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... The film, Wag the Dog, by Barry Levinson, is successful in reinforcing the values and attitudes established on viewers. Wag the Dog is an American satire which demonstrates the unlawful and sinister lengths the American government is prepared to go through to save it’s reputation, and how easy it is to whip up patriotic frenzy in the USA, through media manipulation. ...
Just before we are confronted with the opening visual scene of the presidential campaign advertisement on television, we are presented with the question “Why does a dog wag it’s tail?” to which the answer is “Because a dog is smarter than it’s tail. If the tail was smarter than the dog, the tail would wag the dog.” This written code, which is in the form of a riddle, is implying to viewers that the concept of the dog being the American republic and the tail, the media, has taken a reversal role. Thus the ironic title of this film “Wag the Dog” implies the government and the media, once there to serve the people and people’s needs is now manipulating the public for its own benefit. ... Through the use of filmic codes, we are imparted with enough information in the opening scene of Wag the Dog, to reinforce the notion that the presidency is not about serving the public, and upholding principles such as honour, truth and integrity but it is about looking after the interests and image of the president and other powerful groups such as the media.
Approximate Word count = 1282
Approximate Pages = 5.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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