The Portrayal of Animals in Two Iranian Picturebooks

This article analyzes human-animal relation in two Iranian picture-books by Taghdis and Keshaie (2004) and Teimurian (2010). From the perspective of critical animal studies, the article discusses how the displacement of wild animals is depicted in the picturebooks. The analysis is based on a "logic of domination," which includes three critical steps: alienation, hierarchy, and domination. Further, it reveals the kinds of relationships established between human and animal characters. The analysis shows that, in The Eleventh Step, although human domination seemingly remains intact, the animals still enjoy subjectivity and make efforts to escape the cage. On the other hand, in Everybody's Kid, there is no human ultimate domination—escape is possible.