Unraveling Cultural Mysteries: A Semio-Cultural Analysis of Senneh, Bijār, and Rustic Carpets
摘要
This chapter presents a semio-cultural analysis of three popular types of Persian hand-woven carpets: Senneh, Bijār, and rustic varieties produced in the Zāgros Mountain region of Iran. The chapter aims to explore the cultural narratives and collective meanings embedded in these carpets. Utilizing the semio-cultural analytical framework put forward by (Keshavarz and Noshadi, A new analytical model of Cultural Linguistics, Cambridge Scholars Publishing in 2023), this chapter examines the Immediate, Dynamical, and Final interpretants of the motifs and patterns that characterize these carpets. The chapter highlights the significance of densely packed motifs, tri-medallion compositions, and rugged medallions, which reflect the communal ethos and resilience of the people in these carpet-producing regions of Iran. In this chapter, animal motifs, including fish, tortoise, and deer, are analyzed for their symbolic representation of prosperity, wisdom, and courage. Similarly, objects like combs and samovars, as well as symbols such as the swastika used in these carpets, are discussed for their cultural implications. The chapter argues that these varieties of carpets are dynamic cultural artifacts that encapsulate the collective memory and identity of the people who produce them, serving as a bridge between past and present and a canvas for the future. The study calls for a deeper exploration into the semiotic richness of these carpets to uncover the wealth of knowledge and meanings they hold, emphasizing the enduring legacy of the weavers’ artistic tradition.