A Media Artist's Response To Failing Diplomacy

When BriAnna Olson's pacifist views were confronted by an adamant American couple, she decided to heed their challenge and head to Tehran-- the epicenter of the Axis of Evil nation.

Amongst a landscape of failed diplomacy and media smear campaigns, she and fellow artist Michael Pope found a society far more alive and hospitable than they'd ever been led to believe.

Like jesters of a modern-day Magellan, they've returned with stories and insights to a culture few American's have seen first hand.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Day 2 in Tehran

Last night we had our first experience in being babysat Americans.
 
Michael and I were invited to a private screening of a Sigur Ros documentary and even though our guide had set us up with a car to go alone, he showed up as we were leaving so he could chaperone. The implicit threat made by our guide to the gallery owner made us all nervous. ("These are Americans, you do not know them, they do not know you... what is this gallery, what are you screening, they can stay but I must see inside....") AWKWARD and suck. After we got there, I decided we had to leave so we didn't ruin their night. It could have been very cool if not for the mild paranoia injected into all of us by someone with absolutely no authority.
 
In other news, our ride back with a secular cabby proved for some interesting conversation about his life, his views on the US and this country since the revolution.
 
 
love love
bri
 
[photos: scarved betties waiting outside a restaurant, Iranian beer (tastes just like Budweiser, but with 0.0% alcohol)]
Posted by BriAnna Olson at 3:26 AM
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 1:06 AM

    shinier hejab please. mental image not doing it (i'm envisioning rainbow leopard print with glittr. I can't explain it.) crazy imagination. to live in a headspace that is so suspicious boggles me. I hope you have better luck with your other meetups.

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