The Future Islam Rock Band
PERFORMANCE (2018)
In recent years a considerable population of young Iranians have been assembling collectives known as ‘Rock Bands’, emulating contemporary global models of music production [1]. Despite the significant role that this mode of musical practice plays within the international culture industry [2], there has been a lack of attention to the adjustive measures required for this type of music to adapt to Islamic-Iranian values [3]. This shortcoming has led to concerns regarding the well-being of the Islamic society in the field of cultural consumption [4].
Benefiting from the expertise of the religious scholars [5] and various music experts, Future-Islam™ has accordingly arranged to utilize the capacities of this modern global musical device, in order not only to resolve these concerns, but also to avoid the loss of potential musical opportunities in the country [6]. The Future Islam Rock Band is a prototype of a musical rock group which by means of Islamic-Iranian principles and guidelines, redresses this musical category with an apparel of excellence and meritoriousness [7]. By avoiding contextual annulment and aesthetic vulgarity [8], The Future Islam Rock Band exploits the capacities of such musical means, aspiring to transcend boundaries and borders in order to disseminate of Islamic-Iranian cultural messages and values across the world [9]. The Future Islam Rock Band employs a collection of meritorious songs including the ‘National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran’ [10] in the pursuance of conquering the international musical stage, with the Islamic-Iranian righteous rock.
[1] Laudan Nooshin, ‘The Language of Rock: Iranian Youth, Popular Music and National Identity’, (Media, Culture and Society in Iran: Living with Globalization and the Islamic State, edited by Mehdi Semati, 2007), 69-93
[2] Mike Weis, ‘The Beatles Were First Example of Modern Globalization’, (Illinois Wesleyan University, 2014), https://www.iwu.edu/news/2014/02-beatles-early-globalization.html
[3] Robert Tait, ‘Iran’s Culturally Inappropriate Rock Hopefuls Struggle to Be Heard’, (The Guardian, 2005), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/aug/23/iran.arts
[4] Hosein Khadang, ‘The Discordant Tune of the Persian Cats’, (Mardom Salari Online, 2016), http://www.mardomsalari.ir/report/63145/ساز-ناکوک-گربه-های-ایرانی
[5] Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ‘Music and Ghina: Answers to Fatwa Requests’, (Khamenei.ir), http://farsi.khamenei.ir/treatise-content?id=99
[6] Maryam Sadatgoosheh, ‘This Basement Is Full of Song’, (Iran Daily Newspaper, No. 6122, 2016), http://www.magiran.com/ppdf/nppdf/2825/p0282561220071.pdf
[7] Author Unknown, ‘First Remarks of the New Culture Minister Regarding the Challenges in Art and Culture’, (Iranian Students News Agency, 2016), https://www.isna.ir/news/95081309134/نخستین-اظهارات-وزیر-جدید-ارشاد-درباره-چالش-های-فرهنگ-و-هنر-کشور
[8] Various Authors, ‘Unveiled: Art and Censorship in Iran’, (ARTICLE 19 Publication, edited by A. Callamard, B. Grillo and S. Redmond, 2006), 41-47, https://www.article19.org/data/files/pdfs/publications/iran-art-censorship.pdf
[9] Mina Atashi, ‘Rock Music Is the Best Device to Confront the Cultural Aggression’, (Honar Online, 2017), http://honaronline.ir/بخش-موسیقی-5/94791-هیچ-کس-ما-را-جدی-نمی-گیرد-موسیقی-راک-بهترین-وسیله-برای-مقابله-با-تهاجم-فرهنگی-است-اردوان-انزابی-پور-در-گفت-وگو-با-هنرآنلاین
[10] National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran
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The Future Islam Rock Band is part of the Future-Islam™ (a fictional start-up company which renders a dystopian future in the Middle East as a result of the fusion of free-market capitalism and Islamic governance). This project was realized as part of the Magic Of Persia Contemporary Art Prize 2017 and it was presented at the MOP CAP 2017 Finalists Exhibition at Bonhams in London in October 2018.