POLI 338: Politics and Film

1. POLI 338: Politics and Film Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. What is a Political Film ? Complicated question -- Read Chapter Two carefully

3. Film Basics: Genre • Westerns • Gangster films • Horror films • Film Noir • Musicals • Action/adventure • Science Fiction • Romantic comedy • Many others

4. Why is There no Genrecalled “Political Film”? • Giglio argues that there is (but he never defines the term “genre”) • Better to talk about the “category” of Political Film • There are certain genres (much disagreement about the dynamics) but there really isn’t a genre called “political film”

5. Why is There no Genrecalled “Political Film”? • Political Films lack the internal consistency of other film genres – the forms that political films take vary widely • The Candidate, Dave, Platoon, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Manchurian Candidate, Dr. Strangelove, Bob Roberts, Nixon, JFK

6. Why is There no Genrecalled “Political Film”? • Political Films do not share as many conventions of plot, setting and character as do other genres

7. Why is There no Genrecalled “Political Film”? • Political films often allow for variation within the form by combining their descriptions • There are many “sub-genres” within the “category” Political Film • Political comedy, political thriller, political biography, political drama

8. Why is There no Genrecalled “Political Film”? • Many filmmakers (and maybe critics) fear the label “political film” – so they avoid making such films or attempt to depoliticize the ones that they do make -- Christensen and Haas, Projecting Politics, p. 5

9. Why is There no Genrecalled “Political Film”? • War films (combat films) are so frequent and share enough commonalities that they may warrant description as a separate genre

10. What is a Political Film? • Political Content • Includes aspects of the political system, political actors and/or the entire political system • Characters: politicians, judges, lawyers, bureaucrats, military personnel • Mr. Smith/Wag the Dog/Primary Colors versus Air Force One/Independence Day/White House Down

11. What is a Political Film? • Political Messages/Political Intent • Film emphasizes a political or ideological message (direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional) • “Says something” about our political, social, economic system • Such a political film may not be about “politics” at all • Wall Street, Norma Rae, Pleasantville, The Godfather

12. Typology of Political Films • Christensen and Haas talk about “political content” and “political intent” • Political content is about characters and setting • Political intent is about the political/ideological/societal message within the film

13. Political Content Typology of Political Films High Low High Low AUTEUR POLITICAL FILMS PURE POLITICAL FILMS Political Intent (Message) POLITICALLY REFLECTIVE FILMS SOCIALLY REFLECTIVE FILMS

14. Typology of Political Films • Pure Political Films • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington • The Candidate • Selma • Wag the Dog • Bob Roberts • Many documentary films • Propaganda films

15. Typology of Political Films • Auteur Political Films • The Godfather • Natural Born Killers • Wall Street • Do the Right Thing • Thelma and Louise • Pleasantville • Invasion of the Body Snatchers

16. Typology of Political Films • Politically Reflective Films • Independence Day • Air Force One • The Hunt for Red October • White House Down • Election and other comedies • Many legal and spy films

17. Typology of Political Films • Socially Reflective Films • Wedding Crashers • Titanic • The Avengers • Bridesmaids • Finding Nemo/Finding Dory • Most films fall in this category • Distinguish between low intent/no intent

18. Political Content POL 338 Typology of Political Films High Low High Low AUTEUR POLITICAL FILMS PURE POLITICAL FILMS Political Intent (Message) POLITICALLY REFLECTIVE FILMS SOCIALLY REFLECTIVE FILMS

19. Impact of Political Films • Movies are part of political socialization (corrupt politicians, heroic Presidents, Muslim terrorists, inept bureaucrats)

20. Impact of Political Films • Movies provide information about/or orientation toward specific issues or events • China Syndrome, Country, Erin Brockovich, Spotlight • 13 Days, Milk, Lincoln, JFK, Selma • Documentary Films (Michael Moore)

21. Impact of Political Films • Movies can affect political behavior, including voting • Fahrenheit 9/11 – vote against Bush • Thin Blue Line – exonerated false imprisonment • WW II movies “boosted morale” during wartime for soldiers and civilians

22. Impact of Political Films • Movies affect knowledge and actions of specific groups, especially political elites • Elected officials (Reagan, Clinton) use movies as frames of reference, in speeches, for justification • Reagan on tax increases – “Go ahead, make my day”

23. However ...

24. Limited Impact of Political Films • Relatively few political films

25. Limited Impact of Political Films • People are resistant to “challenging political messages,” even from Hollywood movies • Independent movies (more likely to have a message) are not seen by most Americans

26. Limited Impact of Political Films • Selection bias – preaching to the choir • Conservatives don’t see Bulworth, Bob Roberts, Michael Moore films • Liberals don’t see Passion of the Christ, American Sniper

27. Limited Impact of Political Films • Very little research on how movies affect political attitudes and for whom and when and why • “For now we must take it as an article of faith that movies are an important participant in our political system in a variety of ways” -- Christensen and Haas, p. 16

28. In Conclusion? • “Our typology” has blurry lines • Pure political films or auteur political films • Small audiences for infrequent political films • People “reject” unfriendly political messages • Political films can and do affect our political system in a variety of ways • Very difficult to determine exactly how such films do affect the political system

29. The End