03-14-2007, 03:15 AM
300 offends Iran
(From wikipedia; apparently the film is so controversial that the page is currently disabled from editing!)
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The film has attracted controversy over the portrayal of the Persians and some critics, press, officials (including the Iranian government spokesman and Iranian Members of Parliament) and bloggers have denounced the film. [79][80]<b>As in the graphic novel, the Persians are depicted as a barbaric and demonic horde, while the Persian emissary and King Xerxes are depicted as androgynous. This is meant to stand in stark contrast to the masculinity of the Spartan army.</b>[81]
Greek critic Dimitris Danikas suggested that the film showed Persians as "bloodthirsty, underdeveloped zombies," and went on to say, "They are stroking (sic) racist instincts in Europe and America."[63]
Along with references to slavery, mysticism and depictions of hyper-sexuality, the Persians become the vehicle for an anachronistic cross-section of Western stereotypes of Asian and African cultures[82]
The president of Iran's Art Affairs Advisory also expressed strong condemnation over the movie which he said insulted the Persian civilization. Javad Shamqadri, who is also a filmmaker, said the film specifically had racist intentions but called the film's effort fruitless however, saying, "values in Iranian culture are too strongly seated to be damaged by such plans."[83]
Iranian Government Spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham described the an intrusion of the Iranian culture and fabrication of history, stressing that the movie is considered a hostile move against the Iranian nation. "Cultural intrusion is among the tactics always used by the aliens. Such a fabrication of culture and insult to people is not acceptable by any nation or government and we consider this attitude as hostile".[84]
Iranian members of parliament on Monday deprecated the production and screening of the Hollywood film â300â".[85]
Iranians worldwide have been protesting the movie which they say offers an "inaccurate and derogatory depiction of ancient Persians." Thousands of Iranians have signed an online petition addressed to the producers of the film "300", criticizing them for what they say is a distortion of historical fact. [86]
Furthermore, the "bad guys" are depicted as black people, Persians, brown people, handicapped or deformed people, gays and lesbians. The traitor Ephialtes is played by a hunchback as in the graphic novel; however, historically there is no mention that Ephialtes was a hunchback.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
(From wikipedia; apparently the film is so controversial that the page is currently disabled from editing!)
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The film has attracted controversy over the portrayal of the Persians and some critics, press, officials (including the Iranian government spokesman and Iranian Members of Parliament) and bloggers have denounced the film. [79][80]<b>As in the graphic novel, the Persians are depicted as a barbaric and demonic horde, while the Persian emissary and King Xerxes are depicted as androgynous. This is meant to stand in stark contrast to the masculinity of the Spartan army.</b>[81]
Greek critic Dimitris Danikas suggested that the film showed Persians as "bloodthirsty, underdeveloped zombies," and went on to say, "They are stroking (sic) racist instincts in Europe and America."[63]
Along with references to slavery, mysticism and depictions of hyper-sexuality, the Persians become the vehicle for an anachronistic cross-section of Western stereotypes of Asian and African cultures[82]
The president of Iran's Art Affairs Advisory also expressed strong condemnation over the movie which he said insulted the Persian civilization. Javad Shamqadri, who is also a filmmaker, said the film specifically had racist intentions but called the film's effort fruitless however, saying, "values in Iranian culture are too strongly seated to be damaged by such plans."[83]
Iranian Government Spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham described the an intrusion of the Iranian culture and fabrication of history, stressing that the movie is considered a hostile move against the Iranian nation. "Cultural intrusion is among the tactics always used by the aliens. Such a fabrication of culture and insult to people is not acceptable by any nation or government and we consider this attitude as hostile".[84]
Iranian members of parliament on Monday deprecated the production and screening of the Hollywood film â300â".[85]
Iranians worldwide have been protesting the movie which they say offers an "inaccurate and derogatory depiction of ancient Persians." Thousands of Iranians have signed an online petition addressed to the producers of the film "300", criticizing them for what they say is a distortion of historical fact. [86]
Furthermore, the "bad guys" are depicted as black people, Persians, brown people, handicapped or deformed people, gays and lesbians. The traitor Ephialtes is played by a hunchback as in the graphic novel; however, historically there is no mention that Ephialtes was a hunchback.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->