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Wag The Dog Satire

901 Words4 Pages

Wag the Dog – Review Paper Director Barry Levinson's political satire "Wag the Dog" was released in 1997. The film revolves around two main characters: Dustin Hoffman's (Stanley Motss) and Robert De Niro's (Conrad Brean). Brean is a “spin doctor” who works with Motss, a Hollywood producer, to invent a war with Albania in order to divert attention away from a presidential sex scandal of him and an underage girl. A series of intricate deceptions, including staged photo opportunities, bogus news reports, and even a patriotic anthem, are planned by Motss and Brean. They hide the truth while manipulating public opinion and the media to give the impression that a battle is underway. The battle intensifies to the point where it becomes difficult to …show more content…

Although some parts are true and have happened, for the movie's sake they will intensify and make it more dramatic. The film highlights how the public is vulnerable to well constructed narratives and shows how political spin combined with media cooperation may result in universal deception. It is said of the American political system that truth is flexible and can be molded to fit the needs of the powerful. This vision is an indictment not only of specific politicians but also of a larger system that puts public relations and the accumulation of power ahead of the truth and true democratic principles Even though the movie's details are blown out of proportion for dramatic effect, its fundamental themes stay true. Some themes I think could be applied are: power of propaganda, ethical values and issues, media power and control, and political spin. The one I will highlight is the power of propaganda. The movie highlights the effectiveness of propaganda while being closely related to deception and manipulation. Brean and Motss successfully influence the American people consciousness and mobilize it in support of the made-up war by weaving a

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