US Propaganda Working Against Us
Iran's Lego Videos in depth
While I gave an overview of the Iranian Lego videos last week, there are two aspects about them I’d like to revisit: truth and propaganda.
Trump spent the holiest week of the Christian calendar foaming that his poorly laid plans, as it were, did not come to fruition and also touring DC to give adoringly at the site of his future triumphal arch. We, as a nation, should never forgive the teacher who introduced him to Imperial Rome; that teacher seems to be the rare educator who actually implanted something in his mind. All in all, his weekend reflected his general demeanor toward life: ping-ponging between retribution and revering himself. That he did this in direct opposition to the devout Christianity he pretends to believe is no problem. His followers are happy to be lied to.
But, seen in opposition to the never-ending videos being released by Explosive Media, an anonymous group that’s been cagey about its relationship to the Iranian government, Iran is positioned globally as the source for truth about the conflict. In one recent video, the hip-hop track points out that the US is censoring news for its citizens and working with big Tech to edit satellite imagery. Given that Trump has spent the last decade screaming about truth and freedom, Iran’s comments feel particularly pointed. As I mentioned previously, these videos are aimed at creating a wedge in the US and siphoning off more Americans from Trump’s camp. Positioning him as against freedom might get the least indoctrinated to wake up. (It’s worth noting these films are clearly propaganda as they have no mention of the media and web blackouts that are reportedly occurring in Iran.)
The LEGO slopaganda are also aiming at Trump’s faithful in another way—fear. MAGA is largely fueled by fear. This sector is the least educated and most likely to be part of a religious group. They’ve been programmed by FOX and the Internet to react to change by being reactionary rather than proactive. These films use the same type of fear to show the consequences of Trump’s actions—basically, the tanking of the dollar, the destruction of the government and Trump’s legacy, and the toppling of the American way of life.
What’s interesting is that these films also speak to the non-MAGA Americans as well as the global community by framing Iran as standing up for all those harmed by American Imperialism. In these images, though we see much of American propaganda returned to us, reframed. Trump has been busy strong arming Smithsonian to reframe narratives and adding Prager U into schools to move education back to the 1950s in ways of discussing slavery and Native Americans. In each, they’d love to absolve white Americans and validate their belief that merit is the only reason white people have succeeded in this nation. By leaning into imagery, like the noble savage, these videos confront the lie that the Trump Administration runs on—that it was better before.
Past American conflicts like War War II and the bombing of Japan have been heavily framed in the US consciousness as just and good. Many Americans were taught that the atomic bombs were necessary because the Japanese were evil, ignoring the ways that Japanese Americans were treated. Additionally, cable news channels like the History Channel regularly churn out skewed views of WWII to make Americans who have never served feel victorious. Reframing this American propaganda in the video creates both cognitive dissonance in MAGA and also a connection for the many Americans who have reframed their view of World War II.
Finally, Iran is using this as an opportunity to gain global sentiment on its side. When showing their warriors, they frame themselves as aligned with the Ancient Persians, a culture that existed before Islam and the Safavids, and was largely much more liberal than the current regime. They’ve carefully sidestepped the many injustices against their own people that the Regime has committed.
What’s truly interesting is this is theocracy against near theocracy. Both these governments are cracking down on citizens to reinforce a narrow understanding of faith as nationalism. But Iran didn’t jettison education to secure their position as rulers; as such, it’s intellectually superior to Trump’s team. Therefore, they’re easily able to best Trump in a war of intellect, and as a result, seem to be handily winning the game of public sentiment.
They don’t want “western” values or institutions, but sure as hell they are fine with using its technology and even aesthetics. Fascinating.
Another brilliant read on Lego propaganda, loving these!