The World in Images S05E53 · Why Iran is reenacting the war with Lego

Overview

Iran is responding to US propaganda with AI-generated video clips that reenact the war using Lego figures. The regime uses these clips to stage supposed triumphs or ridicule its enemies. This report focuses on this new secondary theater of war, which heralds a new era of Iranian propaganda.

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5. 5 5. The Fake Real Mine Tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo2026-01-13 · 11mA mountainside riddled with holes on all sides collapses, burying numerous people. Following a mine collapse in Congo that killed around thirty illegal miners, these impressive but
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19. 19 19. The Great Modi Show2026-02-16 · 11mNarendra Modi graces the front page of the Indian daily newspaper "The Indian Express" to mark his 75th birthday. The government-funded stunt is part of a large-scale media campaig
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23. 23 23. Donald Trump sells (not just) watches2026-02-24 · 11mDonald Trump has launched his own watch brand and promotes it on US television. The real estate mogul, who rose to become head of state, has never shied away from lucrative busines
24. 24 24. A Showcase of Power: Egypt's New Museum2026-02-26 · 11mAfter more than 20 years of construction, the Grand Egyptian Museum was inaugurated with a spectacular show. Thanks to the enduring global fascination with the culture of ancient E
25. 25 25. Who's afraid of an information label?2026-03-02 · 11mThe Élysée Palace is now actively combating disinformation: After several media outlets accused the French president of trying to control the news, the Élysée Palace published a sh
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27. 27 27. Poland: AI in the service of Eurosceptics2026-03-05 · 11mOn TikTok, AI-generated young women are campaigning for Poland to leave the EU. The videos, which have already been viewed thousands of times, are even worrying the highest circles
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30. 30 30. AI brings Robin Williams back to life2026-03-12 · 11mIn a new video, the actor, who died in 2014, is resurrected with a strikingly realistic voice and facial expressions. What seems like a glimpse into the future is also a play on an
31. 31 31. ICE: The Codes of Brute Force2026-03-16 · 11mShortly after Renée Good's death, this ICE photograph was seen as a symbol of the militarization of American power. As for the highly suggestive attire of its leader, Gregory Bovin
32. 32 32. It's so green!2026-03-17 · 11mA green river, three ships spraying color, and thousands of spectators. Every year on St. Patrick's Day, the Irish national holiday, the Chicago River turns green. These striking i
33. 33 33. President Macron's Black Mirrored Sunglasses2026-03-19 · 11mAn image from Davos has stuck in our minds: Emmanuel Macron wearing mirrored aviator sunglasses. On the front pages of the international press, the photo appeared as Europe's respo
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42. 42 42. Robot Dogs – A Biting Allegory2026-04-09 · 11mMark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Pablo Picasso, or Andy Warhol – the American artist Beeple has placed these and other prominent figures on the bodies of strange robot dogs. A sensation
43. 43 43. United24: Ukraine's PR Agency2026-04-13 · 11mThe ghosts of fallen young athletes touch the helmet of Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian flag bearer at the Milan Winter Olympics, one after the other. Behind the video is Unit
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47. 47 47. Roblox: Video Games as a Form of Protest2026-04-21 · 11mAn anti-ICE demonstration in a video game! On the gaming site Roblox, very young users are taking a stand against the US immigration authorities. Their protest makes it clear that
48. 48 48. Sweden: Moose as TV Stars2026-04-23 · 11mA Swedish slow-TV program shows the moose migration calmly, uncut, and without commentary. The authentic and unusual format captivates audiences worldwide.
49. 49 49. The Subtle Codes of Nuclear Deterrence2026-04-27 · 11mIn March 2026, from the Île Longue military base, Emmanuel Macron delivered a key speech on nuclear deterrence, in a carefully orchestrated event. A show of force where the symboli
50. 50 50. German Carnival: Jesters' heads must roll2026-04-28 · 11mA float in Düsseldorf's Rose Monday parade went down in history in 2026: It depicts Vladimir Putin impaling a carnival jester. The Kremlin sued Jacques Tilly, creator of the charac
51. 51 51. Iran: Trump and the War, Hollywood Style2026-04-30 · 11mDuring the offensive against Iran, the White House posted videos on its social media channels that combined film scenes, video games, and real airstrikes. This new communication st
