The Golden Collars: Deconstructing Heroes and Villains in an Iranian Spy Movie
Khoshnood, Arvin LU and Khoshnood, Ardavan M. LU
(2026)
p.148-161
- Abstract
- This chapter examines the Iranian state-produced film The Golden Collars as a tool of regime propaganda, focusing on how it constructs narratives of heroes and villains within the context of the 2009 post-election protests. It shows how the Islamic Republic, through state media, portrays foreign intelligence services—particularly those of the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel—as orchestrators of unrest, while depicting domestic dissenters as manipulated or traitorous actors. By analysing the film’s storyline and character framing, the chapter demonstrates how the regime externalises blame for internal crises, legitimises repression, and reinforces its security discourse. The study situates the film within broader theories of... (More)
- This chapter examines the Iranian state-produced film The Golden Collars as a tool of regime propaganda, focusing on how it constructs narratives of heroes and villains within the context of the 2009 post-election protests. It shows how the Islamic Republic, through state media, portrays foreign intelligence services—particularly those of the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel—as orchestrators of unrest, while depicting domestic dissenters as manipulated or traitorous actors. By analysing the film’s storyline and character framing, the chapter demonstrates how the regime externalises blame for internal crises, legitimises repression, and reinforces its security discourse. The study situates the film within broader theories of authoritarian media and agenda-setting, highlighting its role in shaping public perception, sustaining regime legitimacy, and securitising political opposition. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/ce0adb3f-cb2f-4f9f-8eb7-7e89bdcf70e4
- author
- Khoshnood, Arvin
LU
and Khoshnood, Ardavan M.
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Iran, Espionage, Media, Intelligence Agency
- host publication
- Routledge Handbook of Media and Intelligence
- editor
- Matei, Florina Cristiana and Halladay, Carolyn
- edition
- 1
- pages
- 148 - 161
- publisher
- Routledge
- ISBN
- 9781032678832
- 9781032678788
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781032678788
- project
- The Intelligence Apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ce0adb3f-cb2f-4f9f-8eb7-7e89bdcf70e4
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-17 02:44:55
- date last changed
- 2026-04-18 02:53:02
@inbook{ce0adb3f-cb2f-4f9f-8eb7-7e89bdcf70e4,
abstract = {{This chapter examines the Iranian state-produced film The Golden Collars as a tool of regime propaganda, focusing on how it constructs narratives of heroes and villains within the context of the 2009 post-election protests. It shows how the Islamic Republic, through state media, portrays foreign intelligence services—particularly those of the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel—as orchestrators of unrest, while depicting domestic dissenters as manipulated or traitorous actors. By analysing the film’s storyline and character framing, the chapter demonstrates how the regime externalises blame for internal crises, legitimises repression, and reinforces its security discourse. The study situates the film within broader theories of authoritarian media and agenda-setting, highlighting its role in shaping public perception, sustaining regime legitimacy, and securitising political opposition.}},
author = {{Khoshnood, Arvin and Khoshnood, Ardavan M.}},
booktitle = {{Routledge Handbook of Media and Intelligence}},
editor = {{Matei, Florina Cristiana and Halladay, Carolyn}},
isbn = {{9781032678832}},
keywords = {{Iran; Espionage; Media; Intelligence Agency}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{148--161}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
title = {{The Golden Collars: Deconstructing Heroes and Villains in an Iranian Spy Movie}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781032678788}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781032678788}},
year = {{2026}},
}