Film and the News:Film and the News:NetworkNetwork

Politics in FilmPolitics in Film

BraunwarthBraunwarth

Corporate MotivationsCorporate Motivations In the early days, the news was provided by the In the early days, the news was provided by the

networks as a “public service”networks as a “public service” But now is expected to make a profit and increase But now is expected to make a profit and increase

ratingsratings Corporate owners of networks are not idealistic Corporate owners of networks are not idealistic

educators who are out to enlighten the masses and educators who are out to enlighten the masses and further the causes of grassroots democracy; their further the causes of grassroots democracy; their major purpose is to produce revenue and maintain major purpose is to produce revenue and maintain their positions of control and power; what kind of their positions of control and power; what kind of news would you expect them to produce?news would you expect them to produce?

The type of commercial distractions that reinforce The type of commercial distractions that reinforce passivity and illusions on a massive scalepassivity and illusions on a massive scale

Note how commercials and commercial concerns Note how commercials and commercial concerns are shown in the newsroom clipsare shown in the newsroom clips

Marketing the NewsMarketing the News

Marketing is based on assessing what Marketing is based on assessing what customers would choosecustomers would choose

When dependent on profit maximization, When dependent on profit maximization, the news people need takes a back seat to the news people need takes a back seat to what they want to hearwhat they want to hear

Leads to en emphasis on sensationalism Leads to en emphasis on sensationalism and the reiteration of the preexisting and the reiteration of the preexisting views of the audienceviews of the audience

Should marketing drive everything in Should marketing drive everything in society?society?

Marketing the NewsMarketing the News Using Marketing to drive journalistic Using Marketing to drive journalistic

decisions lowers the credibility and quality decisions lowers the credibility and quality of all newsof all news

Emphasis on the commodification of Emphasis on the commodification of political information takes precedence over political information takes precedence over a responsibility to informa responsibility to inform

In the U.S., coverage of international news In the U.S., coverage of international news is minimal as is the coverage of economic is minimal as is the coverage of economic news or anything else requiring discussion, news or anything else requiring discussion, explanation, or nuance.explanation, or nuance.

Feeding Frenzy: News obsesses about a Feeding Frenzy: News obsesses about a particular titillating item to the exclusion of particular titillating item to the exclusion of all others until another item comes upall others until another item comes up

Can you think of any examples?Can you think of any examples?

Braunwarth articleBraunwarth article What does the Braunwarth article in your What does the Braunwarth article in your

reader argue about the importance of the reader argue about the importance of the news media?news media?

That it constructs the reality of politics for That it constructs the reality of politics for votersvoters

What should be the role played by the media What should be the role played by the media in a democracy?in a democracy?

That it should keep news spectators informed That it should keep news spectators informed in a way that allows them to develop as in a way that allows them to develop as democratic citizensdemocratic citizens

What would be the perspective of this article What would be the perspective of this article on the emphasis in marketing the news?on the emphasis in marketing the news?

Probably highly critical Probably highly critical

NetworkNetwork Is a satirical comedyIs a satirical comedy Directed by Sydney Lumet and written by Directed by Sydney Lumet and written by

Paddy ChayefskyPaddy Chayefsky Dominated the Oscars in 1977Dominated the Oscars in 1977 Sends messages about reality by Sends messages about reality by

exaggerating aspects of reality for comic exaggerating aspects of reality for comic effecteffect

Could be argued WAS a satire and NOW is a Could be argued WAS a satire and NOW is a documentarydocumentary

Theme: obsession with ratings and audience Theme: obsession with ratings and audience has generally transformed news into “info-has generally transformed news into “info-tainment”tainment”

Consider how this is relevant to Neil Consider how this is relevant to Neil Postman’s Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to DeathAmusing Ourselves to Death

NetworkNetwork

Envisioned a world in which news Envisioned a world in which news would not give people what they would not give people what they need to know but what they want to need to know but what they want to know (assuming the demographic know (assuming the demographic of the audience is attractive to of the audience is attractive to advertisers)advertisers)

Prefaced the reality of marketing Prefaced the reality of marketing driven news; if it is not hot and driven news; if it is not hot and popular it might not be covered.popular it might not be covered.

