Contending with Censorship The Underground Music Scene in Urban Iran

Abstract

1s modernity and traditionalism collide in contemporary Iran, an underground music scene (mūsīqī-i zīr-i zamīn) is emerging in Iran‟s urban centers. Rap, rock, alternative and fusion musical styles are developing a position in Iranian musical culture. They have provided a means for many musicians to articulate a modern cultural identity that is rooted at home yet simultaneously in dialogue with a global community. One music video from Iran displays a young man with a shaved head and goatee singing lyrics of the fourteenth century Persian poet Hāfiz, accompanied by the sound of an electric guitar. Another video shows a Rap musician dressed in baggy pants and an oversized T-shirt reciting spoken word poetry and quoting the Qurān as he poetically critiques the Iranian government. These artists‟ music reflects their deep respect for Iran‟s cultural heritage and rich poetic traditions. At the same time, these musicians are often banned from distributing their music and music videos in their home country. Because of the Iranian government‟s religious scrutiny and state implemented censorship, many of these musicians are prohibited from producing albums or holding concerts. However, they continue to engage in their art and find creative ways around these restrictions through such means as distributing their music and videos over the Internet and playing secret concerts. Underground musicians are challenging the dominant discourse on questions of national identity and the meaning of being Iranian. The selfimage that is reflected in their work is projected through sensibilities that can be 1 For this paper I use the International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies (IJMES) system of transliteration

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