Iran (IMNA) - Until recently, shaping narratives around war and politics required access to official podiums or massive media networks. Today, that equation has flipped dramatically: a few young creators are challenging figures like Donald Trump, who once used media as a personal instrument of power, and are now turning him into a subject of satire and trolling. The rules of this new game, the report notes, are no longer dictated solely in Washington or inside major studios.
The team, known as “Explosive Media,” produces Lego-style videos using AI. In an exclusive conversation with the Tehran Times, the group explained that the project began as a collaboration among media activists who had previously worked on social issues, particularly the Palestinian cause. The turning point came during what they describe as the third imposed war by the U.S.-Israeli coalition against Iran. After experimenting with multiple ideas, they settled on storytelling through Lego.
The creators found that presenting serious subjects through humor and an informal tone lowered the audience’s mental resistance, replacing confrontation with curiosity. One of the project’s key aims has been to focus directly on figures like Trump and Netanyahu, widely recognized as major producers of narratives within Western media. By creating satirical and ironic videos, the Iranian team has effectively turned Trump into a subject of trolling, flipping the usual media dynamic so that politicians who typically control narratives have themselves become the narrative.
Arab media outlets and some Western analysts have openly acknowledged that Iran, through these formats, has gained the upper hand in the “war of narratives,” outpacing the United States and raising awareness among younger Western audiences. The creators noted that while their initial target audience was domestic, the videos gained far more traction abroad, especially in the West, prompting a strategic shift toward precise international targeting based on music style, humor, and cultural references.
The project has drawn attention from major Western media outlets including the BBC, CNN, and The New Yorker. Political reactions have also been significant. Military analyst Patricia Marins shared one video depicting the reconstruction of Iranian infrastructure and called it “the best piece produced by an Iranian group.” Trita Parsi, vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, wrote that a recent Lego video signaled a notable shift—moving away from mocking the U.S. military toward directly engaging the American public—potentially aiming to reduce tensions and promote peace.
The team reported that their accounts have been repeatedly shut down on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, but each shutdown has brought more attention and expanded their audience. Efforts to discredit the project, including by emphasizing that state-affiliated media outlets have purchased distribution rights, have often backfired and increased visibility, the team said.
The creators concluded that the power of narrative is no longer monopolized by the West or mainstream media, and smaller groups equipped with creativity and strategic insight can now reshape the rules of the field.
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