Rethinking Hollywood's Left Coast Politics
from the from-the-people-that-brought-us-Tucker dept
The idea that Hollywood has a liberal bias has come to be accepted as gospel in the minds of many. Though the point can be debated, you'd be hard pressed to find many films that depict a tireless CEO working late hours to improve the company's product, instead they are more likely to be laying off workers, or dumping chemicals into the drinking water. But some are starting to wonder whether the Hollywood on film actually jibes with the politics and actions of the studios themselves. In fact, there are many examples to count of studios exhibiting greed, and a conservative mentality to accepting change. The studios also stood up against federal regulations regarding executive compensation so that they wouldn't have to admit how much their top actors were getting paid. In their quest to stifle any innovation that would disrupt their old business models, they've turned to allies like Republican Lamar Smith, not the Democrats that are perceived to be in Hollywood's pocket. It would be unfair to conflate business, Republicanism and greed, but it makes sense to question the notion that Hollywood sticks to a particular political script.
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Not Red State or Blue State
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Practice what you preach
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on a moral level
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I wouldn't Say
So Hollywood isn't trying to spread a message that CEOs are ruthless money grubbers, with no morals, they are just playing on the stereotype that most people have of CEOs. That says more about what society thinks of big executives than what Hollywood thinks of them.
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Perhaps people don't infer Hollywood's political leanings from its excutives' actions & back office culture for the very same reason that they don't draw similar conclusions about Halliburton from it's artistic choices - because they don't matter one bit why they are important to the public?
When's the last time you saw a movie critisized for the ethical lapses of its producer's accounting? When's the last time you heard Halliburton critisized for the cinemetography of its promotional videos?
Are you paid for this?
No, really?
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The big political problem is that people often say they'd prefer more conservative films, but they regularly flock to less conservative entertainments. They "vote" for the blockbusters with their wallets, but their rhetoric is still against them. I believe this is what has come to be known as "Politics" in our society. It's okay to snort coke as long as you are publicly against illegal drug use. It's okay to go and see Hostel as long as you publicly decry the erosion of "family values in film and TV. It's okay to destry the environment as long as you vote for the token pro-environment bill.
Unlike DC, Hollywood's motivation is transparent and actually quite respectable. They ARE in the business of making money after all, aren't they?
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Re:
I think the producers are also motiivated by non-commercial desires. Yeah, it would appear that no matter how bereft of moral or cinematic value, someone is likely to pick it up if they think it will make them a pile of cash. However, they certainly appear to be motivated by the desire to be thought creative, insightful, artistic. Looks like poliitical motivations may participate as well.
Consider Michael Moore, though financially succesful movies, it would be hard to state that he categorically ignores politics in his decisions too.
The Passion of the Christ certainly seems to have been motivated by religious views.
In other words, Holloywood types are people with motiviations and biases too -- is this a surprise?
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If you haven't heard some of the comments they've made, that's likely why you think Hollywood isn't biased - well in all fairness, I can't say where the Hollywood execs lean, but as far as the "artist" types (actors, producers, directors, etc.. ) they are FAR FAR left. To the point where is makes mid-liners like me sick.
But then it's typcial for 'artist' types to lean left and 'business' types to lean right, really.
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Re:
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Hiding behind conservatizm
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Resistance to change
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Besides... that's were many of the liberals go (and anyone not fitting in where they are) ... to be amongst people who won't judge them.
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Puh-lease
Greed cuts across ideology. It's never an endearing trait, but when coupled with brash hypocrisy, it becomes truly odious. Hollywood and its denizens are particularly guilty of such. When was the last time you heard of an activist actor or actress giving up 90% of his/her wealth to feed the homeless, for example? It's easy to take a limo to a $500/plate fundraiser and then pat yourself on the back of your designer gown in front of the paparazzi, but few (if any) actually give until it hurts. That's fine, but then to turn around and point fingers at corporate types and call them greedy is truly despicable.
