Report: Iranian Agency Bans Simpsons Cartoon Dolls to Fight Western Cultural Influence
- Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:26am by
Billy Hallowell
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TEHRAN, Iran (The Blaze/AP) — First Barbie, now the Simpsons. An Iranian government-affiliated agency has banned dolls of the Simpsons cartoon characters, who join others on a toy blacklist, an independent newspaper reported on Monday.
The report said that the Simpsons were banned to avoid the promotion of Western culture. But Superman and Spiderman were allowed, because they helped the “oppressed.”
“We do not want to promote this cartoon by importing the toys,” Shargh daily quoted Mohammad Hossein Farjoo, secretary of policymaking at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, as saying.
He did not elaborate on what was wrong with the Simpsons specifically. But he noted that any doll on which genitals are distinguishable, as well as dolls of adults, are banned. So were toys with speakers that blare out the voices of Western singers, or toy kitchen sets that include glasses for drinking alcoholic beverages.
Farjoo said however that dolls of Spiderman and Superman were authorized for sale. “They help oppressed people and they have a positive stance,” he said.
The agency is the same that called Barbie dolls a “Trojan horse” in 1996. In January, police said they closed down dozens of toy shops for selling Barbies.
Since the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted a pro-Western monarchy, Iran has tried to fight Western cultural influence.
Despite bans on many books, movies, satellite TV channels, music, haircuts and fashion from the West, many young people follow Western culture avidly and can often obtain illegal products on the black market.
In 2011 Iran imported $57 million worth of toys. Officials believe some $20 million more worth of toys were smuggled across the border the same year.
One-fourth of Iran’s population of 75 million is under 15 years old.
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tharpdevenport
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:57pmIran should be so worried. To quote Homer Simpson:
“But, Marge, what can I do? I’m only,” counts the fingers on a hand, “one man!”
Report Post »paintbrushbright
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:11pmConservatives pefer The Simpsons and Liberals pefer The Family Guy.
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:17pmWho said?
Report Post »I am Conservative and I hate both Simpsons and The Family Guy (to learn if I really hate them, I forced myself to watch both shows a few times. Didn’t stop vomiting)
justangry
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 7:47amDid you find that information in a scientific study?
Report Post »Balpit
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 3:22pmThe Simpsons used to be good. Not anymore. They once knocked both sides fairly equally, but now they tilt too far left…but that’s not why they suck now. It’s because the quality of the episodes started tanking: Skinner being an impostor, killing off Maude, Homer getting way too stupid, among others.
Family Guy was OK at first, but now? Don’t make me laugh. South Park summed it up perfectly: manatee gags, endless pop culture references, etc.
Report Post »ronljl
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:14pmIf Iran bans the Simpson dolls, how is the US suppose to get rid of its spent uranium?
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:33pmThe real question is what phenomena we call “Western culture.”
Report Post »Carlo Gesualdo di Venosa, Stephan Lochner, Richard Wagner, Igor Stravinsky, Marc Chagall, Leonard Bernstein, Sergei Prokofieff?
Or Simpsons? If Simpsons are a kind of art, what then paintings of Rubens are?
The problem is that with the so-called “pop culture,” which in fact has very little to do with real culture, we seem to adopt a disaster that is called ‘loss of high-level art criteria and, consequently, loss of ability to distinguish between real art and garbage.’
Some people don’t find any difference anymore between the smell of a rose and the smell of feces.
So, I don’t blame Iranians for removal Simpsons. But I do blame those Americans who force me to accept that Simpsons are a rightful part of Western culture.
I say to such defenders of what they dare call “Western culture”: if you think that Holy Virgin Mary splattered with elephant dung (http://www.kidzworld.com/article/2648-art-or-just-plain-crap#ixzz1ldEESenU) is a piece of art of the Western Culture, I am sorry for your crappy mental disorder; it’s you who are intentionally destroying the Western culture.
Komponist-ZAH
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:24pm“Carlo Gesualdo di Venosa, Stephan Lochner, Richard Wagner, Igor Stravinsky, Marc Chagall, Leonard Bernstein, Sergei Prokofieff?”
Or Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Orlando Gibbons, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Josef Haydn, Wolfgang Mozart, Johann Goethe, Ludwig van Beethoven, George Gordon Byron, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Charles Ives, Arnold Schoenberg, Dmitri Shostakovich, Elliott Carter?
Sadly, Westerners are atrociously self-ignorant. But, then, “Western civilization is based upon the libertarian principle and all its achievements are the result of the actions of free men”, as Ludwig von Mises said, and that fact may explain why our culture has so deteriorated in the hands of our state-run “education” system.
