Music Finally Allowed

The article I chose is entitled “Iran decides Cat Stevens is Good and Jacko is Bad”, published in the Gulf News on Thursday Sept 2nd 2004. It says that Iran’s regime has allowed the importation of all music by Cat Stevens, the British folk rock singer of the early 70’s who converted to Islam in 1977. They have released an album on September 20th. It features 75 of his songs and includes Persian translations of his songs, as well as a biography. Iran has a ban on all imported foreign CD’s. They made an exception to Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam, because he is a Muslim. Other music is not allowed to be imported to Iran, such as Michael Jackson.
This article has much to do with the topics covered in class. One of these is the shared characteristics of an information revolution or the emergence of a certain mass medium. The shared characteristic that relates to this topic more than any other one, is that changes in communication encounter opposition from those who for political and financial reasons dislike the changes taking place (Fang, xix). Iran is run by a strict Islamic Government, and Western music which consists of or conveys many Western mores, is seen as a threat by them, as it could unravel the fabric of their society. Western music, of today and of the recent decades, encourages individuality and freedom of thought and expression. The strict Islamic Government does not want to be questioned about it’s strict rules, and exposure to Western music may lead to just that. Recently, I was discussing this issue with an Iranian friend of mine who has lived in Iran all of his life. He told me that even music by pre- revolution Iranian singers like Googoosh, whose songs discussed themes such as love, are also banned. The Iranian government is so strict because it perceives media as a threat to its’ way of life. I can understand why media is a threat, especially music. I myself, have listened to music ever since I was a boy, and it has always made me think and ask and inquire, and even rebel.
The Iranian government may also be trying to promote Cat Stevens as a cultural icon. To them, he is probably an icon because he represents the hard struggle of faith in a world filled with corruption and vice. I attended the lecture that Yusuf Islam gave when he came to AUS last year, and he talked about how hard it was to convert and to be a pious person. He talked about how living in the 60’s and 70’s as a rock star was very sinful. His leaving behind all worldly possessions and fame to pursue a life or religious fulfillment is one of the values that Iran may be trying to encourage. Cat Stevens himself is also a Western cultural icon for two reasons; his early songs promoted peace and love, a theme valued by the youth of the 60’s and 70’s, and for his conversion to Islam. It represents how the West lost all touch with religion, and how he was confused and trying to find something to believe in, in a time and place where religion was thrown aside. His conversion shows us how the Western society lacked religion and how many people, including celebrities have turned to Eastern societies for spiritual enlightenment.

Bibliography

Fang, I.(1997). A History of Mass Communication; Six Information Revolutions. Boston: Focal Press