With the strict supposedly “moral” codes imposed on Iranian society with increasing conservatism in recent times, this latest directive – banning ‘love triangles’ and ‘half naked men’ — issued to television programme directors this week, strikes me to be of little significance. It was more than 10 years ago that I reported in the Touch issue of COLORS magazine that even if married in the story, couples were not allowed to be filmed touching in any way. This distortion of every day living is pursued in all depictions of life in television and film and is known to be a distortion and deliberate by those imposing it. This was transparent in this latest ordinance because the wording was such:
“The unnecessary mingling of men and women in scenes including weddings, family parties, work situations and celebrations must also be strictly avoided.”
I use the word ordinance because such directives come from Iran’s Supreme Leader in however a round about way. It is Khamenei who carefully chooses the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcaster, and by law all channels are owned and controlled by the state.
This gross misrepresentation of us as a people, within a culture that celebrates community and family values, respect for elders and warmth and understanding in interpersonal relationships — now replaced by an imposed monstrous utopia — is a tragedy and consequential. In essence all it promotes is a parallel existence, lies and false conformity and very questionable moral codes. The fact that weddings and other family gatherings are as good as banned on television because men and women would necessarily be seen to be mingling, presents a view of society to a generation of children that does not match their daily experiences and therefore establishes the double life idea, instilling a sense of an unfamiliar model on-screen life and the other real one.
The Washington Times reports that this may all be a backlash to the popularity of an Iranian soap opera Forbidden Fruit that posed a threat to public morality. But given that half naked men amount to a fantasy concept on Iran’s state television, does this mean the directive could be aimed at sports too? The tradition of wrestling matches in Iran is normally broadcast despite the dominance of scantily-clad men. Watch this amazing clip for an insight:
Entitled ‘Too Young The Hero’, it’s a primer for a proposed documentary following three young lads as they prepare for the World Wrestling Championships in Hungary. The project needs $4000 to go ahead and has opened up a fundraising initiative to the public, where a $10 donation will get you a 1000 Toman note with the film’s title stamped on it, and more for more. There are 9 days to pledge.
