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Mahdavian S S, Bondar S. The Representation of the Architectural Profession in Second Pahlavi Iran through Specialized Journals: A Case Study of Architect
and Honar-o-Me’mari (1946–1979). , JORS. 2026; 4 (10) : 4
URL: http://jors-sj.com/article-1-106-en.html
URL: http://jors-sj.com/article-1-106-en.html
1- Department of Studies and Conservation of Architectural and Urban Heritage, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran
2- Department of Architectur, Faculty of Art, University of Tarbiat Modarres, Department of Architectur, Faculty of Art, University of Tarbiat Modarres
2- Department of Architectur, Faculty of Art, University of Tarbiat Modarres, Department of Architectur, Faculty of Art, University of Tarbiat Modarres
Abstract: (2738 Views)
The historiography of contemporary Iranian architecture has frequently over- looked the role of social institutions in the formation of the “architectural profession.” However, specialized journals, functioning as vital social insti- tutions, have served as crucial platforms for defining, demarcating, and le- gitimizing the professional identity of architects. Addressing this scholarly gap, the present study investigates the active role of architectural media in formulating and structuring the profession. The primary question is: How did specialized architectural journals during the Second Pahlavi era represent and formulate the architectural profession? The research hypothesis posits that these publications, by employing specific discursive and visual mechanisms, structured the architectural profession as a specialized discipline endowed with technical authority and intertwined with state modernization projects, thereby contributing to the consolidation of architects’ professional identity. Adopting an interpretive-historical approach, this research conducts a com- parative study of two prominent journals, Architect and Honar-o-Me’mari (Art and Architecture), treating them as archival documents. Data analysis is performed across three intertwined levels: lexical-discursive, genre-organi- zational, and visual-layout.
Findings: The findings reveal the existence of two distinct “regimes of rep-resentation.” During the 1940s (Architect magazine), the “educational-tech- nical regime,” emphasizing expertise, supervision, and standardization, portrayed the architect as a “technical regulator and social supervisor.” Con- versely, in the 1960s and 1970s (Honar-o-Me’mari magazine), the “inter- national-cultural regime,” focusing on global trends, artistic discourse, and market integration, reconfigured the architect as a “networked cultural actor.”
This historical transition reflects the maturation of the architectural profes- sion in Iran, shifting from a phase of “defending the boundaries of expertise” against non-institutionalized construction practices to a phase of “expanding cultural and networked influence” amidst a burgeoning economy and increasing global connectivity. Consequently, specialized journals were not merely passive reflectors of change, but rather active agents in the social construction of architectural identity and professional authority.
Findings: The findings reveal the existence of two distinct “regimes of rep-resentation.” During the 1940s (Architect magazine), the “educational-tech- nical regime,” emphasizing expertise, supervision, and standardization, portrayed the architect as a “technical regulator and social supervisor.” Con- versely, in the 1960s and 1970s (Honar-o-Me’mari magazine), the “inter- national-cultural regime,” focusing on global trends, artistic discourse, and market integration, reconfigured the architect as a “networked cultural actor.”
This historical transition reflects the maturation of the architectural profes- sion in Iran, shifting from a phase of “defending the boundaries of expertise” against non-institutionalized construction practices to a phase of “expanding cultural and networked influence” amidst a burgeoning economy and increasing global connectivity. Consequently, specialized journals were not merely passive reflectors of change, but rather active agents in the social construction of architectural identity and professional authority.
Article number: 4
Keywords: Professional Identity, Discourse Analysis, Professionalism, Visual Regime, Intermediary Institutions.
Editorial: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/03/3 | Accepted: 2026/05/5 | Published: 2026/05/23
Received: 2026/03/3 | Accepted: 2026/05/5 | Published: 2026/05/23
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