In what ways do modern plays, shows, and films
reflect modern politics, if at all? Do you see any current trends in today’s media?
Answers
While government is frequently the subject of feature films, we have only a limited understanding on how government’s portrayal on films affect audience’s perceptions of state institutions. In new research, Michelle C. Pautz looked at the impact of two recent films, Argo and Zero Dark Thirty, on audience’s perceptions of government. She finds that after viewing the two films, many of the study participants’ views changed, with most expressing greater levels of trust in government and having a more positive view of government performance.
Film is arguably the most accessible form of art to Americans. Watching a movie occupies our senses more than any other form of art, particularly when we experience it at our local Cineplex. Regardless of its content, film has the power to shape perceptions of moviegoers on a range of subjects from love and marriage to the work of government. A frequent subject on the silver screen is government, yet our understanding of its influence is limited. With the prevalence and accessibility of film today, how does film affect the audience’s perceptions of government?
Two recent films, Argo and Zero Dark Thirty, were chosen as case studies to explore how Hollywood portrays the intelligence community in film and influences opinions about government more generally. Although this is exploratory research, the results demonstrate that anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of viewers changed their responses to a variety of questions about government after watching one of the films. Frequently, changes in responses indicated improvement in those opinions. These changes are interesting to note after just a few hours watching one movie.