The visual narratives of the 1979 Iranian Revolution

Cabi, Marouf (2024) The visual narratives of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Middle East Critique. ISSN 1943-6149

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Abstract

This article analyzes a series of documentaries on the 1979 Iranian Revolution broadcast by Iran International and Manoto television channels. While covering the era of the Pahlavi dynasty, especially since the Second World War under Mohammad Reza Shah, the documentaries’ main goal is to present the era as a progressive epoch interrupted by a disastrous revolution. At the same time, they explain the Islamic government as a deviation from the path of progress led by the Pahlavis. By doing so, they dismiss the Pahlavi state as a root cause of the revolution, absolving it of the responsibility for its consequences, i.e. establishing an Islamic government. In contrast, this article highlights state politics as one of the main factors decisively shaping a historical process which culminated in the revolution. This makes the Pahlavi political order central to understand how the events in 1979 and afterwards unfolded.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ccri20
Additional Information:	© 2024 Editors of Middle East Critique
Divisions:	Middle East Centre
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1993 Motion Pictures J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia
Date Deposited:	09 Apr 2024 09:33
Last Modified:	15 Apr 2024 09:18
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/122574

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