David Sirota’s article “How the ’80s Programmed us for War” is dedicated to the topic of military propaganda in the United States. The author raises the problem of using entertainment media for recruitment purposes. Specifically, he points to the Pentagon funding of popular movies in the eighties as the source of the current American culture’s obsession with war. The central research question that Sirota wants to disclose is how the entertainment medium can be utilized for the purpose of governmental propaganda.
The article’s main idea is that excessive exposure to the military movies and themes in the cinematography of President Reagan’s period has resulted in the cultivation of aggressive values in American society. Sirota uses different media types as examples, including movies, such as Top Gun and Red Dawn, video games, and children’s play toys. He articulates that by engaging young Americans’ interest in the image of warfare, the entertainment industry actually influenced many life decisions.
The second argument revolves around the governmental efforts to stir the feelings of nostalgia by replicating iconic scenes from movies and characters in real life. The author argues that it is easy to influence children and young people by forging associations between their favorite films and real-life organizations. This is a particularly acute observation, as it discloses how vulnerable modern generations are to media-driven narratives and entertainment-born prejudices.
The most important point of the article is that the less noticeable propaganda is, the more effective it is. This notion signifies how dangerous the subtle dispersion of ideas may be. It is common for writers to raise themes of governmental control over information and the lack of freedom of speech on other countries. Few of the authors reverse this argument to the United States, as it is a world-renown democracy, which should not have any propaganda itself. Yet, Sirota clearly articulates how movies influence the minds of Americans and promote militaristic spirit without anyone realizing it.
In particular, the way Sirota analyzes Red Dawn is indicative of his view of state-sponsored military promotion in entertainment. He outlays specific themes, which were popular around the time of the movie’s production, and shows how the film reinforces them. For instance, by portraying officials betraying characters in the movie, the belief in the untrustworthiness of politicians is fueled. Another example is promotion of strengthening borders and increasing airline security. Sirota further notes how Reagan issued a warning regarding the Soviet threat. Ultimately, he points out that it was a political campaign of rallying support for the US military initiatives.
Another major point of the article is how easy it is to sway popular opinions. Sirota notes that the years preceding the eighties were full of discontent with the war in Vietnam. Ten years later, Americans were enthused with the images of the US military strength and bravado. Sirota points that there was an increase in enlistment after the premiere of Top Gun. Not only did the movie show the American air force in a positive light, but it also served as an effective recruitment tool.
Altogether, the purpose of the article is to draw attention to the subtle ways entertainment influences ordinary citizens. By portraying the American military and exposing the population to scenes of heroics and bravado, the government achieves the needed opinions and loyalty to its policies. The author uses four arguments in convincing the reader of the threat entertainment poses for society and the free and unbiased viewpoints.
Work Cited
Sirota, David. “How the ’80s Programmed us for War” Salon.