Politics in Film: An Inevitable Presence

November 5, 2024 Render Q

Article written by RenderQ editors Katherine Faye Nitti and Tryna Okumu

The phrase “all art is political” is a common one amongst artists, and also a commonly debated one. Even when not intended, art will be somehow impacted by the political and social climate of the time and place of its creation. Film is no exception to this. In this article, we at RenderQ explore the concept of politics in film, both intentional and not, and discuss how to utilize it in your own projects.

Politics’ inevitable presence in film:

As defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, politics is “the total complex of relations between people living in society.” It is widely acknowledged that politics permeates many of the discussions we have in our modern culture as people become more conscious of how their intersectionalities impact how the world treats them and others. Because film is an art that finds its roots in impactful storytelling, it is almost inevitable that political undertones will be present in these storylines. This shift in social awareness is demonstrated in the way certain films have “aged poorly.” In recent years, audiences have realized and commented on the underlying negative messages movies from past years have had. This has meant that filmmakers and artists in general have had to consider the messages their stories are spreading and their impact on different communities – which is a good thing.

Some films are very clear about their commentary on the state of society. They raise awareness of people’s thoughts about what’s happening in our world. The global recession during the 2020 pandemic led to a (mini) film genre dubbed “Eat the Rich.” Films like “Triangle of Sadness”, “The Menu” and even shows like “White Lotus” spoke out against socio-economic disparities and the oblivion that might come from being on the higher end of that spectrum. The frustration held by those who struggled with losing their jobs during inflation while the wealthy became even wealthier was a big factor that contributed to the appeal of these films. These “Eat the Rich” films were spearheaded by their precursor: “Parasite.” This film was a model for how a film can inspire discussion around important and relevant issues while maintaining an incredibly intriguing plot and beautiful visuals.

Purposeful Social Statements and Interpretation vs Intent

Alongside the presence of subtle politics, many movies choose to fully embrace the idea of political and social statements as an intentional theme, message, or main plot point. As established, film is a powerful medium due to it being a compilation of almost all and any type of art. This includes photography, lighting, sound, and, of course, story. Because of this, it has the ability to make bold statements on social and political issues. For example, “The Purge” film series that began in 2013, featuring a dystopian near future where all crime is legal for a 12-hour period. These movies blew up in popularity for the world building factors within it that are closely related to modern day socio-political conflicts. It holds evident commentary on modern issues such as class disparity, abuse of power, violence and greed that the medium of film allows to be communicated to audiences. These messages resonated with many viewers and certainly contributed to the movies’ appeal and popularity.

In fact, with the combination of how successful film is at communicating messages, and how accessible and popular cinematic entertainment is amongst the general public, it is likely one of the most impactful forms of art in today’s society. Movies and related media have the ability to inspire others to take action based on what they see on the screen. But inherent in this is also one of its most debated subjects: Artist Intent vs Interpretation, especially in the case of political and social commentary. If a film’s creators intended to communicate a certain political message, is it invalid to perceive it in a way they did not intend? Is a film’s political or social message even present if the creator has to clarify its meaning outside of the work, or should the work speak for itself in its entirety? Are there “correct” ways to interpret films?

There are endless stances one could take on the conflict. In the end, intentionalism (believing the artist’s intention determines meaning) and reception theory (believing meaning is created by interpretation of the art), are both rooted in valid beliefs and are equally important in understanding meaning. Many viewers agree that “The Purge” is intended as criticism for certain aspects of modern politics and economics, something that can be seen when analyzing the film independently, and even more so with confirmation from the creator. However, this does not necessarily invalidate other interpretations. Many social conflicts overlap in their roots and causes, and people perceiving one intended message as a different one is reflective of these shared struggles. Ultimately, what matters is how well you understand your own perspective, and what led you to its conclusion.

Using Social and Political Commentary in Film

As an artist, you do not need to include overtly bold political statements in every project you create. However, by acknowledging the inevitable presence of politics in your film, intentional or not, it can allow you to truly maximize the effectiveness of the story and message you are hoping to communicate. But how could you as an artist incorporate these factors into your film?

One of the most important practices while creating is to consider all perspectives (also an important practice in everyday life). Don’t just think on the surface level about what you are creating. Consider questions like the following:

Why are you creating it?
Why do you care about it?
Who else is going to care about it?
Why will they care?
How could this be interpreted differently than I intended?
How is my message impacted by modern events?

Many movies contain simple plots on the surface, but the creator’s ability to look further into it is what brought out true meaning. Take the recent movie “Barbie”, for example. On the surface, you may think it is simply a film about a toy, which could have easily been approached in a non-political way if it was indeed just that. But the creators thought deeper into the toy, and its history. They considered Barbie’s impact on girlhood, femininity, and gender roles. They acknowledged that these “hidden” social themes are inevitable with their subject, and instead of skirting around them, they were embraced. It’s not necessary to make a message out of everything, but exploring the possibilities of the existing context of what you’re working with is what will make your movie shine.

Art is an incredible tool that is accessible to so many, regardless of their age, race, gender, nationality or socioeconomic status. It has the capability to impact society long after it’s created. In the last few years, it has become increasingly important for artists to keep this in mind while they create. Rather than restricting the scope of your work, taking this into account can greatly enhance your work and make it more appealing to a wider audience