Politics and Film

It has often been said that we are what we eat. Similarly, we are in some ways what we pay to see. Popular movies and television shows reflect contemporary social and political trends. To be profitable, movies and television shows must be responsive to the market. They must not only satisfy our desire to be entertained, but they must also tell stories we are willing to buy. In this talk I will examine not only what popular (top grossing) movies and television say, but what they say about us. Almost any movie or television series can be deconstructed, and they don’t have to be overtly political. Think about offerings as varied as I Love Lucy and The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Ted Lasso and Barbie. The purpose of this talk is to provoke a fresh perspective on the interpretation of television and film.