“Our earth is degenerate in these latter days; there are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; every man wants to write a book and the end of the world is evidently approaching” - Babylonian tablet, dated 2800 BC
“Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth and banks are going bust. There's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat. It’s like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad!” - Network, 1976
When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ratings.
What was true at the time of Network’s release in 1976 is truer still today. Regarded as a satire, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, later said, “What satire? It’s sheer reportage.” The film foretells the commodification of everything, the erosion of truth, and the rise of the corporation as a global power. Winner of four Oscars (Actor, Actress, Supporting Actress, and Screenplay) and nominee of nine, Sidney Lumet’s film is an incisive exploration into modern society’s relationship with information and the power it holds over us. (ZACH WORTZMAN)
*Guest to be announced.
ABOUT THE "DON'T BE SO POLITICAL" SERIES
Aristotle said that we humans are political animals. That our organizing ourselves into political and social structures are the very things that make us human. From these political and social entities have sprung cities, wonders of invention, social progress, and advancements beyond our ancestors’ most outlandish dreams. However, the story of humanity hasn’t been all sunshine, roses, and fairy tales. To put it lightly. Those stories that define us were once told orally, then through books, and now, they are also told through movies. This series will use a political lens, exploring the historical context and political messages within the films presented. Experts and special guests will be at each screening to delve into their field and expand the conversation into the political sphere.
Not every film in the series will be a ‘political film’. The series will cover all genres. Be it a comedy, romance, thriller, horror, action, musical, or sci-fi, every film is political and can be viewed and discussed as such. At Don’t Be So Political, we will do just that.