3 ms·

I've assumed this theory prima facie for a while. Further examples are movies glorifying war (Homefront, Lone Survivor). As coldtea mentions, it could be consid

by clebio 12y ago

I've assumed this theory prima facie for a while. Further examples are movies glorifying war (Homefront, Lone Survivor). As coldtea mentions, it could be considered a form of moving the Overton window.

rayiner 12y ago
As 'angibrowl points out, the movie trope of the good guy that isn't constrained by procedural rules is very old.[1] The 1980's action movie catalogue is full of it. Moving the Overton window doesn't even make sense in this context. Moving it from where? We're talking about a country full of people that vociferously supported bombing harmless Vietnamese villages off the map. Aside from maybe the folks who grew up in the 1990's, who weren't exposed to any real global conflict, I'd be surprised if the current generation wasn't the least receptive in American history to questionable methods of warfare. [1] You see it a lot in crime dramas from the 1980's, where things like the 4th amendment are portrayed as just letting criminals off on "technicalities."
- waterlesscloud 12y ago
  The current trend traces at least as far back as DIRTY HARRY (1971). "Dirty Harry" was a common reference to extra-procedural cops for a couple decades.
- clebio 12y ago
  Perhaps it's 'keeping the window propped up' (over to where it was moved long ago). The long history isn't exclusive to the idea that these shows and movies are a form of propaganda, or desensitization.
  - rayiner 12y ago
    Moved when? Name one generation that you think was less accepting of questionable conduct in warfare. The long history suggests that the shows and movies are a symptom of cultural attitudes, rather than a cause. For example, consider all the media in the 1980's portraying criminal procedural protections as "technicalities." I think it was in response to the fact that, after 1960, crime per capita tripled before incarceration per capita started going up. As I said about 24--in the aftermath of 9/11, the torture-fest was just capitalizing on the anger people felt. On my college campus in 2002 there was a lot of talk about nuking the middle east and things like that, which is quite contrary to what the government was saying.
    - clebio 12y ago
      We went to very different colleges, I guess.
- clebio 12y ago
  In related news: https://twitter.com/saladinahmed/status/543077220601044992?s=09 https://twitter.com/saladinahmed/status/543077220601044992?s...
  - clebio 12y ago
    And, toward the idea of film as propaganda of what are actually terrible behaviors: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/11306060/Revealed-the-true-story-of-Maya-the-CIA-analyst-who-hunted-down-Osama-bin-Laden.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/11306...
rhino369 12y ago
You've got the tail wagging the dog here. Art is often a reflection of the times. Do you remember post 9-11 America? People were angry and afraid. Jack Bauer tortured because America wanted him too.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

by clebio 12y ago

rayiner 12y ago

As 'angibrowl points out, the movie trope of the good guy that isn't constrained by procedural rules is very old.[1] The 1980's action movie catalogue is full of it. Moving the Overton window doesn't even make sense in this context. Moving it from where? We're talking about a country full of people that vociferously supported bombing harmless Vietnamese villages off the map. Aside from maybe the folks who grew up in the 1990's, who weren't exposed to any real global conflict, I'd be surprised if the current generation wasn't the least receptive in American history to questionable methods of warfare. [1] You see it a lot in crime dramas from the 1980's, where things like the 4th amendment are portrayed as just letting criminals off on "technicalities."

waterlesscloud 12y ago
The current trend traces at least as far back as DIRTY HARRY (1971). "Dirty Harry" was a common reference to extra-procedural cops for a couple decades.
clebio 12y ago
Perhaps it's 'keeping the window propped up' (over to where it was moved long ago). The long history isn't exclusive to the idea that these shows and movies are a form of propaganda, or desensitization.
- rayiner 12y ago
  Moved when? Name one generation that you think was less accepting of questionable conduct in warfare. The long history suggests that the shows and movies are a symptom of cultural attitudes, rather than a cause. For example, consider all the media in the 1980's portraying criminal procedural protections as "technicalities." I think it was in response to the fact that, after 1960, crime per capita tripled before incarceration per capita started going up. As I said about 24--in the aftermath of 9/11, the torture-fest was just capitalizing on the anger people felt. On my college campus in 2002 there was a lot of talk about nuking the middle east and things like that, which is quite contrary to what the government was saying.
  - clebio 12y ago
    We went to very different colleges, I guess.
clebio 12y ago
In related news: https://twitter.com/saladinahmed/status/543077220601044992?s=09 https://twitter.com/saladinahmed/status/543077220601044992?s...
- clebio 12y ago
  And, toward the idea of film as propaganda of what are actually terrible behaviors: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/11306060/Revealed-the-true-story-of-Maya-the-CIA-analyst-who-hunted-down-Osama-bin-Laden.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/11306...

rhino369 12y ago

You've got the tail wagging the dog here. Art is often a reflection of the times. Do you remember post 9-11 America? People were angry and afraid. Jack Bauer tortured because America wanted him too.

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]