300 Paper

300 and America “Freedom isn't free at all, that it comes with the highest of costs. The cost of blood.” These words were spoken by Queen Gorgo, wife of King Leonidas, in the movie 300. She speaks one of the basic philosophies of the Spartan nation, and even though they lived thousands of years ago, their principles still impact America today. Most influential movies are a product of the current events happening at the time, and 300 is not an exception. There was a distinct significance in the way the movie 300, as a movie, was developed. This is due to the fact that the movie was made in order to relate to the American society and clearly shows the point of view of the pro-war attitude when the fight is for freedom and justice. In this paper, I will examine the social and political environment that led to the production of 300, the significance of the choice of topic and the amount of historical accuracy, and how this movie effectively relates to American society and sends a message. The movie 300 was released on December 9, 2006, and was directed by Zack Snyder. The movie was made in response to the international turmoil and war-related events, and without those issues in the world, 300 would have not been made nor had the same impact on society. In 2006, America was well into the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, “300” was produced during 2005 as well, so one must look at more than just one year of international events. In the time leading up to the production of 300, the most serious fighting in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began in 2004, where the insurgency greatly increased. The two battles of Fallujah were declared the bloodiest battles of the war at that time, in which 122 U.S. soldiers were killed with 1,500 insurgents (The Guardian). The Taliban in Afghanistan regained power and attacked, causing American causalities. In America, people were still debating whether or not the war was worth the cost. Everyone had a view on the subject, and