Wag The Dog Essay
Although the movie Wag the Dog is a comedy about a completly fake war, written and produced by a top Hollywood producer and a presidential Mr. Fix–It in order to take the focus off of a presidential sex scandel 11 days before the election, it does have a serious message to impart – Don't believe everything you see on TV. Sure, parents tell their kids that the man on TV isn't really dead, it's all fake, and we all know that movies and sitcoms and dramas aren't real, they're written and acted. But we believe the shows not labelled fiction. We watch documentries and biographies and absorb the information as the truth. When we watch the news at 6:00 pm every evening, and read the paper over coffee and breakfast, we believe everything...show more content...
They create a short grainy news footage piece of a young girl running from her village holding a kitten. She is in fact an actor and running through an empty studio. The kitten, village, and sound effects of screaming and sirens are added in later. This piece is played on the evening news and touches the heart of millions of Americans. They innocently trust what they are seeing because it is on the news. The news is not supposed to be fiction, it is supposed to be an accurate, objective view of what is happening in the world around us. It is not supposed to be made up to influence such things as who we decide to vote for. It is interesting to note that after the video was shown, many newspapers didn't even have mention of the Firefly girl that accused the President of sexual misconduct.
The power of the media is such that even though we think we can trust everything we hear or read, we have to view it objectively and not absorb the opinions professed as our own. These opinions are often sublty mentioned to influence us and our opinions.
The media already influence us and our opinions too much already. For instance, our opinions on what the ideal is for beauty. The media constantly portray the beauty of women being in their non existent weight. If you actually look at most of the models on the runway, you'd be thinking yuck!! But because they wear
Analyzing Barry Levinson's Film 'Wag The Dog'
Module C Essay
A critical evaluation on the treatment of politics, and political figures in Barry Levinson's satirical black comedy film 'Wag the Dog' (1997) explores the degree to which spin doctors may use acts of representation to control the public's understanding of politics. Similarly Glenn Greenwald's feature article 'Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations' (2013), which first identified Edward Snowden as the source of the leaked NSA documents, exposes the power of representation to shape the responder's perception political situations. A study of choices of language, textual form and medium of production utilised by each composer reveals the extent to which representations may manipulate the audience's...show more content...
Greenwald employs superlatives to evoke the responder's sympathy for Snowden's plight, describing him as a powerless freedom fighter, bereft of resources, hunted by "biggest and most secretive surveillance organisation in America" and the "the most powerful government on the planet". By employing tricolon to assert that his silence would be tantamount to allowing "the US government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties", Snowden persuades the audience to support his cause by portraying his adversaries as malicious and irresponsible. Greenwald's low modality, anaphoric predictions regarding Snowden's fate further prompt his audience to perceive Snowden as a vulnerable, stateless individual, persecuted by the powerful "Chinese government (who) might whisk him away...Or he might end up being grabbed and bundled into a plane bound for US territory." Thus, both Levinson and Greenwald employ acts of representation which reveal the capacity for composers of narratives to represent political situations in ways which distort and manipulate the public's perspective.
Symbolism In Wag The Dog
Representations of people and politics often reveal either the best or worst of our world.
How is this communicated in the texts you have studied? In your response, consider the motivations driving the events in your texts.
Representations of people and politics reveals how cynical political agendas combined with public passivity brings out the worst of our world. This is evident in Barry Levinson's 1997 filmic representation of the fractured democratic system in Wag the Dog. Through filmic medium, omission and symbolism, it reveals the disjunction between the belligerent appearance of politics and its dark reality that uses mediated rhetoric to manipulate and endanger its dupable public in order to further personal agendas. Thus, both composers utilise their representations to reveal and caution against the unscrupulous political foundation of our society.
