Objective: This study focuses on the epic of Ashura as a religious–historical event and seeks to examine the ways in which it is represented in the media sphere, particularly on the social networking platform Instagram. The main objective is to identify the visual components, representational styles, and strategies that contribute to enhancing the media function of Ashura and facilitating the transmission of its symbolic and spiritual meanings.
Methods: The present research adopts a mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative section, thematic analysis was conducted based on in-depth interviews with scholars and experts in the fields of communication, media studies, and religious studies. In addition, a semiotic analysis of Ashura-related images and videos published on Instagram in 2024 (1403 AH) was carried out in order to examine the visual and meaning-making mechanisms involved in the representation of this epic.
Results: The findings indicate that the representation of the epic of Ashura on Instagram is based on a combination of established and creative visual elements. Symbols such as flags, the colors red and black, ritual images, and metaphorical signs play a significant role in conveying concepts such as sacrifice, oppression, resistance, and martyrdom, while generating strong emotional engagement. Interview analysis shows that content producers, aware of the logic of social media, design visual content to maximize visibility and resharing. These representations are often multilayered, allowing the message of Ashura to transcend religious boundaries.
Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the use of visual images and symbols in digital spaces has considerable potential for disseminating Ashura-related concepts, particularly among younger generations and social media users. Beyond strengthening religious and cultural identity at the national level, this process also facilitates the global transmission and representation of the epic of Ashura.