Darius Wainwright, University of Bristol
‘Showcasing America, Depicting Iran: Iran, The Smithsonian, and the United States Information Agency, 1963-1970’
Co-hosted by the Centre for Imperial and Global History, the Centre for Persian and Iranian Studies, and Art History and Visual Culture
| An Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies seminar | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 November 2023 |
| Time | 15:30 to 17:00 |
| Place | Amory B310 |
Event details
Abstract
Overseas exhibits provide a platform for transnational exchanges, and enable their organizers to peddle narratives. Few studies, however, have focused on American displays. Between 1958 and 1968, the United States Information Service (USIS) ran a comprehensive exhibits program in Iran. The cultural activities of America’s Cold War allies – particularly France – encouraged the agency to turn to exhibits for fear of the United States being perceived in Iran as culturally less advanced than their European counterparts. Displays promoted American society and culture, until the Kennedy administration pushed USIS Iran to showcase American-led modernisation efforts. The changing tack highlighted the agency’s budgetary problems, and the exhibits’ failure to appeal to the wider Iranian populace. These issues resulted in the Federal Government-backed Smithsonian taking over USIS’ exhibits activities. As well as organising displays in Iran, the institution also collected Iranian items to showcase the country’s heritage and culture in the United States. The paper, therefore, makes three key contributions. First, the discussion highlights the factors driving USIS staff to curate exhibits in Iran. Second, the analysis provides an insight into how USIS officials portrayed the United States and American values. Finally, it reveals American officials’ disdain towards the wider Iranian populace.
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Location:
Amory B310
