PoliBlog: Bias in Entertainment?

June 17, 2024

Bias in Entertainment?

The post yesterday concerning media bias got me to thinking about a different kind of media bias, one that pervades entertainment, where I think a clear bias does exist. Indeed, I can think of several issues along these lines (such as the general portrayal of evangelical Christians on TV and in the movies), but I was specifically thinking this morning about the portrayal of conservatives and liberals in political movies and TV shows. I could not think of an example of a conservative being cast in a good light (and certainly never a liberal in a bad light) in a movie or TV show, but could think of numerous pro-liberal portrayals (with commensurate bad guys being the conservatives).

So, I thought I would challenge the audience to either add to my list of pro-liberal portrayals, or help me out with some pro-conservative ones.

Some pro-lib/anti-con examples:

American President

The West Wing

Dave—it was pretty obvious that Dave was a nice, pro-little guy liberal, and the President he replaced (along with the Chief of Staff who was pulling strings) were supposed to be mean, money-grubbing, pro-business conservatives.

That Supreme Court show (with James Garner) they tried a few years back on CBS—the libs were reasonable and thoughtful, the cons were boors who leered at women or who talked more about football than the law.

There was a show about a Senator (that didn’t last long) on a year or so ago—he was a lib. Actually, there have been two—one about a retiring Senator and his family, with the Senator being played by James Cromwell, and another about a young guy who goes to Washington as a crusader.

I know there are other good examples, but I am drawing a blank.

So can anyone add to this list, or provide counter-examples?

Posted by Steven Taylor at June 17, 2024 10:18 AM | TrackBack

Comments

One particularly insulting portrayal of conservatives can be found in "The Contender."

"Bulworth" - written, directed, and starring Warren Beatty - basically pushes the idea that any politician who liberates himself from the straightjacket of the American political system and speaks honestly about what's right for the country would be advocating socialism as a cure for society's ills.

And, of course, the less said about the obnoxious "Bob Roberts" (written/directed/starring Tim Robbins) the better.

Posted by: Lance Jonn Romanoff at June 17, 2024 11:17 AM