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What Is ‘Hollywoodism’ and Why Is Iran Freaked out about It?

Feb. 12, 2013 8:10am Sharona Schwartz

Participants at Iran’s “Hollywoodism” conference (Screen shot from Press TV)

Iran hosted a conference last week on what it calls “Hollywoodism,” which aimed to take to task the American film industry’s alleged contribution to negative stereotypes of Iran and to “expanding Islamophobia…across the world.”

In reality, however, the conference showcased stereotypes of its own, specifically of the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic variety. Though the speakers reportedly did not state outright that “the Jews control Hollywood,” one senior Iranian official said “Zionist philosophy” guides the making of films which are “serving the devil.”

It prompted this criticism from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abraham Foxman:

Not surprisingly, Iran is once again at the forefront of promoting classical anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Jews and Israel while giving legitimacy to a rogue’s gallery of conspiratorial anti-Semites and anti-Zionists.

Make no mistake, while conference organizers might claim this was meant to be an open-ended inquiry into the influence of Hollywood, the event had a deep undercurrent of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism consistent with Iran’s long-held anti-U.S. and anti-Israel posture.

The ADL reports that 9/11 “truthers” were among the participants in the third annual “International Conference on Hollywoodism and Cinema” timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Javad Shamaghdari used his opening address to suggest “Zionist philosophy” influences Hollywood films which are “serving the devil.”

Mohammad Hosseini, Iranian Minister of Culture and Guidance, suggested there is a surreptitious and coordinated conspiracy behind American filmmaking. “Hollywood is not an independent phenomenon and has no uniform nature but surely there is a hidden management that is leading the economic, business, researching and theorizing centers,” Hosseini said.

“There are few people to say the truth that today’s human knowledge shouldn’t be just available for the oppressors and powerful countries who are under domination of the Zionists,” he added.

To this, the ADL’s Foxman said: “One need only look at the statements of this conference to see that they are promoting the classical anti-Semitic stereotype of Jewish domination and control of the film industry…The Iranian leadership has become expert at repurposing age-old anti-Semitic canards to legitimize and promote their hateful and conspiratorial worldview.”

The conference is particularly noteworthy this year in light of the accolades Ben Affleck’s film Argo has been racking up, including seven Academy Award nominations and Golden Globe Best Picture. According to the Wall Street Journal, the film which depicts the rescue of six Americans from Tehran during the American embassy takeover is a runaway success in Iran, with several hundred thousand Persian-subtitled bootleg DVDs sold.

Conference organizer Nader Talebzade told reporters that Argo’s success shows that “promoting phobias of Islam and Iran is part of Hollywood’s plan.”

“Why can Hollywood get away with assaulting Iran and Islam?” he asked

“Hollywood is the epicenter of entertainment, but it has a dark side [from which] we have been getting the aggression of Hollywood,” Talebzade said.

Los Angeles Times correspondent Ramin Mostaghim covered the conference and described the scene:

In the hotel auditorium, attendees watched Ben Affleck playing a CIA specialist trying to trick Iranian officials into letting Americans out of Tehran, Sacha Baron Cohen as a farcical “Dictator,” even the fantastical battles between Spartans and Persians in the action film “300.”

Outside the screenings, panelists weighed in on “Hollywood and Depiction of Moral Values,” “Portrayals of Jews in Hollywood,” and “September 11 from Hollywood’s Angle: Psychological Elements, Public Deception,” as a crew of interpreters simultaneously translated their words into Farsi, French and Arabic.

Foreigners peppered the crowd at the Tehran hotel, including the maverick former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska, who defended the disputed Iranian nuclear energy program at the opening ceremony, and the French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, who wed the convicted killer known as Carlos the Jackal.

Former Senator Gravel echoed the Iranians in this quote provided by Press TV: “Hollywood is just a tool of the American government, and European governments to prosecute their imperialistic views whether it is in economy, whether it’s in culture, whether it’s in religion.”

Gravel is the founder of the “Citizens’ 9/11 Commission Campaign” which hopes via state ballot initiatives to set up a new commission to investigate 9/11 which it calls “an unsolved crime.” In the past, he has also said 9/11 had the hallmarks of “an inside job.”

