The Silent Exodus: How a Theocratic Revolution Silenced a Nation's Arts and Forged a New Cultural Capital in America

4. Loss of Artistic Freedom and Expression: Beyond music, the revolution imposed strict censorship and ideological supervision across all arts. Artists, writers, and filmmakers lost the freedom to express any themes deemed non-Islamic, morally corrupting, or politically dissident. This repression made it impossible for many artists—whose work often explored modern, personal, or socio-political themes—to practice their craft truthfully within Iran's borders.