Check the (Cassette) Tapes

This paper draws on the dual political nature of cassette tapes as simultaneously a vehicle for political oppression, rebellion, and freedom within the context of post-revolutionary Iran. Using the concept of objects as vehicles for rebellion in Iran, cassettes are examined from a number of lenses, each of which demonstrate their importance to Iranian cultural, religious, and political dimensions. In particular, this paper investigates how the legality of cassettes impacts the music that is produced and how the music is shared. This ultimately demonstrates the disparate forms that new media can take, and the sociopolitical impact it can have, depending on how and why it is produced and disseminated.