living in the truman show

ehsan maleki is a tehran photographer and bloggerI entered “iran election photos” to get a sense of how, in a little over two decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union, communication technology has changed the face of the world.

The first page of hits included Ehsan Maleki’s appropriately title Iran Election Photos, which led me to his wonderfully entertaining self-titled photo blog.

Just two weeks ago I posted new content that attempted to parse the world of emerging/social media in terms readers would find relevant in a tumultuous business climate. Nothing could better demonstrate the incredible gulf between old and new media than the events surrounding the Iranian elections – and the cellphone driven technology (twitter) that’s responsible.From the cliched stupidity of American Chopper and Ron and Kate Plus 8, which when added up ironically enough nearly matches their combined IQs, to the terse tweets of Iranians protesting an election outcome, we’re culturally consumed by reality as entertainment. The combination of transmitted graphics and instant techno may well be the global neural synapse that unites cultures in ways never imagined.

In the little more than six months between Iran’s national elections and Ad Age picked President Obama as Marketer of the Year, the elemental power of graphics to communicate has been vetted, proofed and certified gold. The imagery leaking out of Iran, of tens of thousands of protesters displaying kelley green unity in the form of ink-stained fingers and scarves, seemingly has the power to influence an otherwise intractable government into at least considering a recount.

As a public relations practitioner, the societal implications are huge, and hugely fascinating. The straight line evolution from clay tablet to paper to telegraph to telephone to cellphone and twitter has been about accessibility and speed. Those two elements have reached critical mass, with solid majorities of the population equipped with their own personal technology devices that in turn are powered by instantaneous connectivity.

Good luck to the Iranians. And vigilance to the rest of us, in keeping reality in perspective.