Levinson's representation reveals our society's corrupted political enterprise that manipulates the public through fabricated media campaigns. In fact, Wag the Dog's plot revolves around the commercial construction of a false war concocted by collusion of political operators like Breann and Hollywood with the purpose of distracting the American public from their President's sex scandal. Symbolically, Breann's decision to turn to Hollywood in the midst of a political crisis suggests that the media form holds more power than the government. This power is reflective of Levinson's context where pervasive 24 hour news
Covert Censorship In Wag The Dog
With relation to the media and the public, how information is presented and understood depends on a few crucial factors. These factors include overt versus covert censorship and also official versus folk reality. Terry Hansen clearly defines each of these in terms of how they relate to the public. Overt censorship occurs when the public is aware that news suppression is occurring but exactly what is being suppressed is not known (Hansen, 2000). Covert censorship differs because both the media and public are unaware that information is being suppressed, however, elite news media companies often comply with these censorship programs willingly (Hansen, 2000). It could be argued that the use of this was prominent in the 1997 film, Wag the...show more content...
The reasoning for the media and government working together to enhance their image/position is because cooperation with the government often leads to career benefits even if no pay results (Hansen, 2000). Another reason for the media aiding the government in the film could be that those who don't follow the orders of higher authority members often suffer for doing so (Hansen, 2000). This also related to the conflict approach in the sense that it deals with noting how power is disproportional and therefore a source of conflict (Macaluso, 2016). It also notes how those in power don't necessarily care about the "common good" even if it is the claim (Macaluso, 2016); most of the time, they are only concerned with advancing themselves (Macaluso, 2016). In the film, since the media/government workers are indulging in the use of covert censorship to cover recent news, and doing so only to promote and maintain their current position of power, it could be seen as hegemonic. Hegemony, as defined by David Grazian, is the class that is the ruling material for society is also the ruling intellectual force (Grazian, 2010). Therefore, ideologies, norms, and values that benefit the status of the ruling class are perpetuated, which allows them to maintain their position of power (Macaluso, 2016).
Barry Levinson's Film Wag The Dog
"The representation of people's political motivations and actions allow the responder to experience diverse and provocative insights"
Barry Levinson's film Wag the Dog explores the way that representations of events and actions are used to manipulate the accepted truth for the personal and political gain of those in power. The film is a political satire which examines the way the media serves as a tool for those in power to control what the public believes. Levinson's representation of American politics challenges the viewer to question the veracity of the media that is consumed. Similarly, Hilary Mantel's 2013 lecture, 'Royal Bodies' examines the images of royal women that are constructed and presented to the public and how these images fulfil...show more content...
The title of the film, 'Wag the Dog', and the reference to "the tail wagging the dog" suggests that although the president would be expected to hold the most power, American politics are actually driven by covert forces, Conrad Brean's influential "spin" team, an inversion of power allowing these individuals to control politics by manipulating what the public believes. Conrad's powerful position is established through the anticipation surrounding his entrance, Winifred Ames' reverent comment, "that's Mr Fix–it", the genial appearance conveyed by his costume, crumpled clothes, bow tie and hat, and his avuncular manner are in direct contrast with the immense power his position entails. The sense of mystery surrounding Conrad, "what exactly do you do for the president" further demonstrates the terrifying extent of his power. Conrad's lack of concern for the truth of the "firefly girl" allegations that he was hired fix, "it's a story" suggests a lack of morality in American politics. The sense of secrecy conveyed in the establishing scene, close up shots of hurrying feet and security footage, portraying the bunker as the centre of political power suggests, disturbingly that American politics are controlled by invisible individuals, highly skilled and financially supported, the source of power alternative the President's
Wag the Dog
Although the movie Wag the Dog is a comedy about a completly fake war, written and produced by a top Hollywood producer and a presidential Mr. Fix–It in order to take the focus off of a presidential sex scandel 11 days before the election, it does have a serious message to impart – Don't believe everything you see on TV. Sure, parents tell their kids that the man on TV isn't really dead, it's all fake, and we all know that movies and sitcoms and dramas aren't real, they're written and acted. But we believe the shows not labelled fiction. We watch documentries and biographies and absorb the information as the truth. When we watch the news at 6:00 pm every evening, and read the paper over coffee and breakfast, we believe everything...show more content...
