In Hollywood film history, the U.S. president has had many images - a brave leader, an incompetent fool, a lovable hero. One thing is for certain: No matter what era, Presidents, whether fictional or real, are frequent fodder for filmmakers. After Vietnam and the revelations of Watergate, however, the number of films with presidential portrayals steadily decreased, and the depictions that did appear generally cast a corrupt or inept Chief Executive. It is therefore more than surprising why filmmakers today have decided to produce such an incredibly large number of films as compared to the last two decades. Presidents have been portrayed as minor characters in dozens of Hollywood films, either for inspirational purposes or simply to keep the plot moving. Lately, not only the number of President films has increased significantly, but there is also a clear tendency to let the Presidents move towards center stage, and they are now often pictured as the protagonists. This phenomenon opens up a whole range of questions: How are the Presidents depicted? Is there a certain trend in the portrayals? Or are those portrayed all different from each other? Are there differences or similarities to older characterizations? What does this tell us about Hollywood’s view of the Presidency? Has it suddenly changed? And what are the reasons for such a sudden boost in the number of films?
By taking a closer look at a selection of Hollywood productions, this paper provides an attempt to find answers to these questions. Of the string of fictional Presidents that American filmmakers have recently created, some are more loathsome than their real-life counterparts, others more heroic. Both types seem designed to connect with audiences’ hopes and fears - what the Hollywood dream factory does best. Interestingly, the portrayals have been all over the map: genial, kind-hearted impostor (Dave); reluctant, alien-fighting hero (Independence Day); pompous, delusional incompetent (Mars Attacks!); sympathetic, romantic widower (The American President); distracted, workaholic father (First Kid); promiscuous, murderous hypocrite (Absolute Power); tough defender of family and country (Air Force One), to name only a few.
By discussing a selection of presidential films, this thesis examines Hollywood’s portrayal of the American Presidency.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. History of Presidents in Films
- III. Characterization of the Presidency in Recent Hollywood Movies
- 1. The Substance and Narrative Logic of the Films
- 2. Characterizations of Movie Presidents
- 2.1. The Screen President as Politician
- 2.1.1. Handling the Job of a Movie President
- 2.1.1.1. Foreign and Domestic Policy Issues
- 2.1.1.2. Crisis Situations
- 2.1.1.3. Public Appearances
- 2.1.1.4. Presidential Style
- 2.1.2. Party Affiliation
- 2.1.3. The Fictional Importance of Popularity
- 2.1.4. The Political Power Struggle
- 2.1.5. Portrayal of the White House Staff
- 2.1.1. Handling the Job of a Movie President
- 2.2. The Fictional First Family
- 2.3. Personal Traits of Movie Presidents
- 2.3.1. The Corrupt Version
- 2.3.2. The President as a Hero
- 2.3.3. The Dual Character: Presidents in Public and in Private
- 2.3.4. Hollywood’s Everyman President
- 2.1. The Screen President as Politician
- 3. Hollywood’s Conception of the American Presidency
- 3.1. The Film Industry’s Humanization of the Presidency
- 3.2. Characterization of The Presidency as a Symbol of America
- 3.2.1. America’s Reverence of the Presidency
- 3.2.2. Hollywood’s Symbolic Treatment of the Oval Office
- 3.2.3. Illustration of the Conflict between the Man and the Office
- 3.3. Fictionalization of the Crisis of Political Leadership
- 3.3.1. The Status of Politics in Film
- 3.3.1.1. The Public Contempt for Politics
- 3.3.1.2. The (A)political Functions of Presidents in Films
- 3.3.2. Portrayal of the Limitations of Presidential Political Power
- 3.3.3. The Problem of Meeting Public Expectations
- 3.3.4. Moral Leadership and the Importance of Character
- 3.3.1. The Status of Politics in Film
- IV. Reasons for the Current Abundance of President Films
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis examines Hollywood's portrayal of the American presidency in films released between 1993 and 1997. It aims to analyze how presidents are depicted, identify any trends in these portrayals, and explore the reasons for the sudden increase in films featuring presidents as central characters.
- The evolution of presidential portrayals in film throughout history.
- A comparative analysis of presidential characterizations in a selection of recent Hollywood films.
- Hollywood's current conception of the American presidency, including its symbolism and the challenges faced by its occupants.
- An investigation into the socio-cultural and economic factors contributing to the surge in films featuring presidents.
- The impact of the media and public perception on the portrayal and understanding of the presidency.