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Comments (37)

ColonelPB
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 4:49am
So when God recently had we mortals divide the desert the Jews got the sand (to which they added water to make a physical paradise) and the Arabs got the oil. Go figure.

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riseandshine
Posted on February 13, 2013 at 9:36pm
one

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riseandshine
Posted on February 13, 2013 at 9:35pm
two

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riseandshine
Posted on February 13, 2013 at 9:35pm
three

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soybomb315_II
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:22pm
iran cant even refine its own oil and feed its people – what are we freaked out about

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PaulHausser
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:42am
Iran is hardly “freaked out”. They calmly and logically discuss the overt jewish influence on the US media entertainment and marketing. What we get in 2013 is essentially what jews want Americans to think act and feel.

Those of us older that 50 can spot the difference in this US and the old US. It is not good nor an improvement by any stretch.

jews are preaching hate against Christians, Jesus and White Americans who came from Europe. They promote blacks and hispanics over the White majority. It is obvious.

Occidental Observer.com explains it in detail

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:48am
  Paul: “Those of us older that 50 can spot the difference in this US and the old US. It is not good nor an improvement by any stretch.”
  
  It was precisely this difference which initiated my study into the cause of that difference. My investigation led me to conclusions that are 180 degrees from those that I held dear before the start. It’s been an incredible and jaw dropping ride, of nearly 20 years.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:46pm
  ” They promote blacks and hispanics over the White majority.”
  
  Promoting factionalization, division, discord, disunity, friction… are all common tactics of a minority imposing its will upon a majority. This is why you see Jews featured so predominantly in the beginning of the feminine movement, founding of the NAACP, leadership of the ACLU, Hollywood, Democratic party… .
  
  Report this comment
Bangstick
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:01am
Islamists and the things they do make me despise Islam, not Hollywood.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:30am
  There is no doubt that Hollywood is a debasing influence in our culture, one of the top two. There is also no doubt that Hollywood is progressive, liberal, socialist, and communist… all synonyms, depending on era. Finally, there is no doubt who Hollywood is, for many people close to, or involved in, Hollywood have told us. Joel Stein, a Jewish author, even went further. He proved it.
  
  So, we know who Hollywood is. We know who is responsible. And, we have known all of this for years. Denial is a disease’s best friend. Iran is partly correct, and we are living proof.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:40am
  Joel Stein:
  http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-stein19-2008dec19,0,4676183.column
  
  Report this comment
pragmaticpatriot
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:41am
In January, SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – Lawyers for a U.S. Army major accused of a deadly 2009 shooting spree at a Texas military post have asked for the death penalty to be disallowed in his court martial, possibly paving the way for a guilty plea in the case.

Fort Hood massacre suspect Major Nidal Hasan is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder in connection with the rampage at the sprawling Central Texas Army facility.

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yohannbiimu
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:38am
Hollywood produces a scant few films that can be construed as being “Islamophobic,” and they get all bent out of shape about it. I can only guess what sort of propagandistic rot that they produce in Iran (their derivative of ARYAN). We’ve already HEARD the murderous hate from their leaders, so the Persians themselves spread more “Islamophobia” than Hollywood EVER could.

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crystalsky
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:09am
What about that 14 year old girl who shot that child in the head who went to england cause they shot her in her head. She wanted peace for women.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:38am
  Rachel Corrie, a 23 year old college student from Olympia, WA, just wanted peace too.
  
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SamIamTwo
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:41am
I don’t see that many movies depicting Arab terrorists. It pretty much ended just before 9/11. I find it so hollyweird.

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crystalsky
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:31am
They want movies as President Obama and Hilary Clinton said it was a movie that caused about bengazi. even at the U.N. Meeting the president still said it. They let al jeezera in and now they want you to believe how peaceful it’s religion is. I have stories that show some of these arab guys that have hurt or killed there wives or kids. How do you respect that? That sharia law is EVIL What are they trying to make a movie now to say it was’nt Bin Laden it was an inside job by americans. I don’t believe it. Everytime something evil happens Some people try to blame every1 but themselves. By the way has any1 heard what that Fort Hood trader got for killing those military people and the military mom pregnate with the baby.

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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:29am
Blah, blah, blah!

