The present sometimes upsets the past in unexpected ways. The Franco-Iranian author Marjane Satrapi, who got rid of part of the manuscripts of Persepolis, is thus overtaken by Iranian news. His work, a “autobiographical comic that traces the history of the establishment of the Islamic Republic through the complex prism of childhood”, was auctioned on Tuesday, October 25.
A few days before the sale, the website of the American media CNN spoke with the artist. “This series of auctions comes at a time when the eyes of the world are on Iran, which is entering its sixth week of protests and unrest following the death of Masha Amini,” written like this CNN, which also traces the history of Satrapi, linked to that of Iran.
Elle “was 10 years old when wearing the veil became compulsory in the non-denominational French-speaking school she attended in Tehran”. An event that resonates with force today as thousands of Iranian women protest against the obligation to wear the veil, in unprecedented momentum.
“In fact, if Marjane Satrapi had been able to foresee what was going to happen, she would never have auctioned [son manuscrit] now”, highlighted CNN, to whom the author confided: “Otherwise I would be a very cynical person.” This does not prevent a form of relief at the idea of parting with this autobiographical work. “She thinks the sale of the manuscript – which has been sitting tightly wrapped in her closet for the past twenty years – will have a cathartic effect.” Satrapi explains:
“I felt like I had a monster in my closet. It had to go!”
On the current Iranian revolt, his feelings are contradictory. For Marjane Satrapi, the parallels between her life in Iran more than forty years ago and the tumultuous events of today are bittersweet.
“It’s a mixture of sadness and joy: sadness, because, once again, we are losing children, and joy, because the culture and mentalities have changed.”