{"id":16752,"date":"2018-03-30T10:36:37","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T18:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=16752"},"modified":"2023-09-06T15:49:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T22:49:40","slug":"censored-iranian-artists-and-musicians-and-playlist","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/blog\/censored-iranian-artists-and-musicians-and-playlist\/","title":{"rendered":"Censored Iranian Artists, Poets and Musicians Threatened with Exile"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[<em>Note: Please enjoy this guest essay on Iranian artists and censorships, in conjunction with the broadcast premiere of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/documentaries\/when-god-sleeps\/\"><strong>When God Sleeps<\/strong><\/a>, by artist and game creator Kurosh ValaNejad. See more on him at the end.]<\/em><\/p>\n<h5><strong>by\u00a0Kurosh ValaNejad, guest contributor<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Islamic Republic of Iran, artistic expression is not denied. \u00a0Iranians can sing and dance however and do whatever they want, which they do. They are free to write about the sacred and profane, about politics and religion, and even paint nudes while nude. Why not? They can dress chic or trashy, and bake on their makeup, no matter their gender. They can pluck or tease their unibrows. Iranians explore their artistic freedom more than Americans realize, because they can&#8230;as long as they keep it out of public view. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should they want to share their creative expression with an audience, no matter how small or marginal, they must fill out a form, and adhere to a set of guidelines, Islamic, and impossible. \u00a0It&#8217;s a prescription of public appearance and behavior, mandated by the Ministry of Culture, because God never sleeps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Movies, television programs and the commercials that air with them reach the largest number of Iranians and are therefore the most regulated by the Ministry. In the documentary<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0A Cinema of Discontent: Film Censorship in Iran<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the popular actress <strong>Fatemeh Motamed-Arya<\/strong> explains that the restrictions and religious imposition are so heavy-handed that many of the top filmmakers stopped making movies.<\/span><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"a Cinema of Discontent trailer\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uQl-XOaoXxE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Noureddin Zarrinkelk<\/strong>, widely regarded as &#8220;the Father of Animation&#8221; in Iran for starting the first school of animation, lost his faculty position because he touched the hair of a female student during a lesson. The Islamic guidelines originally implemented to protect women are now used to silence the voices of Iran&#8217;s most accomplished storytellers.<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mad Mad Mad World - By Noureddin Zarrinkelk\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZXXiu9DIHkw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When an infraction of the rules can end a career and film projects are approved or denied arbitrarily, a frustration festers in young filmmakers who find ways to defy the system. Using a coded language and often with humor, they point out the absurdity of applying 7th-century Islamic code to filmmaking, the art form of the 20th century. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many who viewed this parody on the internet of athletes competing at the Olympics thought it was real footage from Iran&#8217;s state-run sports network.<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Funny censorship in Iranian sports channel\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ayplyNfhjcY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Meanwhile, in America, Stephen Colbert reported on the nonsensical rules applied by television censors who draw the line distinguishing the point at which art is considered pornographic. \u00a0Using humor, Colbert points out the arbitrary application of rules.)<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What Is Art? Follow-Up: What Is Porn?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YkJS0IzZREk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And I am reminded of a quote by <strong>Marjane Satrapi<\/strong>, author and illustrator behind the acclaimed graphic novel and film <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3PXHeKuBzPY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Persepolis<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i.pinimg.com\/564x\/4a\/32\/23\/4a3223bb42306a48354b13bc494491b6.jpg\" alt=\"quote from Marjane Satrapi about Iran and US governments\" width=\"563\" height=\"640\" \/>\n<p><strong>Poetry in Motion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iranians love poetry and memorize long passages. From the 13th and 14th centuries. Saadi, Rumi,\u00a0and Hafez are a trio whose poems of love continue to endure nearly a millennium later.\u00a0 The master of speech, Saadi wrote an aphorism about our common humanity with a lesson that is timely and remains timeless. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please listen to American President Obama&#8217;s Nowruz Greeting (Persian New Year) on the First Day of Spring (March 20, 2009) to the people of Iran, including a translation of Saadi&#8217;s most famous poem &#8220;Bani Adam.