Hollywood and its legion of limousine liberals have always been about money and greed. The liberal bent they often display may mitigate some of their latent guilt, but it's hypocrisy in its most severe form.
And the idea that guilt is a conservative trait is pure idiocy.
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Re: Puh-lease
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It is absolutely fair to conflate business, Republicanism and greed.
Just thought you'd want to know in case you care to file a correction.
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I just thought you'd want to know in case you ever get the chance to, you know, vote.
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Re: Conflation
Give it a rest already!
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morals not politics
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Nothing wrong with money
What is hypocrisy is the typical portrayal of rich people or corporate America (usually evil or crazy) in Hollywood movies. Of course if you want to draw attention from youself (or your industry) you tell a big lie and pretty it up with lights, music, cameras and cheering crowds. Didn't some guy perfect that technique in the 1930's & 40's?
What about the irony that studios will go to any length to prove that the movie didn't make money. Usually a week or so after reporting record ticket sales.
The hypocrisy of Hollywood isn't as amazing as the belief that the Hollywood types actually believe we (in the mainstream) care what they think. Entertainment is one thing. Foreign relations and economic policy is another.
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The 'MAN' can't stand forever!
'Its all about money, ain't a damn thing funny!'
And thats all it is! To see how these company exec's can keep the wool over our eyes and feed us this cock n' bull story that what they make for their artists and themselves is a fair wage.
Try this for an experiment. Ask your local Movie House owner how much he makes on attendance reciepts showing a blockbuster first run movie in his theatre? He will probably respond like this:
'See that 5 buck bag of popcorn and 5 buck coke your'e holding in your hand? You tell me if I'm making any money off of ticket reciepts?'
Is Tom Cruise really worth 100 million per film (if you believe EW?) Is anyone really worth 100 million per anything? I'm sure there are people who are but I'm sure they are not basking in the glory and fame of Hollywood.
Eventually technology will kill Hollywood, if they don't get off their ass and be held accountable. Either through piracy, streaming media by amature artists on sites like 'Youtube.com' or some other means. IMO.
Scoff now if you like on the poor quality of most of the amature content (with some of the Si-Fi video being some glaring exceptions to this) out there but it's like cable tv. It sucked at first but little by little people took notice. Not only that the artists can get direct feed back in most cases that is brutally honest and totally free.
Personally I'm on the web more than listening to commercial radio, watching network televison or watching first run movies. Either I'm a part of the trend or I'm just old? Dunno.
(Man I hope I don't get sued for using the lyric in my comment?)
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Re: The 'MAN' can't stand forever!
Yep, copying a rented DVD as I type this.
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Re: Re: The 'MAN' can't stand forever!
Mirko
Mirko.bretschneider@allianz.de
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Re: The Trend
Myself, I hardly ever watch network television or listen to commercial radio. I do enjoy movies, but not like I used to. I doubt it's a trend because most of the people I work with or talk to spend their time watching American Idol, 24 or some other TV show.
I'm online more than I used to, but that is a function of my job (at least that's what I tell myself to rationalize my surfing).
Not sure where the trend is going, but I've been trying to get out more and spend less time inside at the computer or watching TV.
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Unusally dumb Techdirt subject...
1) It's not shocking for the suits to have different politics than the workers/content providers.
2) Neither greed nor resistance to change are unique to conservatives or liberals. If you think so, your cynicism is inadequate to understand 21st century America.
3) Rapacious business practices are not 'political'.
4) Feel-good 'liberalism' from millionaires with good bone structure is not really political either.
It IS worthwhile noting the incessant and ridiculous portrayal of all businessmen as unrelentingly evile when I'd bet MOST are more moral than Hollywood execs and agents. Guess after 60 years they can't make Nazis the villains in every movie anymore.
What we basically have here is a paucity of creative thinking...
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couple of years.. Do some research... better yet,
lay off the liberal cool-aid...
If I didn't feel sorry for you're ignorance, I'd tell you
to go to hell, but you don't know about it , yet.
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