Structure of the FilmStructure of the Film

Film is carefully structured; message is presented Film is carefully structured; message is presented through Howard Beale’s “rants”through Howard Beale’s “rants”

Film begins with Beale being fired and joking about Film begins with Beale being fired and joking about whether killing himself on the air would raise whether killing himself on the air would raise ratingsratings

The Suicide statement raises personal matters and The Suicide statement raises personal matters and the question of the meaning of lifethe question of the meaning of life

Camus argues that deciding whether life is worth Camus argues that deciding whether life is worth living is the fundamental question of philosophy; living is the fundamental question of philosophy;

Deciding to die implies you have recognized that Deciding to die implies you have recognized that life is full of pain and has become simply a habit life is full of pain and has become simply a habit without meaning. without meaning.

““The meaning of life is the most urgent of The meaning of life is the most urgent of questions.”questions.”

Outside PerspectiveOutside Perspective

Beale’s first major rant is on whether life is Beale’s first major rant is on whether life is worth living. Considers God and an worth living. Considers God and an optimistic vision of humanity but decides optimistic vision of humanity but decides both are “bullshit”both are “bullshit”

Because nothing can be assumed to be Because nothing can be assumed to be meaningful anymore, sees life in a radically meaningful anymore, sees life in a radically new way, new way,

He takes the position of an inspired He takes the position of an inspired outsider. outsider.

Beale’s encounter with nothingness in the Beale’s encounter with nothingness in the existential sense allows him to look at the existential sense allows him to look at the world without the usual blinders of trivial world without the usual blinders of trivial concerns and traditional “bullshit”concerns and traditional “bullshit”

Mad as HellMad as Hell

Beale’s “mad as hell” speech examines Beale’s “mad as hell” speech examines the root of society’s problems and finds it the root of society’s problems and finds it lies in the apathetic attitude of people lies in the apathetic attitude of people themselves. themselves.

Their acceptance of social problems as Their acceptance of social problems as inevitable causes them to lose their power inevitable causes them to lose their power of democratic self-determination. of democratic self-determination.

He argues they need to get “mad” and He argues they need to get “mad” and change things.change things.

Note the skillful triple meaning of “mad”; Note the skillful triple meaning of “mad”; what does Beale point out as crazy?what does Beale point out as crazy?

Like Like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, it’s , it’s the state of the world, not the critic who the state of the world, not the critic who points it out.points it out.

Truth and IllusionTruth and Illusion

Beale’s illusion rant gets to the central statement Beale’s illusion rant gets to the central statement of the whole film:of the whole film:

The role television plays in the destruction of The role television plays in the destruction of democracy by disseminating illusion and democracy by disseminating illusion and systematically distracting people’s attention from systematically distracting people’s attention from what is really importantwhat is really important

Knowing and communicating the truth are of Knowing and communicating the truth are of decisive importance for individual self-decisive importance for individual self-determination and democratic self-government;determination and democratic self-government;

That is why truth and illusion are one of Beale’s That is why truth and illusion are one of Beale’s major concerns when talking about “the tube”major concerns when talking about “the tube”

Note how he urges viewers to turn to the same Note how he urges viewers to turn to the same two philosophical constructs he dismissed earlier, two philosophical constructs he dismissed earlier, God or themselves, for truthGod or themselves, for truth

Truth and IllusionTruth and Illusion

Not the Not the 19841984, lying or distorting of facts , lying or distorting of facts But more the But more the Brave New WorldBrave New World tendency to tendency to

turn most serious and even deadly events turn most serious and even deadly events into material for recreational entertainmentinto material for recreational entertainment

Ahmed Kahn to be “just like Archie Bunker”Ahmed Kahn to be “just like Archie Bunker” How is this reflected in the format of “The How is this reflected in the format of “The

Howard Beale Show”?Howard Beale Show”? Professed purpose is to inform viewers Professed purpose is to inform viewers

about the most serious and pressing about the most serious and pressing problems but is accompanied by problems but is accompanied by vaudevillian sidekicks, carefully designed vaudevillian sidekicks, carefully designed sets, and histrionic swoons; dissonance sets, and histrionic swoons; dissonance between content and formbetween content and form

Contemporary NewsContemporary News How is this reflected in the contemporary How is this reflected in the contemporary

news?news? Anchors and reporters are explicitly Anchors and reporters are explicitly

encouraged to appeal to the basic emotions of encouraged to appeal to the basic emotions of the audience, not their intellect.the audience, not their intellect.

Complex analyses of inherently difficult Complex analyses of inherently difficult subjects are never permitted on commercial subjects are never permitted on commercial television; it would turn off too many viewerstelevision; it would turn off too many viewers

Duration of news items are kept short and Duration of news items are kept short and serious items are counterbalanced with serious items are counterbalanced with stories that please.stories that please.

