Wag The Dog Analysis
The world of politics is represented as a marketed and strategically planned product, which causes the audience to question the negative aspects of human nature which are revealed. The media's ability to manipulate public perception in order to achieve a certain outcome is clearly depicted in Barry Levinson's 1997 satirical film, 'Wag the Dog'. This film depicts characteristics such as manipulation and concealment, and portrays the political system as a platform for revealing the worst of human nature. The Newsroom is a 2012 TV series created by Aaron Sorkin, which focuses on the reform of a news reporter who has experienced the failures of human nature. These failures occur when his ethical agenda is linked so closely with politics and media.
Both works focus on similar themes of reality, as well as people and politics, but their different genres allow them to reveal different aspects of human nature in the character’s treatment of their failures.
In Wag the Dog, the power of the screen is a recurring motif, which complements the message of the power of the media. The media is seen as the controlling force of the lives of everyday citizens, frequently exploiting the better aspects of human nature in order to retain a position of power. The motif of the screen implies how influential the unseen forces are in shaping daily lives, as throughout the film, nearby screens interrupt and divert other conversations.This is clearly supported by the act of hiring a Hollywood producer to save the presidential campaign; Stanley Motts who throughout the film refers to the campaign as a ‘pageant’. The audience of this pageant are portrayed as an extremely passive and gullible source. This use of hyperbole is a common feature of the satire genre, and the exploitation of pathos is the basis of success in the film.
Contrary to this extreme attitude of patronization toward the public, The Newsroom takes a different perspective. The premise of this show is delivering honest news to the public, ‘nothing is more important to a democracy than a well-informed electorate.’
Both texts share the view of the media’s negative influence within the realm of politics, but the different genres require different treatment of the ideas. As a satire, Wag the Dog is positioned to highlight the negative aspects of human nature, in order to inspire reform.
Both works focus on similar themes of reality, as well as people and politics, but their different genres allow them to reveal different aspects of human nature in the character’s treatment of their failures.
In Wag the Dog, the power of the screen is a recurring motif, which complements the message of the power of the media. The media is seen as the controlling force of the lives of everyday citizens, frequently exploiting the better aspects of human nature in order to retain a position of power. The motif of the screen implies how influential the unseen forces are in shaping daily lives, as throughout the film, nearby screens interrupt and divert other conversations.This is clearly supported by the act of hiring a Hollywood producer to save the presidential campaign; Stanley Motts who throughout the film refers to the campaign as a ‘pageant’. The audience of this pageant are portrayed as an extremely passive and gullible source. This use of hyperbole is a common feature of the satire genre, and the exploitation of pathos is the basis of success in the film.
Contrary to this extreme attitude of patronization toward the public, The Newsroom takes a different perspective. The premise of this show is delivering honest news to the public, ‘nothing is more important to a democracy than a well-informed electorate.’
Both texts share the view of the media’s negative influence within the realm of politics, but the different genres require different treatment of the ideas. As a satire, Wag the Dog is positioned to highlight the negative aspects of human nature, in order to inspire reform.