Media Mindfulness

Here is an ambiguous short review of an ambiguous movie. Rather than spoil the plot, which is fairly nuanced, I’d say that first of all, V is for Vendetta is better than the Matrix Trilogy, the first follow-up by the Wachowski Brothers. The film is not dominated by action sequences, and is philosophically more complex. As a dystopia, the film has the usual tropes of jack-booted thugs, fascists donning couture black and heroic individuals who save the world. What is novel about the movie is that it provides a handy tool set for deconstructing the psychology of power, fascism and terrorism. Located in the very near future, there is plenty of commentary about current events– as we should all know by now, the future is always about the present. The popularity of this film will be a test of the gestalt of our times. Its gray morality surrounding terrorism is a lot muddier than the year following 9/11 when Bush could say you are either “against us or for us” and people would just nod in blind approval.

For the record I’m opposed to all forms of violence, including terrorism and war, so I don’t casually recommend this film, but its nuanced treatment of the matter lends complexity to politics and violence, which John Kerry failed to communicate effectively in the last election. For these reasons I think it will be a positive addition to the pop discourse of our era.

The film’s tag line, on the other hand- “People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people”- is tricky. Like other catchy feel good slogans, such as “Fight the Power,” it sounds better for an ad campaign than as a unifying battle cry. (Hey, wait, it is a an ad slogan- for the film!) The trouble with the phrase is that it promotes fear- that somehow inducing fear is a desired political strategy. That is the ultimate failure of terrorism (beyond its violence): that it doesn’t build community but splatters it. There is no worm hole to community organizing. Typical of media, this film promotes a short-cut to real social change.

Likewise The Matrix also lacked a social strategy. That some Jesus-like character, “The One” (Neo), would save the world is a very disempowering message. When will we wake up to the realization that we are the ones we have been waiting for? No more heroes! No more rock stars! (See, punk is not entirely dead!)

One final thought. The credits roll with the Stone’s “Street Fighting Man,” but it should have been the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK.” Come on, get with it!