Taking A Look At Shirin Neshat

2. Who is the intended audience for this artist’s work?
A) Identify three different kinds of viewers (e.g. western viewers – men and women, women of any geographic origin, western women, etc.) and how you identify her target audience. Consider how this artist’s work is available, where and by whom
Shirin Neshat’s works are intended for a variety of audiences, however, the ones that I will discuss are the Western artists, male and female across the world, and women of any geographical region. Since Shirin Neshat’s works are extremely confrontational and goes against the government, her works are to be hidden from Iran. Therefore, Shirin Neshat’s works are displayed to other parts of the world, including the West. Neshat currently lives in New York which is why the Western culture is a primary target audience for her artwork. In her Ted Talk titled “Art in Exile”, Shirin Neshat targets Western artists and warns them about appropriating cultures as a form of entertainment. Women of any geographical region who could understand the gender and cultural conflicts that were going on in Iran, Neshat targeted as an
By targeting Western artist’s, she hopes that they will become more aware when portraying culture through the arts. Rather than using their freedom of being able to convey political messages as a form of entertainment, she encourages Western artists to use this power in a positive way. She considers herself a messenger for her country because since she is in exile from her country. Therefore, she uses her art as a tool of communication for the people who are unaware of what is happening in Iran. In her piece titled I am its Secret, a woman is shown wearing a traditional Iranian chador which is significant to their religion. Typically, Western cultures appropriate the chador and it is extremely offensive. Neshat wants Western artists of movies, and even media to be aware of what they are