As Small as a Dot

Documentary storytelling, among the many genres of fiction writing in Iran, remains somewhat neglected and less familiar to Iranian audiences; even Iranian translators have been less inclined to publish such works in recent years. However, over time and with the emergence of new social scenarios in urban communities, the necessity of writing and defining documentary fiction and the audience’s demand for such works indicate an interest in this genre. It can be said that a society overwhelmed by information and news has shaped its citizens to be more documentary-oriented and in need of confronting truth, and thus within the core of a story, they seek references more than the author’s imagination to establish a link between their world and reality. The novella “As Small as a Dot” by contemporary writer Zhila Taghizadeh employs this element to connect with its audience. Taghizadeh introduces her newly discovered and incurable illness at the outset of the story, providing a brief description of how the character comes to know of this disease, making it an integral part of the character’s persona. Through this illness, the narrative defines the character’s relationships with others and provides a platform to introduce various personality types and understand their behaviors and reactions when they interact with one another. As an author, Taghizadeh, leveraging her storytelling experience, has crafted a work with appropriate suspense and narrative drive based on an understanding of the audience’s mindset. In a society frequently confronted with news about prevailing diseases, she wisely centers the story around this theme, aligning herself with the general intellectual framework of her audience. Additionally, Taghizadeh’s personal experience with illness and the emotions and situations that the narrator faces lend authenticity and sincerity to her depiction of scenes, moods, inner feelings, and everything shaped by the affliction. More importantly, she conveys how this disease influences the protagonist’s relationship with their surrounding society. Taghizadeh is a prolific contemporary writer and artist who has worked for years in various artistic fields such as graphic design, children’s book illustration, radio playwriting, puppet and stage design. She has long organized the “Nevisan” literary session, a workshop for reading, critiquing, and reviewing experimental short stories, and has served multiple times as a judge for experimental literary competitions.