"If nothing else, "Argo" is an exercise in American exceptionalism - perhaps the most dangerous fiction that permeates our entire society and sense of identity. It reinvents history in order to mine a tale of triumph from an unmitigated defeat. The hostage crisis, which lasted 444 days and destroyed an American presidency, was a failure and an embarrassment for Americans. The United States government and media has spent the last three decades tirelessly exacting revenge on Iran for what happened." --
Nima Shirazi explains what's wrong with Argo's depiction of the Iranian hostage crisis.
posted by MartinWisse
on Mar 2, 2013 -
110 comments
Today marks the release of the film
Argo, about the effort to smuggle out six Americans from Iran after the fall of the shah. The film is based on the actual events of the
Canadian Caper, during which the Canadian embassy and staff in Iran sheltered the six Americans and,
in cooperation with the CIA, provided Canadian identities and passports for the six. They were then smuggled out under the ruse of being part of the film crew for a science fiction film based on Roger Zelazny's
Lord of Light. [more inside]
posted by never used baby shoes
on Oct 12, 2012 -
68 comments
