Telex Iran: Gilles Peress in the Name of Revolution by PERESS, Gilles - 1983

Milllerton, NY: Aperture, 1983. A fine, virtually as-new copy. Folio (15 x 10.5 inches). Essay by Gholam-Hossein Sa'edi. 104 pages. Black-and-white photographs. Printed wrappers. FIRST EDITION, SIGNED by Peress on the title-page. "[Telex: Iran] is one of the key works in what might be termed a postmodern approach to photojournalism, where the photographer seems to critique and comment on his or her purpose whilst trying to fulfill it. Telex: Iran is exemplary in this regard. The book was shot over a five-week period from December 1979 to January 1980, during the Iran 'hostage crisis,' when Islamic fundamentalists, encouraged by the fledgling revolutionary government of the Ayatollah Khomeini, seized the United States Embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage, in protest at American refusal to return the ousted Shah for trial and certain execution. Peress traveled around Iran, trying to understand both the basis for the revolution and the mindset of a people who were demonized in the US media. His pictures portray not only his attempt to comprehend what was going on, but also the attempts of many of the Iranians he was photographing . Peress does not add traditional, explanatory captions, but instead includes excerpts from the telexes exchanged between himself and the Magnum offices in Paris and New York. These communications, which today would be cellphone text messages or e-mails, give cryptic insights into Peress's understanding of how the story was developing, as well as the practical difficulties facing any photojournalist in a confused and volatile political situation" (Parr & Badger). Auer, 802; Open Book, p.330; Parr & Badger, II:252-253; Roth, Book of 101 Books, p. 28.