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Presentation for POL 338 Dr. Kevin Lasher Complicated question -- Read Chapter Two carefully Genres • • • • • • • • • • 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 – – – – – – – 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 – – – – – – 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 – – – – – – – 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? • • • • • “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