Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Representation of Childhood in Iranian Cinema A Case Study Of Narrative Analysis of the Movie "Technical Strike"

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 PH.D. student of communication at Allameh Tabatabai University
2 Professor of Communication Science Department of Allameh Tabatabai University
10.22083/jccs.2026.508921.4020
Abstract
Cinema serves as a medium for storytelling and exploration of the social world, fulfilling a dual role in relation to social reality: it represents existing structures and relationships while also reproducing and reconstructing cultural meanings. Children's cinema, as a segment of the film industry with its own distinct audience, holds a special significance in media studies. This importance stems not only from the sensitivity surrounding the developmental stages of child audiences but also from the theoretical complexities inherent in the concept of childhood. Childhood, as a social, historical, and cultural category, is continually subject to redefinition and reconstruction, making children's cinema a platform for showcasing these changes.

Studies in film criticism that utilize narratological approaches enable a deeper analysis of the semantic structures within cinematic works. In this context, Roland Barthes' narratological theory, particularly his concept of the five codes, offers a valuable analytical tool for exploring the various layers of meaning embedded in cinematic texts. This approach allows for a simultaneous examination of narrative structures and the cultural themes present within the text.

The film “Technical Strike” exemplifies contemporary Iranian children’s cinema, addressing issues such as power relations, social patterns, and identity conflicts through the narrative of three children's lives. From a discourse analysis perspective, this film serves as a fitting case study for investigating the representation of childhood and the processes of meaning-making in contemporary Iranian cinema. Ultimately, the cultural patterns and social structures depicted in this cinematic text have been identified and analyzed.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 February 2026