cinematically sophisticated films despite having formidable obstacles. The author encourages Mormon filmmakers to attain both higher artistic quality and spiritual profundity by addressing timely and meaningful issues.

Recommended Citation

Anderson, Travis T. (2009) "Artistry and Aesthetics in Contemporary Mormon and Iranian Film," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 48: Iss. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol48/iss2/5