Enter’taint’ment

Nothing is seen without a bias and those with power know it. That is why the entertainment industry has been so crucial in politics. Whether or not we have been aware of their persuasions, the continuous subtle or not so subtle portrayals are still intriguing. As I watched Jud Suss it was hard not to enjoy the movie. Though I was aware of its antisemitism and racial extremities I still felt connected to the characters. The good guy vs bad complex is one we as an audience have all come to know and love. In Jud Suss, the bad guy was the corrupt Jewish adviser and the good guy was the stand up German. It doesn’t really matter some of the historic details are fudged a little, or some characters didn’t really exist; we just love a good fight. When Jud Suss came out, it was during a time when public opinion mattered the most. The Nazis wanted the public to see their way, they needed them to believe their values and one way to convince them was through vision. Having someone watch and connect with a common character convinces them more easily and thoroughly than a speech.As discussed in class, similar though less racial films have had similar effects. They were used to sway minds into adhering to certain ideas. Looking at Action movies in particular they seem to always correspond with the political views of the time. If a certain race is currently being oppressed then the films will typically reflect views on the subject meant to sway the public one way or another. It will usually go in favor of the maker of the film, as did in Jud Suss. Using films depicting historical events seem to be most typical and effective. They extract the most emotion and feedback from the public which gets the support they need. Below there is a link to a site with some of the most popular war films that when watched closely have underlying messages.

http://www.amc.com/movie-guide/twenty-war-movies-youll-never-forget

“Top 20 Greatest War Movies.” AMC. AMC Network Entertainment, 2015. Web. 8 Oct. 2015