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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:25am
Its always blame the Jews in the end. Im sick of excuses. Blame Bush, or racism, or my religion. No one takes any responsiblity. From Eve to Adam to the serpent. A world of excuses for our sins & blind eyes in a looking glass.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:35am
  Jew is an ethnicity. No one is blaming your religion, Judaism. They are blaming the predominant secular Jewish cultural practices of progressivism, kibbutz-ism, collectivism, commune-ism, communism, and the major role played by the ethnic Jew in propagating that world view around the globe.
  
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Tigress1
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:22am
I agree that Hollywood is a tool for the government, but I really haven’t seen anything that was anti-Islam in their films. If anything they are promoting Islam, which is interesting since there are so many Jewish people in Hollywood.
Hollywood seems to be the first place where the Overton Window starts to slide (to the left). Lately, I have sensed an even greater degradation of our morals through the use of words that I’ve never heard before on TV. The other day the “P-word (for cat)” was said on the show “Dallas”, today Fox News showed a Playboy Magazine cover that left little to the imagination, and they have stopped censoring the scenes where men’s bare butts are exposed. We are being “nudged” again.

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- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:14am
  nudged is an understatement, history taught a powerful lesson and those with no morals took a page from Joseph Gobbles on propaganda. Iran is right but i disagree with their lack of reason and their rejection on anything not of islam. Hollywood is a threat to all cultures and islam in humans is like rabies in dogs.
  
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DougHuffman
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:21am
The Obmanation blames the Bushes. The IraXis blames everybody else. Bomb them Forward(!) to the Nineteenth Century.

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huey6367
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:20am
I am going to interpret this as they view Hollywood as an arm of the government. I have to disagree – Hollywood is an arm of the liberal Democrats. Knowing that, I kind of agree with Iran to some extent. I can’t believe I just said that.

The strange thing is they have a conference to discus Hollywood but Obama does not strike any fear into them. Sounds like Carter all over again.

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Gonzo
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:10am
Don’t look for me to defend Hollywood.

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- huey6367
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:23am
  There is no defense of Hollywood.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:04am
  Yep, Hollywood is a lot like the Atlanta Falcons…no defense.
  
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kat747
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:10am
Hey…..did Barry put you up to this just to get him off the hook for his mess in Benghazi ????
First, everyone in Washington DC “blamed” it on a movie and now you people are picking on Hollywood.
If you want to know why Hollywood picks on you IT IS BECAUSE YOU GIVE THEM THEIR BEST MATERIAL…..as in your people dancing in the streets screaming “Death to America” right after
9/11/2011 !
Iran, you brought this on YOURSELVES. Now shut up !

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BlackCrow
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:06am
The Jewish people had a homeland in Israel thousands of years before that thief Muhammad was born,they have more of a right to that worthless piece of desert than the Arabs who took it by force.

I fought and kicked A$$ on you ignorant goat herders in 91, I’ll do it again! To accuse me of having an irrational fear of you and your phony religion of perverts and thieves is beyond laughable. BRING IT!!!

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:43am
  There was no Israel after 722 B.C.. There surely was a Canaan before Abram stepped into that land, as he migrated from what would be present day Iraq. So, you are incorrect on both fronts.
  
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:05am
Jerk, are you in any of the pictures? Figured you where there. This is you & 0′s kinda meeting.

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RightUnite
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 8:37am
Oh, this is going to be fun to watch!! Lets see if Hollyweird does fold to Iran! Hehehehehehehe!! I imagine Obama will get his two cents worth in also!

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 8:31am
Iran itself has done much to develop how it is viewed as a nation by the rest of the world. They made their bed, not Hollyweird. I remember well what was happening in ’78 through early ’81.
http://www.contactpressimages.com/44Days/inside.html

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:52am
  RJJ, you are telling half truths. Here’s proof that Iran had little choice in its history.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WVtpao0KSM
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:49pm
  @RJ
  What about what happend before 1978? You are missing some pretty big pieces
  
  Report this comment
redbanshee157
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 8:28am
Not afraid of our military but afraid of Hollywood. Funny.

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ares338
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 8:19am
Iran produces nothing but hate! What a pimple on the worlds butt!

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