Propaganda in Film

Since the invention and spread of the film industries as mass media platforms, movies have been primarily made for entertainment. Some forms of films such as documentaries are made to inform an audience of certain topics; others are made to promote a product or products (see Product Placement in Films). One other type of film is called propaganda. The definition of propaganda is “information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.”

Movies that propagandize either centralize the plot and main theme around an issue or idea and make it obvious to the audience as to what is being addressed, or they make the issue or idea a bit more discrete to the audience and encourage the audience to “read between the lines” and figure out the underlying message of the movie for themselves. Propaganda movies can be extremely influential and/or controversial. This all depends on who their audiences are and how they are made.

A few popular examples of propaganda films include “American Sniper” (2014), which raises awareness to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among soldiers; “God’s Not Dead” (2014), which encourages Christian values and beliefs in a seemingly heartless world; “Top Gun” (1986), which promotes enlistment in the United States Navy; “The interview” (2014) which ridicules North Korean leadership. These are just few examples that show how diverse topics for propaganda movies can be.

A more recent movie called “Unplanned” is a movie that promotes anti-abortion. The film follows Abby Johnson on her journey to becoming a pro-life activist. She works as a Planned Parenthood clinic director and oversees the operations of many abortions. Johnson then goes through many trials including two abortions and a breakup that eventually come back to haunt her later, but she takes all of her experiences and uses them as a testimony to discourage abortions and encourage birth and life.

Though this movie has been in theaters for less than one month from the time this blog is posted, it has already received a great deal of criticism as a propaganda movie.

One thing to keep in mind is that most people will have their opinions made on controversial topics like abortion. As movie critic Josh Terry stated, “movies like this tend to be judged more on their messages than their production quality, and in this case, most audiences will likely enter with their minds made up. “Unplanned” doesn’t come close to exploring all of the different combating arguments connected to abortion, but the case it makes is sobering to consider.”

To learn more about “Unplanned” click here.