Download What is a Political Film?

Presentation for POL 338
Dr. Kevin Lasher
Complicated question -- Read Chapter Two carefully
Genres
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Westerns
Gangster Films
Horror Films
Film Noir
Musicals
Action/adventure
Science Fiction
Romantic comedy
Superhero
Others
Why is There no Genre
called “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”
Why is There no Genre
called “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, Manchurian
Candidate, Dr. Strangelove, Bob Roberts,
Nixon, JFK
Why is There no Genre
called “Political Film”?
• Political Films do not share as many
conventions of plot, setting and character
as do other genres
Why is There no Genre
called “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
Why is There no Genre
called “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
Why is There no Genre
called “Political Film”?
• War films (combat films) are so frequent
and share enough commonalities that they
may warrant description as a separate
genre
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
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
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
Typology of Political Films
Political Content
High
High
Political
Intent
(Message)
Low
Low
PURE
POLITICAL
FILMS
AUTEUR
POLITICAL
FILMS
POLITICALLY
REFLECTIVE
FILMS
SOCIALLY
REFLECTIVE
FILMS
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
Typology of Political Films
• Auteur Political Films
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The Godfather
Natural Born Killers
Wall Street
Do the Right Thing
Thelma and Louise
Pleasantville
Invasion of the Body
Snatchers
Typology of Political Films
• Politically Reflective Films
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Independence Day
Air Force One
The Hunt for Red October
White House Down
Election and other comedies
Many legal and spy films
Typology of Political Films
• Socially Reflective Films
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–
Pretty Woman
Titanic
The Avengers
Bridesmaids
Finding Nemo/Finding Dory
Most films fall in this category
Distinguish between low
intent/no intent
Typology of Political Films
POL 338
Political Content
High
High
Political
Intent
(Message)
Low
Low
PURE
POLITICAL
FILMS
AUTEUR
POLITICAL
FILMS
POLITICALLY
REFLECTIVE
FILMS
SOCIALLY
REFLECTIVE
FILMS
Impact of Political Films
• Movies are part of political socialization
(corrupt politicians, heroic Presidents,
Muslim terrorists, inept bureaucrats)
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)
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
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”
Limited Impact of Political Films
• Relatively few political films
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
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
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
In Conclusion?
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“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