ABSTRACT
The concluding chapter, “Circling in a Cul-de-sac,” examines the remarkable rise of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022. It traces the artworks that embody the same courageous, feminist, and egalitarian message that has been echoed so clearly by protestors in 2022, even in the years leading up to the recent uprising. In doing so, the chapter also touches on the complexities associated with identifying oneself and living as an Iranian beyond the Trumpian era in light of the harshest economic sanctions and its ramifications in the radicalization of the regime. The chapter celebrates those who have put their lives on the line to make visible the invisible pain of women, ethnic minorities, and marginalized communities. Many of the artists discussed in this chapter are in prison awaiting their sentences. Through this chapter, I ask: is there a way out?