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the surprising surge in Hollywood films featuring U.S. presidents as central characters, contrasting it with the scarcity of such films in the previous two decades. It sets the stage for analyzing the reasons behind this phenomenon and exploring how presidents are portrayed in these films, emphasizing the reflective nature of Hollywood productions in relation to public mood and values.
II. History of Presidents in Films: This chapter provides a historical overview of presidential portrayals in film, highlighting the evolution of their depictions from revered figures in early cinema to more complex and sometimes flawed characters in later productions. It connects these changes to broader historical and political events, such as the Great Depression, World War II, Vietnam, and Watergate, demonstrating how film reflects the public's shifting perceptions of the presidency over time.
III. Characterization of the American Presidency in Recent Hollywood Movies: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of seven selected films featuring presidents, examining their characterizations across various genres (comedy, thriller, action, science fiction). It explores the political dimensions of the films, focusing on policy issues, domestic and foreign affairs, crisis management, and the roles of the White House staff and First Family. This analysis aims to reveal Hollywood's current conception of the American presidency, encompassing both its humanized and symbolic aspects, and the various challenges inherent in the office.
IV. Reasons for the Current Abundance of President Films: This chapter explores the reasons behind the recent increase in films featuring presidents. It proposes several contributing factors, including shifts in public mood reflecting hopes and fears about the presidency, the growing celebrity status of the modern president, the influence of President Bill Clinton's close ties to Hollywood, and the films’ commercial success at the box office. The chapter synthesizes these factors to offer a comprehensive explanation for this cinematic trend.
Keywords
American Presidency, Hollywood films, Presidential portrayals, Film genre, Political symbolism, Public perception, Media influence, Box office success, Moral leadership, Crisis of political leadership, Popular culture, Celebrity culture, Political thrillers, Comedies, Action films, Science fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hollywood's Portrayal of the American Presidency (1993-1997)
What is the main topic of this thesis?
This thesis analyzes how Hollywood portrays the American presidency in films released between 1993 and 1997. It examines how presidents are depicted, identifies trends in these portrayals, and explores the reasons for the sudden increase in films featuring presidents as central characters during this period.
What aspects of presidential portrayals does the thesis cover?
The thesis covers a wide range of aspects, including the historical evolution of presidential portrayals in film, a comparative analysis of characterizations in specific films, Hollywood's conception of the presidency as a symbol, the challenges faced by presidents, and the socio-cultural and economic factors influencing this cinematic trend. It also considers the impact of media and public perception on the portrayal and understanding of the presidency.
Which films are analyzed in the thesis?
While the specific titles aren't listed in this preview, the thesis analyzes seven selected films featuring presidents, spanning various genres such as comedy, thriller, action, and science fiction, released between 1993 and 1997.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
Key themes include the evolution of presidential portrayals throughout film history; a comparative analysis of presidential characterizations; Hollywood's conception of the American presidency, encompassing its humanized and symbolic aspects; the challenges inherent in the office; and the socio-cultural and economic factors contributing to the surge in films featuring presidents. Further themes include the impact of media and public perception and the exploration of the political dimensions of the films, focusing on policy issues, domestic and foreign affairs, crisis management, and the roles of the White House staff and First Family.
How does the thesis structure its analysis?
The thesis is structured into four chapters: Chapter I introduces the topic and the surprising increase in films featuring presidents; Chapter II provides a historical overview of presidential portrayals in film; Chapter III offers a detailed analysis of the selected films, exploring characterizations and political dimensions; and Chapter IV explores the reasons behind the surge in president-centric films, considering factors like public mood, the president's celebrity status, and commercial success.
What are some of the key findings or arguments presented in the thesis (as per the preview)?
Based on the preview, the thesis argues that the increase in films featuring presidents reflects shifts in public mood and values. It also suggests that factors like the growing celebrity status of the modern president and the commercial success of such films contributed to this trend. The analysis further explores how Hollywood's portrayal of presidents reflects both a humanized and symbolic understanding of the office, along with the inherent challenges of the role. The thesis demonstrates how film reflects the public's changing perceptions of the presidency over time, connecting these changes to broader historical and political events.
What keywords are associated with this thesis?
Keywords include: American Presidency, Hollywood films, Presidential portrayals, Film genre, Political symbolism, Public perception, Media influence, Box office success, Moral leadership, Crisis of political leadership, Popular culture, Celebrity culture, Political thrillers, Comedies, Action films, Science fiction.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Marie Axland (Author), 1998, The Representation of the American Presidency in Recent Hollywood Movies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/120901
