Editing political culture
Remaking political culture is a multi-faceted endeavor. In Iran, many efforts are underway. From public executions and the arrest of indecently dressed or coiffed citizens to subtle messages in television programs.Slightly Off Religious Path, Iranian TV Finds Viewers
"State TV, which had a monopoly on viewership until satellite channels began to draw more viewers beginning in the early 1990s, has been trying to win back its audience for several years. One result: a spate of mini-series that depict love stories between characters who are not necessarily pious, and that allow women to show more of their hair — both of which have been considered un-Islamic.
"Analysts say the new programs are part of the government’s bid to use television as a more effective instrument to shape public opinion. Most series still have clear political messages, though they are conveyed with much more subtlety than in the past...
"One popular mini-series, called Zero Degree Turn, depicts the Iranian Embassy in Paris during World War II, when employees forged Iranian passports for European Jews to flee to Iran. The series is built around a love story between an Iranian-Palestinian man and a Jewish Frenchwoman he helps escape to Iran.
"Scenes of terrified Jewish men, women and children being loaded into trucks by Nazis are arousing feelings of sympathy for Jews at a time when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denied the Holocaust.
"But the series has a more subtle message: that there is a difference between Jews and Zionists. One Jewish character, the uncle of the Frenchwoman who escapes to Iran, is depicted as brutal and manipulative. He has ties to Israel..."
See also:
- Iranian popular culture and political culture
- Intimidation, prevention, and punishment
- Conspiracy theories, political culture, and politics
- Another cultural revolution?
Labels: Iran, political culture, socialization
posted by Ken Wedding @ 6:24 AM
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