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The President&#039;s Message to the Iranian People\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HY_utC-hrjI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a visual storyteller with allegiance to no particular faith, the six lines in &#8220;Bani Adam&#8221; reminded me that I too am part of a shared humanity, despite the rejections I faced as American Iranian, who was luckier than his peers to be an <em>Iranian American<\/em>. Six short lines written nearly 1000 years ago kept me grounded and strong.<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"When Summer Falls,1999\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_5QRD_n0OBU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><strong>Music<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So here is another trio of Lovers of Language, whose hard lessons of loss may lift the next generation of the misunderstood or mistaken, who simply need reminding that though they are alone, that they need not feel lonely. <strong>Shahin Najafi, Mohsen Namjoo<\/strong>, and rapper <strong>Nima<\/strong> can connect you to deep roots underground thanks to the technology of our networked culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dubbed by <em>The New York Times<\/em>\u00a0as \u201cthe Bob Dylan of Iran,\u201d <strong>Namjoo<\/strong> was banned from Iran and no longer welcome to Islamic countries insulted when he sang a phrase from the Koran. Here he is singing the words of Hafez, a Sufi mystic to so many who are thankfully <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">not<\/span> insulted by his choice of co-author.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hafez   Zolf Bar Baad by Mohsen Namjoo\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cSuhneINNaE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In shadow and representing a generation of young Iranians who have only known Iran as an Islamic Republic, Nima (Nami) raps to a symbolic father (&#8220;BaBa&#8221;) with disgust (&#8220;Ah!&#8221;) transforming his anger into an eloquence, determined to bring color back to their lives:<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Iran Rap Nima ( BaBa Ah!) (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bnFccX8UCUE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 94-year-old religious leader who wanted to silence Najafi must be dumbfounded or ignorant of the fact that his actions are the reason Najafi&#8217;s voice is now <em>amplified<\/em> to the world. Shahin is unflinching and continues to sing, bringing attention to those marginalized by self-titled religious leaders who have forgotten the words of the Prophet that inspired Saadi, to have compassion for each other. For when one limb aches, the whole body is restless with fever.<\/span><\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Shahin Najafi - Mammad Nobari (Music Video) Album Sade\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hX4vBjFH2sI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p><strong>Playlist<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Censorship mandated by the Ministry of Culture occurs in every aspect of life in Iran. The government&#8217;s guidance is sacrosanct because it says so. But contrary to popular belief the most effective method of adherence is not state-mandated regulation, but the hegemony of<strong> self-censorship from 40 years of fear, not faith<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Epilogue<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A family friend sent me this joke: &#8220;An inmate at Evin prison goes to the library to look for three books. The librarian says, &#8216;We don&#8217;t have the books but we have the authors. You can talk to them.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>About the Author:<\/strong> \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Kurosh ValaNejad<\/strong> is an Iranian American, who was born an American Iranian in Tehran in 1966 to an Iranian father and American Mother.\u00a0 He is a research artist and co-creator of <\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cat and the Coup,<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a documentary video game about Mossadegh. Kurosh believes this mess that is the relationship of his two countries stems from a sloppy, or snooty mis-translation. \u00a0He hopes to spend the summer looking for early examples of poor translation in the Diba library, the largest collection of books about Iran not written in Persian.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[Note: Please enjoy this guest essay on Iranian artists and censorships, in conjunction with the broadcast premiere of When God Sleeps, by artist and game creator Kurosh ValaNejad. See more on him at the end.] by\u00a0Kurosh ValaNejad, guest contributor In the Islamic Republic of Iran, artistic expression is not denied. \u00a0Iranians can sing and dance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":16755,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1357],"tags":[],"topic":[1216,1247,1248,1261,1250,1225,1252],"class_list":["post-16752","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beyond-the-films","topic-arts-and-culture","topic-cinema","topic-dance","topic-human-rights","topic-music-2","topic-politics-and-government","topic-visual-arts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Censored Iranian Artists, Poets &amp; Musicians Threatened With Exile | PBS | Independent Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Artist and game 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