Who Cares? Entertainment and Politics

Of all the political issues in the world, why would anyone chose to write about the interplay of politics and entertainment from a Leftist perspective? That's a fair question, and one that I had to answer for myself when I decided what the focus of this blog would be. After all, isn't entertainment, by its very nature, frivolous and unworthy of a true Leftist's attentions? In the end, there were several answers: other political topics are more-than-adequately discussed, entertainment both reflects and shapes political opinions, the influence of entertainment on politics is largely ignored by the Left, and, finally, it's fun.

The first issue, the saturation of "serious" and straight-forward political discussion, is the easiest of the three to explain. One needs only visit Counterpunch or Z Magazine's site to see that the events of the day and their effects on history are adequately discussed by scholars and activists from the Left. While I would never shrink from discussing serious issues, I don't feel a pressing need to add yet another voice to topics that have already been cussed and discussed ad naseum. My public comments on Palestine or women's rights confine themselves to issues I feel are being overlooked by other Leftists. After all, what good is it going to do to add one more blog about Bush's status as liar extraordinaire?

The next two issues that feature in my decision to focus on entertainment are intertwined. Entertainment is an industry. As such, it seeks to appeal to the greatest number of people. This generally means that those in the entertainment industry avoid controversy like the plague. They seek to reflect the prejudices and convictions of the majority of the public. Given that political opinion in the U.S. generally lies from center to right, it becomes the goal of the entertainment industry to pander to the values of that sector. What is considered a "daring" statement in a Hollywood movie or network television show is generally nothing more than a tepid nod towards gay love or the rights of women to have equal employment opportunities. Even worse, Hollywood often feeds into the hatred, stereotypes and bigotry within U.S. society. The typical role for an African-American actor requires him to carry a gun or a basketball. The Arab is a terrorist in an action movie. The Hispanic is a drug smuggler or an illegal alien. The woman is a victim or a psychotic stalker. These stereotypes are multiplied to an infinite degree when they become a part of "reality" TV. There we see the editors and producers typecasting real human beings into roles that are easily understood by middle (white) America: the black bitch, the white sex kitten, the swishy, lisping queer, the strong, take-charge white man. Despite all of this, the Left seldom looks at the ways Hollywood reinforces the status quo. Considering the impact that this has on how our society evolves, I think that's a mistake.

The final reason I choose to write about entertainment might be the most frivolous of all--it's fun. It might not be central to "the cause," but I don't think fun is something the Left should ignore. People need outlets. There are days I spend reading one alternative media site after another, only to sink into a deep depression. The frustration and anger that wells up is almost overwhelming. Without an outlet--watching a basketball game or checking out a favorite TV show--I don't know if I could handle the bleakness. Nonetheless, I can't turn off my values when I seek those escapes. That leads me to critique those "frivolous" escapes through my Leftist perspective. It may not be the most important task facing those of us outside the political manistream, but it certainly isn't a worthless pursuit.