Politics and Film

With technological advances, movies are increasingly accessible to more and more viewers. As movie audiences continue to grow and evolve, questions naturally arise about the ability of the medium to influence its audience and the ability of the audience to influence the medium. In Daniel Franklin's new and nicely updated edition of Politics and Film, he delves into the relationship between politics, culture, and film. His highly readable text is accessible to a wide range of audiences interested in these fundamental and vital questions. With a seamless integration of seminal concepts, existing research, survey data, and contemporary film examples, this book is a must read. -- Michelle Pautz, associate professor of Political Science, University of Dayton Updated and with new films, Daniel Franklin takes us safely through American culture, film and politics, showing how new social and technological developments interact with contemporary politics to shape the way films are made and seen. A must read for students interested in the politics of film. -- Lasse Thomassen, Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London In this new edition, Dan Franklin carefully weaves together two important subjects often thought to exist in separate vacuums: politics and culture. Franklin expertly takes on the task of demonstrating how culture and politics exist together in a symbiotic circle, each driving the other. Franklin walks readers through an remarkable analysis of modern film. Politics and Film is a must have for anyone interested in political culture or film. -- Joseph E. Uscinski, associate professor, Political Science Department, University of Miami For any serious-minded person with a curiosity about Hollywood, Professor Franklin's Politics and Film offers three great virtues. First, it is not the usual star-struck, disorganized wander through anecdote and speculation, but a rigorous application of a theory that explains why movies turn out as they do. Second, Franklin offers a wealth of several different kinds of evidence to buttress his explanation. And third, the book is so clearly and charmingly written that the reader often forgets that it was produced by a scholar. Like any movie lover, Franklin has strong opinions about which of Hollywood's products are great art, and which of them are stinkers. But his evaluations are so strongly embedded in his theory that the reader will have to think hard to try to refute them. Thus, the opportunity to silently argue with Franklin's judgments is an additional pleasure offered by this fine book. -- David F. Prindle, Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin Revised to include developments in technology and viewing conditions, Daniel Franklin's second edition of Film and Politics dares to stand by its initial premise that the audience determines the content of the film. With his clear prose and numerous up-to-date examples, Franklin offers a balanced and nuanced view on the politics of commercial film making in the United States. An indispensable read for those who want a comprehensive take on the relations of contemporary cinema and politics. -- Eleftheria Thanouli, Associate Professor in Film Theory, School of Film Studies, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Daniel P. Franklin's second edition of Politics and Film: The Political Culture of Television and Movies offers a broad overview of the dynamic relation between politics and film. This edition includes references to the latest Hollywood blockbusters (including Avatars and Furious 7) and TV series (House of Cards) and examines how these films contribute to the construction of shared cultural and political values in America while also drawing attention to films as political objects. Franklin shows how films can be used to promote American studies and vice versa, opening up avenues for further reflection at the end of each chapter. The book offers stimulating insight into the political culture that surrounds the industry of filmmaking; Franklin makes us aware of films as political tools serving the expansion of American ideals and fueling the democratic debate. -- Delphine Letort, Associate Professor of English at the Universite du Maine in Le Mans, France