Anyone who has used social media over the past six weeks has likely seen a rather unusual clip: a Lego Movie-style propaganda video about the Iran war.
The clip, which is often shared on official Iranian channels and contains a very pro-regime message trolling Donald Trump, the United States and Israel over the ongoing conflict, has been viewed millions of times.
The colorful, exaggerated footage depicts outlandish, aggressive and politically charged scenarios, including a baby Trump playing war on the floor of the Oval Office and the president looking at Satan’s Epstein files.
Now, one of the accounts that created the clip, Explosive Media, has spoken out about so-called “slopaganda.”
The man said he was called simply “Mr. Explosive” after the group Explosive Media. BBC His team produces Lego content “because Lego is the world language.”
In a previous interview, he called Explosive Media an “independent” outlet. However, during a discussion on the Top Comments podcast, he admitted that the Iranian regime had asked him to produce the video.
“It’s an honor to serve my country,” said Explosive, who appeared in the interview under the colors of the Iranian flag.
He denied suggestions that his videos used anti-Semitic tropes and denied factual errors in the videos, including one about the US recovery of a downed fighter pilot.
One of his videos depicts a pilot being captured by Iranian forces, but in reality the pilot was rescued by US special forces.
“Only 13% of Mr. Trump’s statements are based in fact,” he said.
Experts say that although the videos look like juvenile trolling, they are a new “authentic” technique used to draw modern viewers into the propaganda narrative.
Technology consultant Dr. Lukasz Olejnik previously said: independent person He has long predicted that in the age of modern technology, countries would move away from traditional, “dusty” forms of diplomacy.
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“That’s where attention gets, and attention is now a major resource in any conflict, including war,” he said.
Dr. Oleinik cautioned against dismissing the use of pop culture for propaganda as “childish” or “unserious.”
Iranian culture experts Kevin L. Schwartz and Olmo Goertz said it is “not surprising” that Iran is actively using meme videos in its propaganda efforts.
“This is in line with the brand of the Islamic Republic, both in terms of the medium it uses and the message conveyed,” they explained.
“At its core is a dualistic worldview that sees world politics as a conflict between the oppressed and the oppressors.
“This narrative of good versus evil does not simply explain Iran’s position, but elevates it as the voice of all peoples deemed subjugated by Western and Israeli power.
“A simplistic comic book story of an underdog hero facing off against a powerful enemy is the perfect package to express this simplistic good guys vs. bad guys message.”
