Challenging Preconceptions of Iran
In Challenging Preconceptions of Iran, host Joanna Lumley visits a shopping mall in Tehran. As she explores the mall, her guide explains how the use of social media by young people in Iran is helping to connect individuals and shift some attitudes about life in the country. Through this experience, Joanna gains a deeper understanding of the evolving social landscape of Iran, highlighting how modern technology and cultural traditions intersect in the lives of its people. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure, a documentary series uncovering the rich history and cultural treasures of the Silk Road.
Lesson Express
Q: Joanna explains that Facebook and Twitter are banned in Iran. Why might these social media sites be banned?
A: The government might ban Facebook and Twitter to control the flow of information and limit what people can see or share. It may also be worried that social media could be used to organize protests or spread ideas that challenge the government.
Q: How do you know that people in Iran are interested in social media?
A: In Iran, 23 million people opened Instagram accounts last year, showing that many people are interested in social media. Even though Facebook and Twitter are banned, Instagram is still popular and widely used.
Q: When Joanna says that seeing the mall is challenging her preconceived ideas about Iran, what does she mean?
A: Joanna is saying that her idea of Iran was shaped by news about war and problems, but seeing a modern mall shows that there are typical everyday places like that in Iran, just in other countries. This surprises her because she didn’t expect to see such modern places.
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