Architectural Interpretation of Kiarostami’s Poetic Cinema
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Date
2020-01-22
Authors
Shafiee, Bahman
Advisor
Levitt, Andrew
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Waterloo
Abstract
The Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami is famous for mobilizing natural landscapes and Iranian
vernacular architecture as the primary set for his films. These spaces function not only as visual
motifs, but also as elements that shape the cinematic spaces of his films, recount the
narratives, and foreshadow the plot’s conclusions.
This thesis examines five of his films to understand how natural and built spaces have been
used in visual storytelling and to derive an architectural interpretation from his cinematic
spaces.
Positing that a film can be read through spatial experiences, this thesis aims to discuss and
deconstruct the spatial composition of Kiarostami’s cinematic images, and then re-envision
them through an architectural narrative. I discuss the way these spaces have been chosen,
illustrated, and juxtaposed in sequential frames. Then, through a process that combines
architectural design with cinematic framing and editing, I reconstruct and present spaces
inspired by Kiarostami’s vision of place and space in a series of architectural vignettes.
Through the act of investigating Kiarostami’s spatial language, this thesis introduces
architectural methodologies as a tool for the analysis of cinematic narratives and concepts. The
visualization of these narratives through my own interpretation transcribes Kiarostami’s
approach to spatial storytelling into architectural place-making and design.
Description
Keywords
Cinema and Architecture, Architectural Interpretation, Cinematic Space, Cinema of Iran, Abbas Kiarostami
LC Subject Headings
Kiarostami, Abbas, Criticism and interpretation, Vernacular architecture, Motion pictures, Motion pictures and architecture, Iran