Even the events of 9/11 have become an item Even the events of 9/11 have become an item of consumerism and orchestrated emoting of consumerism and orchestrated emoting rather than an occasion for serious rather than an occasion for serious information, analysis and critical self-information, analysis and critical self-reflectionreflection

IronyIrony

Because television can’t be Because television can’t be reformed, Beale concludes with his reformed, Beale concludes with his paradoxical appeal to “turn it off!”paradoxical appeal to “turn it off!”

The bitter and hilarious irony is that The bitter and hilarious irony is that Beale’s passionate rant against Beale’s passionate rant against television is successful…television is successful…

as a television show.as a television show.

The Network RevolutionariesThe Network Revolutionaries Who is using whom?Who is using whom? Diana uses the radical activists to enhance ratings Diana uses the radical activists to enhance ratings

and revenues; and revenues; Exploitive sensationalism will attract more of an Exploitive sensationalism will attract more of an

audience than more substantive news audience than more substantive news The revolutionaries use the commercial network for The revolutionaries use the commercial network for

propagandapropaganda But their radical politics are turned into But their radical politics are turned into

entertainment and they become personally entertainment and they become personally corrupted by the entertainment machinecorrupted by the entertainment machine

No network yet has made a deal with a group of No network yet has made a deal with a group of revolutionaries to document their crimesrevolutionaries to document their crimes

But don’t they show terrorist executions or similar But don’t they show terrorist executions or similar things, over and over?things, over and over?

What network wouldn’t jump through hoops for an What network wouldn’t jump through hoops for an exclusive interview with Osama Bin Laden?exclusive interview with Osama Bin Laden?

Beale’s anti-corporate Beale’s anti-corporate messagemessage

Beale then messes with the basic Beale then messes with the basic assumptions of corporate capitalism and assumptions of corporate capitalism and calls upon viewers to rise upcalls upon viewers to rise up

This ultimately attracts the wrath of his This ultimately attracts the wrath of his superiors who care about their corporate superiors who care about their corporate position but not the other sensationalistic position but not the other sensationalistic rantsrants

Is called to task by Jensen the CEO who Is called to task by Jensen the CEO who points out that immutable natural order is points out that immutable natural order is that corporations rule the worldthat corporations rule the world

Beale’s DisillusionmentBeale’s Disillusionment

Beale’s naïve patriotism is shaken Beale’s naïve patriotism is shaken and muses that democracy is a sick, and muses that democracy is a sick, dying political conceptdying political concept

Beale delivers his last major rant in Beale delivers his last major rant in which he describes his former vision which he describes his former vision of personal autonomy and of personal autonomy and democratic self-government as a democratic self-government as a futile dream futile dream

Futility of individual action?Futility of individual action? Beale has come full circleBeale has come full circle He started his philosophical journey when he He started his philosophical journey when he

looked into the abyss of his meaningless lifelooked into the abyss of his meaningless life His freedom from old constraints gave him a His freedom from old constraints gave him a

sense of empowerment and self-worthsense of empowerment and self-worth His attempted rebellion is put down because His attempted rebellion is put down because

people remain convinced they have no role people remain convinced they have no role other than as tools and material in the other than as tools and material in the gigantic process of production and gigantic process of production and consumption run by all-powerful corporationsconsumption run by all-powerful corporations

Beale is back at the meaninglessness of Beale is back at the meaninglessness of human existence and he is ready to die once human existence and he is ready to die once more.more.

How similar to McMurphy or Thoreau?How similar to McMurphy or Thoreau?

Affair as an emotional metaphor Affair as an emotional metaphor for the filmfor the film

Max leaves the trust and commitment of his marriage for Max leaves the trust and commitment of his marriage for the lure of the flashy but shallowthe lure of the flashy but shallow

Note how is wife mentions the “25 years of mindless pain Note how is wife mentions the “25 years of mindless pain they’ve inflicted on each other,” the same thing Beale they’ve inflicted on each other,” the same thing Beale found in his search for meaning in lifefound in his search for meaning in life

How is this a metaphor for the film?How is this a metaphor for the film? Who gets screwed when news and entertainment hop into Who gets screwed when news and entertainment hop into

bed together?bed together? The Viewer The Viewer Max is eventually troubled by feelings of guilt and Max is eventually troubled by feelings of guilt and

vulnerability and he misses real understanding and warmth vulnerability and he misses real understanding and warmth in Dianain Diana

She scripts it just like another show and scripts it like She scripts it just like another show and scripts it like commercial TV entertainmentcommercial TV entertainment

