Argo

Argo

1. Monolithic Entities

   • dualism
     • distinction between 'self' & 'other', superiority & inferiority
   • stereotypes, caricatured view of Iranian culture
   • Islam's irrationality, culture, threatening entity
     • uses violence, weapons to establish political, social order

2. Generalisations

   • absence of Iranian perspective
     • "pure political propaganda" (Nicolini)
   • no 'likeable' Iranian in film
     • generalising attitudes and behaviours of population
       • scary, violent, uncontrollable, sadistic perspective

3. Exaggeration of Differences

   • cultured West, savage East
   • Americans are heroes, not protagonists
     • Mendez disobeys commands from supervisor to save life of 6 people
   • Americans ready to sacrifice honour, life to save people
     • reputation of CIA, White House
   • film's subtitles appear only when Western people talk other language, not when natives speak
     • Iranians are incomprehensible

4. Otherness

   • Iranians seen through eyes of hostages (fear, violence, threats)
   • irrationality of Iranians (Grand Bazaar)
     • (uncontrollable) get angry for no reason
   • Iranians seen as extremists who should be feared
     • represent threat to West
     • irrational, cannot be trusted, must be feared
   • trustworhy vs. suspicious

5. Superiority of West

   • West = right
     • hero
   • East = wrong
     • villain
   • Mirror Image Thesis (Conover et al 1980)
     • 2 nations in competitive relationship, one glorifies own country, vilify other
       • Us & Them

6. Colonialism

   • American should be proud for achievement
   • focus on saving Americans, not revolutionary Orient
   • Iranians antagonised by Hollywood
     • Argo (movie) depicting hostages, revolution against USA
     • Argo (fake film) by setting film in Orient country
       • since it is 'there', something bad has to happen

7. CIA & Hollywood

   • only way public learns about CIA
   • work together to increase 'accuracy'
   • no American spy suspected of using film crew disguise (Jenkins)
     • Studio Six Productions
   • influence ideas in pre-production stage
   • Hollywood studio systems for international esponage
   • CIA portrayed in positive light
   • USA advanced technology
     • reason why Argo shot as sci-fi

8. Neo Orientalism

   • "what orients are not" = different category
   • power of fiction - Hollywood
   • film in Orientalist version of Teheran
     • large contrast between Americans & locals

9. Cultural Imperialism

   • anti-scientific, revolutionary Middle East

10. Themes

    • heroes
      • Mendez breaks law, but morally correct
      • USA (White House agreed mission)
    • patriotism over family culture
    • Mendex takes off wedding ring (delete family background focus on mission)
    • alcohol
      • alcohol prohibited in Iran
      • USA = relax, celebration, take away tension
    • women from Iran's perspective
      • Iran = covered
      • USA = half/totally naked
    • western values
      • Iran's not explained

11. editing = adding filters for cheap camera looking feel

    • realism of film
      • authenticity to what is presented
    • blurred difference between archive material, videos for movie