The Importance of Popular Culture

The Importance of Popular Culture

I've mentioned a couple of times over the last few weeks that those of us on the right have focused too much on politics, and not enough on the popular culture. Much--perhaps most--of the population pays very little attention to public policy concerns. They pay attention to movies, music, and other forms of entertainment--and the hard left is utterly dominant in that area. This doesn't mean that everything the hard left tries is a success; there are a pile of antiwar movies that came out over the last few years that were complete and utter duds. But when the hard left can restrain its urge to preach, they are successful at changing how ordinary Americans perceive the world.

Sunday afternoon, I was sorting papers for taxes, and I turned on the TV--and I saw one of those reminders of how our side, in the past, has successfully transformed the culture in the other direction. The movie was Death Wish. I can remember when that movie came out how incredibly angry film critics were about it. This was especially so because when it played in New York City, audiences cheered as the hero kills thugs on the streets of New York with an illegally owned handgun.

Go back and watch it again. The production values were a bit low; it was obviously made on a relatively limited budget. There are parts of the dialog that, when I analyze them relative to the general liberal sentiments of the 1970s, were pretty daring. If conservatives want to change the world, making movies that move the discussion among the non-political class is very important. For example: a drama about a small town terrorized by MS-13, if done with some skill, could be an effective tool for increasing mass support for stopping illegal immigration. But the question is whether there is enough capital available to fund such films.