"Wag The Dog"

Paper Summary:

Examines the plot of Barry Levinson's 1997 film. Blurring of the division between illusion and reality in the media. Real life conspiracy theories and sex scandal surrounding President Clinton disucssed in relation to film. Media manipulation. Electronic manipulation of events. Controversy created by the film. Political leaders use of media for their own purposes.

From the Paper:

"The film Wag the Dog (Levinson, 1997) had a presidential sex scandal at its core, and it appeared in theaters just as a real presidential sex scandal was becoming major news. This gave the plot added appeal for the audience and made the plot of the film seem even more real, a plot which suggested a blurring of the division between illusion and reality in the media. On one level, the plot of the film would seem highly unlikely, requiring a massive conspiracy and the necessary secrecy to make it work. However, the audience was more willing to accept this scenario after several decades of conspiracy theories suggesting that just such a thing would be possible, with theories extending back at least to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film itself became a touchstone for certain kinds of conspiracies after its release so that people would see ..."

More papers on "Wag The Dog":

• Film Review # 15916 : "Wag The Dog"
• Film Review # 128478 : "Political Concepts in "Wag the Dog"
• Essay # 35147 : "Wag the Dog"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: