General Discussion

thucythucy

(9,103 posts)

79. This ^ ^ ^

Thu Jul 31, 2014, 03:45 PM

Jul 2014

"Mass media is interesting on a historical and sociological level precisely because it brings back the same themes again and again."

Not only that, but I think it is perfectly legitimate, in fact even necessary, for progressives to examine mass media for their social and political messages, overt or otherwise. Mass media reflects upon and also helps create the society around us, and to ignore their political and social content, or to see them as inevitably politically "neutral" because "it's only a movie" is simplistic at best. "Birth of a Nation" was "only a movie," as was "Gone with the Wind." Both of them had a definite political impact not favorable to any sort of progressive or liberal agenda.

On the bright side: at least no one has accused you of being a prude or a censor. I guess for that to happen the content under scrutiny would have to contain at least one scene either explicitly about or suggestive of rape.

Anyway, thanks for your OP. Definitely some thought-provoking stuff.

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Agree or Disagree - Action Movies/Superhero Movies are basically fascistic. [View all] el_bryanto Jul 2014 OP

off top of head, I'd say militaristic nt steve2470 Jul 2014 #1

Are they fighting on behalf of corporations? n/t PowerToThePeople Jul 2014 #2

I haven't seen it yet; from the ads it looks like they are keeping the Dirty Dozen in space el_bryanto Jul 2014 #5

Part of the hyper masculine hero worship Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #3

On some level that's probably true, Codeine Jul 2014 #4

virtually ever action star in action type movies is either a Javaman Jul 2014 #6

This makes a lot of sense - I suspect that superhero movies will slide into the el_bryanto Jul 2014 #8

There's a great podcast that I listen too... Javaman Jul 2014 #12

I do agree that there are a lot of comic books that would make great movies el_bryanto Jul 2014 #16

True on Iron Man... Javaman Jul 2014 #18

The thing with Judge Dredd is, like Rosharch and the Punisher, he's supposed to make you el_bryanto Jul 2014 #28

Dredd: the anti-hero hero. Javaman Jul 2014 #31

I haven't liked very many of the movies hfojvt Jul 2014 #50

the issue with dealing with bullies other than hitting them is... Javaman Jul 2014 #55

myself I am not clever enough to think of another way hfojvt Jul 2014 #68

there are scripts and there are great scripts. Javaman Jul 2014 #74

The problem is Shadowflash Jul 2014 #30

Some of them did pretty good - The Crow, Road to Perdition el_bryanto Jul 2014 #35

Too specific Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #40

Loved Scott Pilgrim. nt Javaman Jul 2014 #47

We geeks see them. Javaman Jul 2014 #46

Maybe you instinctively ignore Josh Hartnett films. Orrex Jul 2014 #48

That's very possible... Javaman Jul 2014 #51

It's not bad Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #49

I am legend was a predictable mess. Javaman Jul 2014 #56

Can't agree Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #59

That was then. Javaman Jul 2014 #73

Truth Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #80

The Wiki entry for the film is weird Orrex Jul 2014 #57

Vampires Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #60

Oh--I see. Orrex Jul 2014 #62

100 Bullets would be better as a tv series mythology Jul 2014 #83

I completely agree with you on 100 bullets... Javaman Aug 2014 #92

Not John McClane joeglow3 Jul 2014 #29

Good point. but he did have an enourmous ego. nt Javaman Jul 2014 #45

As far as narcissistic sociopaths in action films go -- Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #64

Despite their alleged great intelligence, Batman and Superman CBGLuthier Jul 2014 #7

I don't see it that way. Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #19

Batman is subtitled, "The World's Greatest Detective" and he does uses his wits and Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #66

The fascistic undertones of the Adam West Batman series used to make me physically sick. Nye Bevan Jul 2014 #9

Really? I was too young to watch the Adam West Batman as it came out el_bryanto Jul 2014 #10

You need to look past the "silly fun" and read between the lines. Nye Bevan Jul 2014 #11

Yes - it's inherent in the set up to Batman el_bryanto Jul 2014 #14

A 1%er who cared about the less fortunate. Iron Man Jul 2014 #15

Wow Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #20

He's actually an 0.1 percenter Reter Jul 2014 #65

Wow...just...wow Katashi_itto Jul 2014 #84

Adam West as Bruce Wayne was not a "one-percenter" Art_from_Ark Aug 2014 #89

Fascism at its worst. NuclearDem Jul 2014 #22

When the Bat-tusi is considered fascist, then only fascists will dance the Bat-tusi. Orrex Jul 2014 #38

Yeah. I remember the episode when he bat-purged the Jews from the Warsaw ghetto. Orrex Jul 2014 #36

I found it to be more extreme camp rather than concentration camp Tom Ripley Jul 2014 #39

did you actually throw up? snooper2 Jul 2014 #43

I did keep watching. Nye Bevan Jul 2014 #85

Shirley Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #88

That reviewer jumped right into Godwin's Law. Iron Man Jul 2014 #13

Your post sounds like a bit of special pleading, Iron Man. nt truebluegreen Jul 2014 #17

I find the review facile and obvious. Orrex Jul 2014 #21

Ditto Action_Patrol Jul 2014 #26

This ^^^^ Coventina Jul 2014 #27

That what I was thinking - it's the same as classical 'heroes' muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #33

I think there's actually a lot of great literature thucythucy Jul 2014 #78

I was responding to a specific point made in the article, though Orrex Aug 2014 #90

I see your point. thucythucy Aug 2014 #91

No, not inherently fascist. They might have god-like powers, but typically* FSogol Jul 2014 #23

And in the Marvel civil war CA sides with the anti-registration faction and is vindicated. nt Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #67

I can dig that treestar Jul 2014 #24

Most tropes in action and superhero movies are old as dirt. NuclearDem Jul 2014 #25

The more people throw around the word 'fascist,' the more it will lose it's sting... wyldwolf Jul 2014 #32

I think it is fascist like to opine about films one has not seen. Bluenorthwest Jul 2014 #34

To be clear, I don't have an opinion on the movie yet; as I haven't seen it el_bryanto Jul 2014 #37

I think claiming to speak for others is rude. I speak for myself and do not need you to rewrite me Bluenorthwest Jul 2014 #41

I think that a discussion of general themes in mass media is fine, and I think it's your attempt to el_bryanto Jul 2014 #42

This ^ ^ ^ thucythucy Jul 2014 #79

facepalm. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #61

Don't know. I just watch to be entertained. nt conservaphobe Jul 2014 #44

Depends entirely on the superhero. hifiguy Jul 2014 #52

I think he's spouting nonsense to get clicks/comments from fanboys LittleBlue Jul 2014 #53

Some people overthink shit to death. Throd Jul 2014 #54

fascist isn't the description I would have gone to, but Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #58

Having now read the review, it's now clear to me the writer doesn't really know what fascism is. hughee99 Jul 2014 #63

I'm trying to find the description of something actually fascist in the review. Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #69

The term "fascist" has been watered down to the point of meaninglessness. Throd Jul 2014 #70

Agreed. It now means, "something I don't like and I don't like it because I Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2014 #71

It depends on the definition of fascism. el_bryanto Jul 2014 #72

I don't think the author understands what fascism is. AngryAmish Jul 2014 #75

they do tend to promote the notion that all the world's problems can be fixed by kicking ass Douglas Carpenter Jul 2014 #76

These days, I prefer a spoof, like the "Kick-Ass" series. . . DinahMoeHum Jul 2014 #77

Must be a hoot at parties... 8_Point Jul 2014 #81

Hello bigwillq Jul 2014 #86

Having talked to creators nadinbrzezinski Jul 2014 #82

Movies are interesting because they focus on narrow plots and occurrences. TIMETOCHANGE Jul 2014 #87