Would Clinton have been so quick to make that decision if not for the scandel? For that matter was the situation in Iraq even real? Like in the movie, there were a great many details told to us that made the situation very real.... Of course, in real life there were many other sources other than the US from which information came to us, which is something the conspiracy in Wag The Dog lacked, although I'm sure something could have been thought of.
It is obvious to me, and watching this movie has served to reinforce this, that there is a fine line between Hollywood creation and the news we take for granted as truth. Throughout the times, there have always been theories of conspiracies
. Even in a democratic society, we are all oppressed in certain ways. We have given up a portion of our freedom for a larger freedom, but those who we elect to serve us, serve themselves far more. Trusting a politician is a running joke, and yet we trust them with our very lives and livelihood. We are in danger of being manipulated so much that maybe we will never know half of what is going on around us, much less all of it. Watching this movie, a comedy, evoking many laughs such as when the opposition catches on to the hoax and publicly announces that the war is over, without the 'permission' of the wars creators, was also a sobering experience on another level. It really makes one think Could that really happen? This is just
Essay on Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog
In today's dynamic world we rely on different sources of information using varieties of information technologies. We depend on the various mass media for information about events in and outside of the United States. This information influences, and often shapes the view of our country and the world, and helps us determine the position on issues that affect us. The media indeed shapes our reality. Media is and will always be the conductor between a government and the people they govern. We the people are the ones that believe and trust in most cases the information that we receive. Especially when this information comes from a seemingly trusted source, we tend not to doubt anything that we hear. A very good example of...show more content...
Why change the views of the existing president when part–way through a re–election campaign? A good statement can be much more powerful and effective than a long speech, in order to capture one's attention and sway people's minds. Conrad (Robert DeNiro) was very loose with his ethics in achieving his goal of diverting the people's attention away from the misdoings of the President. However among his staff he was very ethical. Conrad used the arrow approach to attack the task of creating a media diversion for the president. There was no time wasted. The facts were gathered and Conrad's thoughts were put into words. The president gave Conrad his credibility and authority. Conrad's commitment to the key goal, and his relationship with the rest of the followers was the single most important reason he and his team were successful. "Mr. Fix it" has the ability to influence the behavior of others. Within his group organization he is known as the one who has the legitimate power to ask others to do things that are considered within the scope of his authority. He made decisions based on what would do the most good for the President. He created a "fake war" to take the American people's attention of the President's "sex scandal". As soon as he found out that Senator Neil and The C.I.A ruined the "fake war" plan, he immediately met with them to straighten things out. But when that did not work he quickly came up with
Lao Tzu Wag The Dog
The government's role is to control a country. However, people have different views of how a ruler should control, especially over righteousness. In the movie, Wag the Dog, there are two different political views of Machiavelli and Lao–tzu shown. Machiavelli believes that a good leader must know to avoid bad reputation or they would lose their title, and that is what happens in the movie. When the president of the United States gets into a sex scandal, Brean, a spin doctor, calls a Hollywood producer to make an artificial war as distraction. The president is in the middle of an election, if he didn't act up, he could've lost his position. Lau–tzu claimed that a leader should lead their people by weakening and confusing their determinations.
Sandy Hook And Wag The Dog
Sandy Hook and Wag the Dog
Our perception in regards to reality is frequently "in the hands of" of our community, and we form our beliefs in regards to what is real is through the media. Therefore, the documentary "We Need to Talk about Sandy Hook" by Sofia Small storm and the film "Wag the Dog," by Barry Levinson are both examples of how the media tries to deceive people. The documentary has deceived the pubic into believing that the Sandy Hook Massacres did exist, and Wag the Dog tries to trick the public into believing that the United States will be at war. Both films use deceptions that are planned by the government to deceive the public for their own needs. Therefore, although people rely on media for legitimate information, they never know the truth unless it was experienced first hand.
