Christensen and Haas argue that political movies both reinforce and dissent from public opinions on issues of the day. Regardless, they constantly reiterate messages that cynicism and apathy towards politics is inevitable. They praise films that condemn intolerance and corruption but criticize those that depict politics as evil, ignore collective action, and disparage alternative opinions. The authors admire films like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Reds that portray a more positive vision of democracy.

1. April 1, 2011

2. Christensen and Haas Conclusions
 “Political movies have debated the great issues of the
day as the nation debated them, sometimes ahead of
the public and sometimes lagging behind, sometimes
dissenting and sometimes reinforcing. Regardless of
the state of the union, however, some ideas about
politics are constantly reiterated by movies. If
audiences absorb these repeated messages, their
cumulative effect must surely be cynicism and
apathy.” (p. 278)

3. Structural Constraints
 The use of stars to portray “heroes”
 Audience preference for melodramas (conflict that
must be solved by heroes)

4. More from Christensen and Haas
 Hollywood movies have “rightly condemned
intolerance and corruption.”
 More negatively, they have “told us to rely on leaders
and heroes for salvation, ignored the alternative of
collective action, and neglected or condemned
opinions that stray from the mainstream.”
 They have “disparaged politics in presenting it as evil
and corrupting.”
 They “warn us to stay away from politics…”
p. 288

5. Films that Christensen and Haas Admire
 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
 Reds
 Matewan
 Do the Right Thing
 Natural Born Killers
 Wag the Dog (viewed more favorably than the more
successful film, Dave)

6. Images of Democracy
 Visual Symbols of American Democracy
 The monuments and buildings of Washington, D.C.
 The founding fathers
 The great presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln
 The people and the land
 Elections and Campaigns
 Government in Action
 Grass Roots Politics

7. 7

8. Imagery of Power
 Military vs. non-military capabilities
 Coercive vs. persuasive power
 Legitimate or institutionalized power (authority) vs.
illegitimate power
 Representation of power in terms of institutional
symbols
8

9. Frescoes in Siena by Ambrogio
Lorenzetti 1338-1340
9

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