Diana learns life from television and has little depth, Diana learns life from television and has little depth, honesty, or moralityhonesty, or morality

Ultimately she recognizes this and wants him to stayUltimately she recognizes this and wants him to stay But it is too late for both of themBut it is too late for both of them

Plato and GovernmentPlato and Government

Plato maintained that good Plato maintained that good government requires people to have government requires people to have the knowledge and training to run the knowledge and training to run the ship of state or elect the right the ship of state or elect the right people to do it for thempeople to do it for them

But, Plato found that people were too But, Plato found that people were too easily bamboozled and misled by the easily bamboozled and misled by the flattering rhetoric of cunning flattering rhetoric of cunning politicians politicians

Plato’s Allegory of the CavePlato’s Allegory of the Cave In the Allegory of the Cave, people are like In the Allegory of the Cave, people are like

prisoners in a dark cave who are confined to prisoners in a dark cave who are confined to watching moving shadows on a wall and have watching moving shadows on a wall and have no way of developing critical consciousnessno way of developing critical consciousness

When freed, the real world is too bright and When freed, the real world is too bright and confusingconfusing

If they do learn the truth and return to educate If they do learn the truth and return to educate the others they are rebuked and shunnedthe others they are rebuked and shunned

What is the message?What is the message? Ordinary people have no use for critical Ordinary people have no use for critical

thought, don’t want to have their illusions thought, don’t want to have their illusions shattered and leave the easy life (Thoreau)shattered and leave the easy life (Thoreau)

Democracy and PlatoDemocracy and Plato

Instead of learning what they need to know Instead of learning what they need to know to solve their problems, they seek to solve their problems, they seek temporary relief by consuming escapist temporary relief by consuming escapist entertainment.entertainment.

Democracy, according to Plato, is bound to Democracy, according to Plato, is bound to destroy itselfdestroy itself

People will either learn what needs to be People will either learn what needs to be learned, or they will be at the mercy of learned, or they will be at the mercy of forces they do not even understand.forces they do not even understand.

And, when the alternative is an “easy life” And, when the alternative is an “easy life” with little self-discipline, there is no reason with little self-discipline, there is no reason to expect that people will settle down for to expect that people will settle down for serious studyserious study

And thus the control of their lives will And thus the control of their lives will increasingly slip out of their handsincreasingly slip out of their hands

Network is pessimistic PlatoNetwork is pessimistic Plato

How are Plato’s concerns relevant to the How are Plato’s concerns relevant to the film? film?

TV viewers are as reluctant to turn away TV viewers are as reluctant to turn away from their more or less insipid moving from their more or less insipid moving electronic images as are the prisoners of the electronic images as are the prisoners of the cave reluctant to give up what they have cave reluctant to give up what they have become accustomed tobecome accustomed to

NetworkNetwork argues that people in the electronic argues that people in the electronic cave stare at electronic images that are as cave stare at electronic images that are as far removed from reality as Plato’s shadowsfar removed from reality as Plato’s shadows

In Tennessee Williams’ “Glass Managerie” In Tennessee Williams’ “Glass Managerie” the protagonist remarks: “People don’t the protagonist remarks: “People don’t move, they go to movies.”move, they go to movies.”

Paradox of NetworkParadox of Network

On the one hand, people are shown to be On the one hand, people are shown to be victims of corporate rulevictims of corporate rule

TV lulls people into the semi-life and TV lulls people into the semi-life and intellectual torpor of couch potatoesintellectual torpor of couch potatoes

Not the active and informed citizenry Not the active and informed citizenry democracy requiresdemocracy requires

On the other hand, viewers demand On the other hand, viewers demand sensationalism and info-tainment that do sensationalism and info-tainment that do not make demands on their intelligence or not make demands on their intelligence or civic obligationscivic obligations

The media demand high ratings thus it The media demand high ratings thus it seems the people are ultimately in controlseems the people are ultimately in control

Corporate DemocracyCorporate Democracy

It may not be as drastic as It may not be as drastic as democracy destroying itself by democracy destroying itself by voting in a fascist regime but it is still voting in a fascist regime but it is still democracy on the way out democracy on the way out

But if this is our democracy, where But if this is our democracy, where people “vote with their dollars” via people “vote with their dollars” via ratings it is a democracy that is ratings it is a democracy that is destroying itself in just the way Plato destroying itself in just the way Plato said it would but we’re doing it in a said it would but we’re doing it in a democratic mannerdemocratic manner