Many people believe that the Sandy Hook massacres really happened. There are many reasons for which people should believe that it is true. It was all over the media. Parents were being interviewed. There was proof that the police had been summoned, and twenty students and six adults had been killed. However, there are many...show more content...
What people may perceive as reality can be created to benefit the goals of those who are in power. Wag the Dog explores the distortion of truth for the upholding of power and also explores how the government manipulate its citizens in faking the reality and playing on the naiveté of the public. Therefore, in Wag the Dog, Levinson poses the question of how truth is manipulated by power. In the opening we are asked to reflect on what is real in regards to public rule in the democratic electoral process through the metaphor of the title of film considering that the idea of the tail wagging the dog warns the public to the shocking truth of manner in which the government manipulates its
Wag The Dog Analysis
1. Glenn Greenwald's feature article 'Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations' reveals the power of representation to influence a responder's perception of political events. Greenwald's article appeared in The Guardian and first exposed Snowden as responsible for the 2013 NSA leak of classified information. A study of the acts of representation employed by Greenwald and Levinson in his satirical black comedy film Wag the Dog, exposes the extent to which those who craft narratives may manipulate the public's understanding and urge them to accept their individual political perspective as truth. Thus, both composers represent ideas in explored in Module C. 2. An analysis of the acts of representation Greenwald...show more content...
Levinson's inclusion of a montage of shots of shoes being thrown into trees, doctored monochrome photograph of William Schumann spelling "Courage, Mom" in Morse Code in his sweater and the contrived folksong 'Good Ole Shoe' reveal the power representations to manipulate the public's perception of political events. Thus, both works expose the extent to which the public's understanding of political events relies on representations, which may be subject or bias or manipulation.
6. Similarly, by utilising acts of representation which elicit the audience's sympathy for Snowden's plight, Greenwald reveals the capacity for composers to powerfully influence a responder's understanding of political situations. Greenwald employs superlatives to evoke the responder's sympathy for Snowden's plight, describing him as a powerless, bereft of resources and hunted by "biggest and most secretive surveillance organisation in America" and the "the most powerful government on the
Wag The Dog And The Candidate
Although, 1997 Wag the Dog and 1972 the Candidate share a common sense of political background the films leave a different effect on what the viewers see. Both films give a different perspective on political parties and what they do in certain situations. One film is based upon covering up the mistakes of the president and the other reflects on the governor elections of a young man who is new to the political scene. The two films share one thing, and that one thing is the political background. Wag the Dog reflects on the hidden secrets of the president and what his team does to cover it up, the Candidate covers the senatorial running of a young man who knows nothing about what he is doing. Even though both films cover politics they have
"[It's] not a war. It's a pageant. We need a theme, a song, some visuals," states Conrad Brean, the White House's Mr. Fix–it, referring to the plan designed to divert the public's attention from the incumbent's recent disastrous decision–making. The fabricated war and astonishing public response depicts the unfortunate credulity our society suffers from in Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog. Produced in 1997, the satire displays phenomenal insight into the media's effective use of rhetoric to influence the public opinion. The beginning scenes introduce a shocking misdemeanor committed by the President and the country's most entrusted "story–spinner" is called in to fix the situation, to which he automatically prescribes a press conference. Rumors
What Are The Ethical Issues In Wag The Dog
Today's world, states are managed by people, potency and governments. We can easily see this situation from the film "Wag the Dog". Because we can see social scientists, agree the mass media is most important tool in 21st century. This film show us triangle relations between potency, ideology and media. Fictionalize imaginary wars and media conveyed that situation to public with wrong in the manner and running of politics and diplomacy. Politics is not create solutions for public's problem. In a sort of way there were mistake carry out of government. But, not any public's person know that. Actually they were persuaded from their state. For example they create a fake scandal because they make afford to forget about president's wrong. In the
Essay on Wag The Dog
Wag The Dog
The movie starts with the President hit with the claim he had sexual relations with a firefly girl during a tour of the white house, and all this happens two weeks before the election. I'm not sure if this movie was actually based upon the Lewinsky scandal that our current president is facing, but it seems this movie came at the right time. The story is similar, as far as the sex charges, and a war to cover it up. Clinton did declare attacks on Iraq, which was after this movie was released. I'm not saying that the movie gave Clinton the idea of attacking Iraq or if it was actually needed.
