#Neda and the Power of the Viral Image
June 21, 2009 by Craig Stoltz
The 37-second amateur video that shows, in vivid and horrifying detail, a young woman named Neda dying of a gunshot wound on the streets of Tehran, has the capacity to change the political dynamic in Iran. It may already have done so.
I will not link to the video here. The decision to watch it should be made carefully, knowing it is sickening and likely to remain with you for the rest of your life. You can easily find it if you want.
I found it nearly overwhelming. I had to step away from the computer and gather myself. Afterward when describing it to my wife my voice was shaking and I couldn’t quite formulate my thoughts.
The morning after viewing it I can say this: I believe that 37 second clip can transform global opinion.
I liken it to the 1972 photograph of the young Vietnamese girl running naked through the streets, her skin seared by the chemical burn of napalm. Or the 1963 picture of police dogs attacking civil rights protesters in Birmingham, Alabama. Both, it is argued, played a key role in galvanizing public opinion on the political issues they represented.
For me, and I suspect many who view it, the Neda video says with absolute clarity: The violent crackdown on street protesters in Tehran must not stand. The perpetrators must be stopped or removed.
It removes any ambivalence or subtlety one might have about the situation there.
Last night I was actually wondering how a government responsible for Neda’s death–in an environment where cheap, instant, global, many-to-many communications has brought the phrase “the whole world is watching” closer to literal fact than it was in the 1960s–can possibly remain in power.
In the cool light of morning I realize that was dramatic hyperbole, heavily colored by emotion.
But still: That 37-second video has already become a singular, powerful fact driving global opinion. Its impact will only accelerate and expand. It will have consequences.
Let me also predict that the mainstream media is going to miss the import of that video. Partly because they dare not show it, and thus it will not become part of their newsrooms’ collective consciousness–or conscience.
But also because they still tend to view amateur, viral “reporting” as marginal “bonus” material, incapable of driving public thought in the way their own professional reporting and opinionating can.
There is a #Neda hashtag on Twitter. It captures conversations about and inspired by the video.
Yet it is now being added as a hashtag to general Twitterizing on the election protests, as an expression of commitment at least as powerful as the green avatars that hover like nauseated witnesses over the 140-character global thoughtstream.
Much is made about Twitter and its limited ability to drive change.
This isn’t about that.
It’s about the power of a single, brief incident captured on video–in an environment where people share what moves them instantly with a global audience, without the assistance or approval of governments, media or any institution—to change others’ minds.
Change the world?
In the cool light of morning, I realize that’s foolish too.
But if you are feeling strong and brave and willing to have a horrifying image seared into your brain, view the video.
It will change you.
I appreciate this sensitive commentary on a very difficult bit of video. I probably saw it as it was being tweeted very early on but there’s no way of know that for certain. I had the same reaction. I had to step away too. May I please point out one small copyediting matter, though. Neda was not a young girl. She was a young woman. Please note. Thanks!
Dennis–Thanks much for this. And yes, Neda was a woman. I have corrected the post above.
Craig
Great post, but I think this part should be qualified:
“Let me also predict that the mainstream media is going to miss the import of that video.”
CNN has given it a good amount of attention today, even hinting at it’s larger influence to become a symbol of the protests.
Shel Israel (@ShelIsrael) has made a great effort to be a voice after her.
We live in an amazing time. I wonder if the young can grasp this…
Thanks, goof post Craig. “…an environment where people share what moves them instantly…without the assistance or approval of governments, media or any institution…”
Its been pointed out to me that this is the first truly significant news story that is wholly shaped by those at the heart of the news, disintermediated. Evelyn
Thanks, good post Craig. “…an environment where people share what moves them instantly…without the assistance or approval of governments, media or any institution…”
Its been pointed out to me that this is the first truly significant news story that is wholly shaped by those at the heart of the news, disintermediated. Evelyn
Nice writing. Please take a look at her innocent beautiful picture before being shot:
http://twitpic.com/811gn
Peace
Ardavan
Greg–Yes, I have noticed the mainstream media is indeed picking up on Neda. I’m surprised, and very pleased. Proud of my fellow journalists. Apparently Nicholas Kristoff of the NYTimes is saying similar things re: Neda’s capacity to turn the tide.
Ed–Thanks for the pointer to the great @shelisrael; I’ll watch him. He’s a brilliant guy.
Aradvan–Thanks for sharing that link. Warning to all: The image it leads to is graphic, but a more measured and tolerable view of her death than the video.
Craig — I just watched the video on CNN. You’re absolutely right when you say, “It removes any ambivalence or subtlety one might have about the situation there.” I’ll admit, I intentionally kept a distance and for the most part to the story and have stuck to the coverage on traditional media. Watching her die though…I’m speechless. Thanks for your post. - Michael
Mr. C. Stoltz of Maryland is revolted; he is a good man and we expect nothing less. But what makes us think a regime that goes out of its way to destroy people gives a rip? I reckon the reaction of your average hard-line cleric would be, “Why wasn’t she wearing her veil?”
I hope Ahmadinejad and Khomeni both catch a bullet soon. However, the video is an obvious fake. Look at it several times in slow motion and you will see the “blood packet” put over her face. I wonder if this is one of the reason’s that CNN decided to “blur” the photo. I am tired of the propaganda passed around as news these days and it amazes me that people aren’t more skeptical of mass media. At least in the soviet union when people watched Pravda, they knew it was often nyepravda.
Useful lies are still lies, and I resent the attempts to manipulate public sentiment.. Remember when the media was in bed with the government in the run up to the Iraq war? Or when a couple months after 911, a now repudiated report, linked Iraqi officials and al queda as having a meeting in Prague. This happens routinely, WAKE UP PEOPLE. hope that Iran throws off the yoke of it’s oppressor’s, and I hope that someday we will have an independent and free press once again in this fading republic.
[...] Washington Post colleague Craig Stoltz posted yesterday on the topic. I agree with his views on the subject and completely understand the impact [...]
[...] and is exploring it as a way to interpret the continuing protests and political activities. [I blogged on this topic [...]
The face for the Iranian revolution - Neda…
For several days now, I’ve posted updates regarding the events in Iran. I have a great amount of hesitation in posting this, however; if one really wants to know what is going on with the protests, one cannot look away simply because the truth i…
Re: Jonathan Renstrom’ s comment, “The video is an obvious fake.”
After painstakingly reviewing the Neda video a multitude of times, I respectfully disagree. I was unable to see any “blood packet” and find your conclusions and observations in serious error.
Furthermore, Renstrom’ s comments mimic the outlandish remarks made by those cynics who want us to believe that the holocaust never happened. (I use the term “cynics” to replace the less dignified and politically incorrect name I would have used otherwise)
The Neda videos (there are actually 2 of them) were created to stir up public outrage against the Iran regime - which the US and their allies cannot wait to overthrow - with a not-so-subtle coup d’état so reminiscent of many others throughout history. Both videos are demonstrably fake / & staged.
Forged, manipulated imagery is the prime weapon of choice of the Western propaganda machine.
http://forum.911movement.org/index.php?showtopic=6793&st=15
I’m sorry to disagree with the majority but i feel everything about this video is indeed a fake. I’m not trying to hint at a conspiracy, becasue i’m not a crackpot. However a few points came to my mind;
1. Why, in the prescence of a gunman, is everybody standing around?
2. In a prescense of a dying woman, what type of person would film it?
3. She has released a video on youtube years earlier where she demonstrates her eye roll (look for it, you will find it)
4. She’s always talking about getting shot previous to the film.
5. Her husband is a reporter.
If it’s too unlikely to be true, it probably isn’t.