Norms and transgressions

I stayed in Tehran for a month. Day and night, I went to public parks and got into the lives of 58 individuals. Their personal stories are kept off the internet, but some agreed to show their face. Some go every day to the park. Some have been sitting on the same bench for twenty-seven years. Some adopt transgressive behaviors. Some are afraid to get caught. Some observe other people. Some hate to be observed. Some are gay. Some let their hijab down for a second. Some kiss and touch each other. Some take LSD, crack or crystal meth, smoke weed and drink ethanol. Some are Basij. Some were SAVAK secret agents. Some respect the law. Some believe in God. Some feel free. Some have spent twenty years in prison. Some fought for the Revolution. Some fought against. Some regret it. Some love their families. Some plan to emigrate. Some don’t.

All of them must be wary of what they say to whom, of how they behave in front of whom. For most of them however, public parks are the solely places where they can try to be themselves. But some already forgot who they are.