This movie made me think allot, about how...show more content...
I can't remember their names in the movie, but he used Dennis Leary, and Willie Nelson throughout the film. Leary played an advisor of sorts to Stanley and Nelson was used to help make a 'theme'; for the war.
They plan things out and have many people help along the way. The first thing they did was film a fake scene of a girl fleeing for her life in Albania. It was then released to the media and filled the news. From there on out they planned and plotted every move to help keep the public worried about the 'war'; and not the sex charges.
Near the end of the movie the CIA intercepts what is going on and takes Conrad and Winifred into custody and begin asking questions. The CIA tells them that they have been tracking what is going on in Albania and nothing at all is going on there. Conrad uses his sly skills and talks his way out of the whole situation. The CIA releases the information to the public and causes an obstacle for Conrad and Winifred. Once again they turn to Stanley to help. He makes up a 'hero'; named Shoeman, who was supposedly left behind after the war. They have Nelson write a song about it and claim it is an old folk song from the 1930's called 'Old Shoe';and it soon becomes the 'theme'; for Shoeman. America is caught up in the new found information. Then they had to present Shoeman to the public.
They
Iron Wag The Dog Analysis
In the film, Wag the Dog, a presidential sex scandal at the White House occurs eleven days before elections. The particular scandal is one that is severely detrimental to the president's chances of successfully obtaining reelection. As a result, the characters in the movie engineer and direct a completely fraudulent war to divert attention away from the news of the scandal as well as a number of subsequent fabrications to improve the president's popularity through influencing the public opinion of fellow Americans. The film, Iron Jawed Angels, is about young female suffragist activists whose goal is to obtain the right to vote for American women through the passing of a constitutional amendment. The interest group of women seeks to influence...show more content...
In the film, the women used several methods to accomplish their goal. The interest group, the National Woman's Party, utilized their right of free speech from the First Amendment of the Constitution, which provides that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press" by publishing and disseminating a newspaper that discussed their issue and spoke out against President Wilson as well as staging protests outside of the White House during a time of war. Public opinion of the suffragettes repeatedly changed throughout the movie, especially when World War I was occurring. Significant events such as war influences public opinion, which was apparent in both of these films. During this time, public opinion was against the suffragettes, which was apparent when the crowd attacked the women during their protest. The group was arrested for "obstructing traffic" although they were picketing on the sidewalk and sentenced to a women's prison when they refused to pay the fine since they had not committed the crime. After breaking a window for fresh air, Alice Paul was placed in solitary confinement, went on a hunger strike, is denied counsel and is examined in the psychiatric ward. The suffragettes all go on hunger strike and the prison warden begins force–feeding them, but it is not until a note
Wag The Dog Essay
"Wag the Dog" is a humorous movie. The fact that the movie is based on a fake war in Albania encouraged me to watch it. This movie is based on a Hollywood film producer who constructs a fake war with Albania to distract the electorates from a sex scandal days before the presidential election. The president of the United States is discovered making sexual advances, less than two weeks before Election Day, on an underage girl in the oval office.
In order to take the public's attention away from the scandal, Bream, who hired the Hollywood producer to construct this scheme, produces a fake war with Albania. He uses fake footage of an orphan in Albania to convince the public. Also, Bream manipulates the public by convincing them that the Albanian...show more content...
