Popular Cinema as Political Theory: Idealism and Realism in Epics, Noirs, and Satires [Hardcover]

The book presents cinematic case studies in political realism versus political idealism, demonstrating methods of viewing popular cinema as political theory. The book appreciates political myth-making in popular genres as especially practical and accessible theorizing about politics.Introduction: Doing Political Theory with Popular Films: Styles in Action in Everyday Life 1. An Epic Comeback? Post-Western Politics in Film and Theory 2. Rhythms of Political Satire: Post-Modern Politics in Words, Musics, and Movies 3. Realism as a Political Style: Noir Insights 4. Noir in Paradise: Testing and Twisting Realist Politics Conclusion: Unsettling Idealism versus Realism: Perfectionism in Two Classics of Neo Noir

'In this insightful analysis, John Nelson examines the intersections of popular culture and politics. Treating film as examples of practical reasoning, Nelson explores the ways in which cinematic texts contribute to public understandings of our communal life. He analyzes film through the lenses of genre (epic, noir, satire) and political theory (with particular emphasis on realism and idealism) and concludes that cinematic myth making both reflects and defines public understanding of politics in interesting ways. Nelson's book provides important evidence that political philosophy is neither dead nor confined to the academy, but is an on-going, shared enterprise, actively engaged in by the mass public. Well-written and provocative, this book will interest students and scholars of film, popular culture, history, rhetoric, and politics.' Mary E. Stuckey, Professor, Communication and Political Science, Georgia State University, USA

'Just what do we see at the movies? Fantasy and fashion aplenty, but political theory? John Nelson's answer to this question is both surprising and compelling. Popular films teach their audiences how to think about politics pragmatically and creatively and by using the ideas, although not the terms, that have definelc8