Political Participation/ Elections

Source: Newsweek

Date: April 1, 2010

Title: The Tea Party Goes to Hollywood

Author: Jennie Yabroff

Summary: The National Tea Party Unity Convention is to be held in Las Vegas in July, and they are also having an independent film festival at the same convention. The Tea Party has arisen from upset Americans from both sides of the political spectrum who want to see change in government spending and taxes. While they lack a centralized organization they have been able to gain political participation and the Independent film festival at the Convention is sure to gain more supporters. The criteria that is looked for in the film is a conservatist message or something that reflects traditional American values. Yabroff makes a joke about how the winner only recieves $2500 in a contest that requires cinematic genius. She gives examples of other independent films such as Juno and Slumdog Millionaire and how their success is still shrouded in their thematic mystery. Yabroff ends the article by downplaying the attempts of the Tea Party to gain support through cinematic propaganda.

Analysis: Yabroff in the beginning of her article relates the Tea Party's Convention to a recent Facebook Group request she recieved. She finds it curious as to how Walt Disney could have hidden messages in their films, and also how the Tea Party is making attempts to put political agenda in an independent film. She brings up famous films such as Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Blindside can have so many double-meanings that it is nearly impossible for one to make a purely conservative film.

My Take: I think the Tea Party is getting ahead of itself with the inclusion of a film festival in their convention. While the media is the best way to reach the most people, it doesn't quite make sense to attempt and make a film out of their message. Yabroff brings up many good points in her various dissections of famous films. It all depends on the ideologies of the person viewing the film. Juno for example could be seen as a conservative message against abortion, or a liberal message that shows a pregnant teen growing up. Either way I think the Tea Party's film festival will change very little in their movement.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/235759