Report Post »dthomps6
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:00pmIranians and most the Muz have no sense of humor. The main reason is because no one can tell a knock-knock joke because they live in tents. Perhaps a flap-flap joke would be more appropriate…
Report Post »Soquel by the Creek
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:47amIt’s funny. Years ago when I was working in Australia and New Zealand, I heard may complaints about the undue influence of American culture. At the time, “Natural Born Killers” was playing in theaters and it did seem that I can some ‘splaining to do on American “values.”
Despite all this concern about American culture, it didn’t stop the Aussies or the Kiwis from going berserk about the latest Simpsons lunch box or Simpsons chess set. Go figure!
Report Post »LiveforFreedom
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:25amIts about time someone gets this crap off T.V.
Report Post »riverdog1
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:03pmthe simpsons has been one of the best shows on television for many many years. just as i thought, some of you all have more in common with muslim controlled iran than the USA.
Report Post »TriforcePlayer2
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:01amgood
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:43amNow you see what Iran is really afraid of….ideas
Report Post »Im_not_crazy92
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:57amWhere’s the like button? I AGREE!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:03amSOY ; so right. It appears to be here now as well. what’s up with the border????? Our border.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:48amTo you it’s ideas. To a civil and educated society it’s social trash. The devolution of our society is real, and it has consequences. Our regression to an ‘anything goes’ animalistic society should be rejected.
Report Post »Kelso
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:41amAs an avid watcher of the Simpsons, I’ve found over the years, that many who complain about this show, has not watched it in years…they only think they know about it. I was rated the number one family cartoon show. It always has a good, even moral endings at time. And although Homer may not be working with a full box of crayons, he always does the right thing by his wife, and kids. He doesn’t cheat, steal or kill, and that isn’t taught to his family. If you’re one of those people, then take a 1/2 hour and find out what it is really is…a funny cartoon that pokes fun at all of life. But many I’ve found will still prefer to just believe what they want about the show without even trying it on for size.
Report Post »TriforcePlayer2
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:02ammorality? Simpsons? pftthahaha
Report Post »shirtsbyeric
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:17amI wholeheartedly agree.
Report Post »Kilaueaiki
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:39pmI agree..I love the sense of homer (lol)! Muzzys don’t have any-
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:19amthems is fightin words
Report Post »FeliciaJewel
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:36amIt’s one thing to filter shows in a home, choice is good. It is another for a government to ban… so glad I live in America. Second thought on that… we too are facing bans in America, salt is just one example that comes to mind.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:25amDoh….
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:19am.
Report Post »“Cowabunga” Assahola it’s just a Doll Man…………….
Balpit
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 3:32pmSpeaking of “Assahola”, I remember the episode where they found an “Ayatolla Assahola” shirt in the attic.
Marge asks, “Can we get rid of this Ayatollah T-shirt? Khomeini died years ago.”
Report Post »Homer replies, “But, Marge! It works on ANY Ayatollah: Ayatollah Nakhbadeh, Ayatollah Zahedi…even as we speak, Ayatollah Razmada and his cadre of fanatics are consolidating their power.”
quarter horseman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:14amI am so glad the world relates the people of the U.S. to the stupid cartoons and shows on FOX! I ban them in my house, I dont blame them for banning them either. It is discusting that people find this crap entertaining and is no wonder our country is falling apart so fast. If you watch this crap you should be ashamed of yourself for contributing to the destruction of this great nation! No exceptions no excuses accepted.
Report Post »TriforcePlayer2
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:03amditto
Report Post »NICHOLAS.STL
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:06amI really doubt the Simpsons are the reason our country is falling apart. If you don’t want your children to watch a certain show, then block. it. It’s as simple as that. I personally feel that kids should have limited time on the tv. Great parents raise great kids that become great leaders.
Report Post »Watchyer6
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:08amDon’t have a cow, man. “The Simpsons” is funny stuff.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:12amAnd they have scheduled a high level security meeting next week to discuss BOZO THE CLOWN…. details at 6:00…..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:06am“We do not want to promote this cartoon”
Report Post »It obviously shouldn’t be up to any government to police what your kids watch but, I wish parents in America would police what their kids watch.
Cobra Blue
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:55amYou know…just an idea. The Media tells us that we are being targeted by Islamic Terrorists why??? because they hate us. They do not like our culture because they are offended by it. What is the liberal progressive Media always trumpeting to us? We the People need to change our behavior so as not to OFFEND the Muslims. Well…where is Hollywood and the Media on this. They are pumping out FILTH 24/7 over the TV and radio airwaves. Like I always say,,,talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. Lead by example. Otherwise,,,shut the HELL up…..
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