Persepolis (Satrapi)

obligatory (adj.): required by compulsion or convention

decadence (n.): the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities

avant-garde (adj.): radically new or original

tyranny (n.): government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator

imperialism (n.): a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries

dialectic (adj.): of reasoning that arrives at truth by exchanging arguments

perpetrate (v.): perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

degenerate (v.): grow worse

secular (adj.): not concerned with or devoted to religion

bleak (adj.): offering little or no hope

frivolity (n.): something of little value or significance

martyr (n.): one who voluntarily suffers death

porter (n.): a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

effigy (n.): a representation of a person

subversive (adj.): in opposition to an established system or government

diabolical (adj.): showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness

exile (v.): the act of expelling a person from their native land

belligerent (adj.): characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

skeptical (adj.): marked by or given to doubt

fatalism (n.): a doctrine that all events are predetermined in advance