The Mousavi movement combines an intriguing blend of old and new art in its arsenal. Co-opting the songs and slogans of the 1979 revolution, protesters aligned themselves with the romantic memory of the previous generation’s righteous rebellion, and countless struggles throughout Muslim history:

‘Allahu Akbar’ has been uttered by Muslims throughout history as a cry against oppression, against kings and monarchs, against tyrannical and despotic rule, reminding people that in the end, the disposer of affairs and ultimate holder of legitimacy is not any man, not any king or queen, not even any supreme leader, but ultimately a divine force out and above directing, caring and fighting for a more peaceful, rule-based, just and free world for people to live in. God is the one who is greatest, above each and every mortal human being whose station it is to pass away. (A reader writing in to Nico Pitney’s indispensable HuffPo blog)

In addition to protestations rich with historical significance, the Iranian people embraced newer, sometimes unconventional methods of making their voices heard. Campaign videos from both Mousavi and the other reformer candidate, Karroubi, elicit comparisons to the hugely popular”Yes We Can” video from President Obama’s campaign.

(YouTube)

(From NIAC blog)

Off the mainstream grid, street artists also make an impact with political art in the same vein as Shepard Fairey’s iconic Obama posters, the notable difference being these artists risk far more than a dubious copyright infringement claim for posting their work around Tehran.

Revered Iranian artists have taken up the opposition cause, traveling to Brussels to urge European leaders against legitimizing Friday’s election.

Marjane Satrapi writer/director of Persepolis and filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf (probably best known here for his 2001 film Kandahar, and the excellent A Moment of Innocence) presented a document to Green Party MPs in the European parliament claiming to show that defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi had received over 19 million votes in the weekend election. They demand that foreign governments not to recognize the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

(via Iranian.com)

Artists have power in times like these. It is truly heartening to see art used to inspire and assist opposition in Iran, in the place of violence. Though the Iranian government meets peaceful means of opposition with stunning brutality, the Internet community will fight back, by documenting and disseminating, as it has all week.