Near-death narratives and transnational Shia media: A case study of Zindagi Pas Az Zindagi in Kashmir | ||
| Journal of Cyberspace Studies | ||
| دوره 11، شماره 1، فروردین 2027، صفحه 327-344 اصل مقاله (419.96 K) | ||
| نوع مقاله: Original article | ||
| شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22059/jcss.2026.415511.1252 | ||
| نویسندگان | ||
| Syed Humaira Ahad Chura* ؛ Reza Saberi؛ Seyed Reza Naghibulsadat | ||
| Faculty of Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran. | ||
| چکیده | ||
| Background: While existing scholarship highlights how post-revolutionary Iranian media fosters religious affect and moral instruction, little attention has been paid to its impact beyond Iran, particularly in contexts culturally influenced by Iran. Aims: This study examines the reception of the Iranian television programme Zindagi Pas Az Zindagi (ZPAZ) among Persian-knowing audiences in Kashmir. Methodology: Drawing on Diaspora Media Engagement Theory and Reception Theory, this research investigates how Kashmiri viewers interpret ZPAZ's narratives of near-death experiences (NDEs) and their theological implications. We employed a qualitative, audience-centred design, collecting data from 40 Kashmiri participants (29 Shia, 11 Sunni) through semi-structured interviews conducted via encrypted digital platforms. Thematic analysis revealed six recurring themes: curiosity about the afterlife, accessibility of everyday Persian language, identification with narrated experiences, reduced fear of death, cross-border spiritual resonance, and reinforcement of Shia identity. Reception of the programme's explicitly Shia theological content varied by sectarian background: Shia participants frequently described a strengthening of religious identity, while Sunni participants more often reported new curiosity about Shia theology rather than reinforcement of an existing identity. Findings: Findings suggest that ZPAZ functions as a form of mediated spirituality, reported by participants as reducing existential anxiety and, for Shia viewers in particular, strengthening transnational religious belonging. Conclusion: Extending diaspora media frameworks to a “symbolic diaspora,” this study demonstrates how Persian-language religious broadcasting contributes to identity formation and cultural continuity in the Kashmir region. | ||
| کلیدواژهها | ||
| Iran؛ Kashmir؛ near-death experiences (NDE)؛ Zindagi Pas Az Zindagi (ZPAZ) | ||
| مراجع | ||
|
| ||
|
آمار تعداد مشاهده مقاله: 143 تعداد دریافت فایل اصل مقاله: 129 |
||