Visual propaganda at a crossroads: new techniques at Iran’s Vali Asr billboard

Schwartz, Kevin L.; Gölz, Olmo

doi:10.1080/1472586x.2021.1984292

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…In the contemporary Middle East, the political utility of visual propaganda has been realized. Images of martyrdom, sectarian identity, force, and death are regular tools of state programs of securitization (Schwartz & Gölz, 2021). The Iraq War of 2003 and the Arab Spring of 2011 created ideational vacuums.…”

Section: The Visual As a Unique Form Of Propagandamentioning

confidence: 99%

How to analyze visual propaganda in the Middle East: An analysis of imagery in the “Saudi Strike Force Movie”

Walsh

2022

Digest Mid East Studies

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This paper provides an innovative approach to visual analysis in the Middle East. It addresses a fundamental problem in the fields of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Securitization Theory (ST): they largely ignore the visual. This project develops a methodology for visual analysis. Its utility is demonstrated through an examination of a Saudi propaganda video, entitled “Saudi Strike Force Video.” When observing the Saudi‐Iranian rivalry on social media, there is a prevalence of visceral visual propaganda. Thus, the need for the construction of a systematic model for its analysis is important in addressing this conceptual gap. CDA and ST are aligned on an essential belief that discourse is a power‐laden process, and that to affect change, scholars must attempt to understand its production, articulation, and impact. Yet, both of these approaches tend to focus on the written and spoken word, negating the importance of the visual. This paper contends that the visual is equally power‐laden, having a profound effect as a tool of propaganda

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Section: The Visual As a Unique Form Of Propagandamentioning

confidence: 99%

How to analyze visual propaganda in the Middle East: An analysis of imagery in the “Saudi Strike Force Movie”

Walsh

2022

Digest Mid East Studies

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Re-staging American triumph as American carnage

Schwartz¹,

Gölz²

2022

Visual Studies

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“Citizen Martyrs”: The Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade in Iran

Schwartz¹

2022

Afghanistan

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While much is made of the military capacity of the all-Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade as an Iranian militia and proxy force in Syria, less attention has been devoted to how its fighters and their experiences have been integrated into Iranian society following deployment. As Afghans of the Fatemiyoun Brigade return to Iran – either as veterans or as bodies of martyrs – they have been incorporated into existing national frameworks of Shiʿi identity and martyrdom. Through the analysis of media reports, funeral processions, and visual iconography, this article demonstrates how state and non-state actors in Iran have used the example of Afghan “shrine defenders” as an occasion to re-invigorate the central importance of state narratives around Shiʿism and national sacrifice. Such practices have elicited new perceptions across government and media of Afghan contributions to the history of the Islamic Republic and have been accompanied by new mobilities and modalities for Afghans in Iranian society. While the experiences of Fatemiyoun fighters are not monolithic, and the reasons for enlisting varied, Afghans affiliated with the brigade are increasingly taking on citizenship characteristics, despite their non-citizenship status. In addition to fighting on behalf of the nation and Shiʿa community, Afghan members and veterans of the Fatemiyoun engage in civic acts of solidarity. Families of fallen fighters receive the financial benefits and cultural status accorded to “martyrs families.” Accordingly, the experience of the Fatemiyoun Brigade and its increased visibility in Iranian society raise questions about the future citizenship prospects of Afghans in Iran as well as notions of citizenship in the Islamic Republic more generally.

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Visual propaganda at a crossroads: new techniques at Iran’s Vali Asr billboard

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

How to analyze visual propaganda in the Middle East: An analysis of imagery in the “Saudi Strike Force Movie”

How to analyze visual propaganda in the Middle East: An analysis of imagery in the “Saudi Strike Force Movie”

Re-staging American triumph as American carnage

“Citizen Martyrs”: The Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade in Iran

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