Hollywood Has Turned 'Cryptofascist'

They say Hollywood is liberal, but in fact it's more of a right-wing propaganda machine, writes Rick Moody in the Guardian. From Schwarzenegger to Spider-Man, “the message is there: Might is right, the global economy will be restored, America is exceptional, homely people deserve political disenfranchisement, and so on.” As a result, no one should be surprised by Batman scribe Frank Miller’s recent attacks on Occupy Wall Street, writes Moody.

Miller called Occupiers “a pack of louts, thieves, and rapists,” telling them to “wake up” because “America is at war against a ruthless enemy.” Many were shocked, but really, it’s in line with Hollywood’s message. Look at the film 300, based on a Miller graphic novel. It features the Greeks, American stand-ins, who must destroy a “ruthless enemy” from the Middle East “by virtue of the moral superiority of their belief system and their unmatched courage.” In fact, Miller’s comments benefit Occupiers, because it shows that our political system “requires a mindless, propagandistic (or 'cryptofascist') storytelling medium to distract its citizenry.” (More Hollywood stories.)