It resembles many significant events that have happened in the present. The film touches on issues of the truth and problems in politics. "Wag the Dog," reveals how America has been vulnerable to the fact that leaders can hide from numerous issues. Undoubtedly, "Wag the Dog," addresses the many issues that exist in American politics today. "Wag the Dog" addresses dishonesty and corruption in our society and politics. In this film each of the characters has their own view of what is truth. Ultimately, they lose touch with the truth and believe it is ok to deceive. Bream, who constructed the fake war in Albania, manipulates the public's perception into what he wants to be true. He believes that it is O.K to lie because of national security.
Nonetheless, Stanley Moss, who is the Hollywood producer that constructed the fake war, is immersed in his fictional war. He convinces the public that his story is reality. The truth has lost touch at this point of the movie. Moss is so intrigued with his production and feels the need to be credited for it. However, the truth is what leads his work of art to its demise. Winifred Ames deceives the CIA when she denies knowing anything about the war. When confronted about the B–3 bomber being activated, she responds by saying that there is no B–3 bomber. Given the right situation, the truth can be easily
Barry Levinsons's Film Wag The Dog
We as individuals are developed through both our singular characteristics and external surroundings. Where a change of events within our life can alter our perceptions thus our entire reality. As humans, we generally receive the impacts of events and the changes to our surrounding environments these cause, through the dispersion of the Media. As we are often exposed to the delivery of information, both visually and verbally, we are often unable to escape such influences, thus making it crucial on the responsibility of the media. Whether it be from the delivery of the correct interpretation of events or the diminishing of any false information through manipulation. By doing this, it sees the correct shaping of our individual manners to be free...show more content...
Where what we experience can affect our overall feelings towards a situation and shapes our likes and dislikes within our personalities. With a negative recollection of events would cause a bad attitude towards that certain aspect, where in turn a positive one would give more of a likable result. This is why humans must form their interpretations of a situation with viewpoints from various aspects, in order to truly understand the circumstances of what have occurred. Where we must further challenge the reliability of the media to convey the correct information. In Barry Levinsons 2004 film 'Wag the Dog', he uses the dominance of the Medias place in society to provide false perceptions upon the American population. Through the construction of a destructive environment, the audience is fed illusion. From this, the alteration of perceptions within each individual forms a new sense of reality, being collective in form. This is done through the false coverage of the 'war' in Albania broadcast to American citizens to distract them from the current accusations related to the president. Where from this, the ideas created from such a destructive environment cause belief and fright among the American people making them distracted from the previous issue with the president. Thus supporting the idea of the power the media has, even when in reality, what they present is often merely an
Barry Levinson's 1997 Film Wag The Dogs
How does the composer of your supplementary text represent (techniques) the ideas of people in politics?
Politicians are bestowed with power and respect, but with that comes how one uses those. Media is a common communication link between politicians and people, it can act as a catalyst to interpret the information delivered from politicians to people. A political party aims to sell its ideology to the public. A prime example of this was Barry O'Farrell and his wine incident, which eventually ended his career. The ABC newspaper article called the 'NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to resign over "massive memory fail" at ICIA, written on the 17th of April 2014, cleverly explains the details that unfolded. It's ironic to see similar themes in Barry...show more content...
Politicians can use manipulation of the media for political purpose. Through the use of propaganda and fear. Many of the times politicians have a desire to hid something and by doing so uses the media, language forms and techniques to manipulate the truth. This concept is shown through the ABC newspaper article called 'NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to resign over "massive memory fail" at ICIA, written on the 17th of April 2014, cleverly explains the details that unfolded. Along with Barry Levinson's 1997 film 'Wag the Dog'. It's ironic to see similar themes being portrayed through a real political scandal.
Politicians have power and that has the capacity to influence, condition, mold, and control human behavior for the accomplishment of political objectives.
Without doubt, lobbyists need access to politicians in order to influence them, and seek favour. Donations in kinds and cash are used to gain access to politicians. In a democratic society transparency is paramount in political donations by interest groups and politicians are obliged by law to declare what they have received as donations to prevent misuse of power. If they fail to declare,they will in hot persuit by the media. A prime example of this was former Premier of NSW, Mr Barry O'Farrell and his wine incident, which eventually ended his