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53. 53 53. Why Iran is reenacting the war with Lego2026-05-05 · 11mIran is responding to US propaganda with AI-generated video clips that reenact the war using Lego figures. The regime uses these clips to stage supposed triumphs or ridicule its en
54. 54 54. Relooted: Gamers Plunder Colonial Looted Art2026-05-07 · 11mIn the Afrofuturistic heist video game Relooted, gamers must try to retrieve artworks from Western museums. This "liberation" of African artifacts offers a shift in perspective and
55. 55 55. Episode 552026-05-11 · 11m
56. 56 56. Episode 562026-05-12 · 11m
57. 57 57. Episode 572026-05-13 · 11m
58. 58 58. When Filmmakers Turn to Advertising2026-05-18 · 11mIn February 2026, a striking commercial stood out during the Super Bowl broadcast. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring actress Emma Stone, the ad employs cinematic convention
59. 59 59. Cheburashka: The Stuffed Toy Dividing Russian Society2026-05-21 · 11mA cult figure of Soviet culture, Cheburashka triumphed at the Russian box office in 2026. Adopted as a good-luck charm on the Ukrainian front, this childlike object now irritates t
60. 60 60. Has the Magic Vanished from Marine Zoos?2026-05-25 · 11mThe Marineland marine theme park in Antibes closed on January 5, 2025. Images of the orcas and dolphins that remained there sparked a heated public debate, reflecting a shift in so
61. 61 61. A missile planted in the landscape2026-05-26 · 11mThe photo has a surreal quality: A ballistic missile is lodged in a field in Syria. It hasn't exploded, and life at the impact site continues as normal. This is a striking metaphor
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63. 63 63. Nepal: A former rapper as prime minister2026-05-28 · 11mOn March 26, 2026, to mark his election as Prime Minister of Nepal, singer Balendra Shah released a rap video – the culmination of a highly unconventional election campaign. This r
64. 64 64. Sports mascots - a powerful communication tool2026-06-01 · 11mIn September 2025, FIFA unveiled the mascots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an animated video. Inspired by the emblematic animals of the three host countries, these characters ar
65. 65 65. The Nutella jar and the ad that fell from the sky2026-06-02 · 11mA jar of Nutella spotted in zero gravity during a live broadcast of the Artemis II mission: an unintentional product placement that became a marketing campaign. This art of opportu
66. 66 66. Israeli Propaganda in New York's Times Square2026-06-04 · 11mA huge billboard in New York's Times Square displays the portrait of Iran's new Supreme Leader – accompanied by a clear message of hate. The political instrumentalization of this p
67. 67 67. When FIFA designs a tactic for Gaza2026-06-08 · 11mBrand-new football pitches rising from the rubble of Gaza: this is the scene envisioned in the partnership video between FIFA and Donald Trump's Peace Council. Behind this backdrop
68. 68 68. Sumo wrestlers, heavyweights of diplomacy2026-06-09 · 11mTwenty years after their last trip, sumo wrestlers are back in the United Kingdom. Whether in the streets of London or in the Royal Albert Hall, specially transformed into a dojo,
69. 69 69. Favela tourism: Can poverty become a vacation video?2026-06-11 · 11mFilmed by drone in a Rio favela, a tourist walks through a landscape littered with corrugated iron and concrete. These viral videos, designed for online platforms, reignite the deb
70. 70 70. Iran: Political Messages on Public Walls2026-06-15 · 11mIn Tehran, a giant billboard portrays two celebrated figures from Iran’s military history. Carefully designed and tightly controlled, the image reflects a long-standing tradition o
71. 71 71. India: Tamil Cinema as a Pathway to Politics2026-06-17 · 11mIn southern India, a major Tamil film star surprised many by winning regional elections with a newly founded political party. His rise from popular screen icon to political leader
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75. 75 75. The Battle for the Rainbow Flag2026-06-25 · 11mRemoved by the Trump administration from the Stonewall National Monument in New York, the rainbow flag was raised again on February 12, 2026 in Manhattan, birthplace of the Pride m
76. 76 76. AI: False Witnesses of the True Past2026-08-31 · 11m
77. 77 77. In the Netherlands, the police display the suspects' names.2026-09-01 · 11m
78. 78 78. Why is Putin posing with children?2026-09-03 · 11m
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80. 80 80. Should we fear China’s giant spacecraft?2026-09-08 · 11mA Chinese TV program on aerospace innovation showed sci-fi-like images of space carriers and alien spacecraft, blurring fiction and reality. A look at how futuristic imagery fuels
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83. 83 83. How Elon Musk puts SpaceX into orbit2026-09-15 · 11mAs SpaceX prepares for a potential IPO, its futuristic tech advertising targets investors while reinforcing the myth of Musk as a near-messianic entrepreneur.
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