Political Framing

With entertainment media becoming more popular than ever before, it is not surprising to notice many avenues jumping on board. Among these jumpers is the political avenue within America. Understanding that less people tune into the nightly news, but rather watch entertainment media such as movies, American politics have exposed new areas of interest. Rather than just wanting the information regarding our country's condition and who would be best to fit certain positions, our society has shown a high amount of interest in areas such as who the politician is as a person. The purpose of this journal entry is to discuss the ways in which the media frames political issues and politicians.

There are four ways the media frames political events and politicians (Van Zoonen 2005). These four frames are quest, bureaucracy, conspiracy, and soap. Three will be focused on throughout this journal in accordance to how they are portrayed within film.

It is almost expected in today’s time that there will be at least one blockbuster every year that focuses on some political event or person. Many of these films use the form of quest to enable the viewer to understand the central plot occurring in the film. Often this central plot will focus on other areas of the politician’s life than just the business side.

The following example of quest is from the film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).

Things to watch for in the clip:

1. The tone of Mr. Smith’s voice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de6f-ij81oQ

Though the entire scene takes place around a bill being announced in the Senate, one can tell by Mr. Smith’s voice that he is certainly out of his element. The beginning of the film portrays Mr. Smith as a simple countryman that is a Boy Scout leader. Throughout the film the viewer is taken on a journey with Mr. Smith as he moves into the position of Senator. As he is moved into the position of Senator he meets other people along the way that teach him the ropes of politics (the lady in the upper seating area). Films that use the frame of quest within their story of a politician, enables the viewer to become connected on a deeper level than just a bill.

While the quest frame focuses on the central plot throughout the movie, the frame of conspiracy attracts viewers by moving against the grain. Though many in our society wish to think that our political figures can be trusted, many films have banked on the idea that there is much corruption in our society’s politics. In fact, some films have even taken a real conspiracy and turned it into a comedy. A great example of a film that adds satire to a historical conspiracy within America is Dick (1999).

The following is the trailer for Dick (1999).

Things to watch for in the clip:

1. Historical truths to the Watergate Scandal

This film was obviously created as a comedy, yet the factual truths to the real American scandal are evident. With a society that often generates their opinions based off of entertainment, I would not be surprised if for some, their only source of knowledge about Richard Nixon was from this film. As seen in this film, conspiriacies that are perhaps even still unknown turn into opportunities for improv. Much like the missing tapes in the real Watergate scandal, the film, Dick, uses this unknown knowledge as a chance to be humorous.

The last of the frames to be mentioned in this journal entry is that of soap. Soap is a word that is most likely familiar to many people in that we often consider day time television shows, Soap Operas. This is exactly what is meant by the use of soap in a political film. It generates drama and emotions from the political event or characters. A great example of this can be seen weekly on a television show called "The West Wing".

The following clip is from "The West Wing"

Throughout this television show the character's personalities grow as the season continues. Much like in our real life political arena, the lives outside of the suit and tie are becoming more and more interesting to the American public. Rather than wanting nothing more than a politician, we now long for a person of high standards that one can look up to in all aspects of life. Television shows, movies, and entertaining news programs, are no longer completely formal. The political lives and events that our country is structured by are just as much a type of entertainment than a weekly sitcom. Our society thrives on media which in turn makes it no surprise that even areas such politics jump on board.