V for V for VendettaVendetta

Politics in FilmPolitics in Film

Constitutionalism and Civil Constitutionalism and Civil LibertiesLiberties

BraunwarthBraunwarth

BackgroundBackground

Guy Fawkes tried to Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament on blow up Parliament on Nov 5, 1605 Nov 5, 1605 (Gunpowder Treason)(Gunpowder Treason)

Government protestor Government protestor acting alone (like V)acting alone (like V)

Both believed that Both believed that destroying a symbol destroying a symbol of power would of power would change the nation’s change the nation’s political directionpolitical direction

Story Driven by how characters Story Driven by how characters changechange

EveyEvey FinchFinch VV Do other characters Do other characters

also become Guy also become Guy Fawkes Fawkes reincarnated?  Why? reincarnated?  Why?

What are their goals What are their goals and achievements?and achievements?

MusicMusic Early on we hear Tchaiskowsky’s 1812 Overture Early on we hear Tchaiskowsky’s 1812 Overture

with Explosions, when else do we hear this? with Explosions, when else do we hear this? Does it have the same effectDoes it have the same effect

Consider the interplay between music and Consider the interplay between music and events in the following combinations: events in the following combinations:

Julie London sings “Cry Me A River” when V and Evey Julie London sings “Cry Me A River” when V and Evey have their first conversation.have their first conversation.

Stan Getz plays sax when V cooks Evey breakfast in Stan Getz plays sax when V cooks Evey breakfast in the Shadow Gallery and also when Gordon Deitrich the Shadow Gallery and also when Gordon Deitrich cooks Evey the same breakfast in his home.cooks Evey the same breakfast in his home.

Just before V shows Evey the explosive-laden subway Just before V shows Evey the explosive-laden subway train, the jukebox plays “Take the Long Black Train.”train, the jukebox plays “Take the Long Black Train.”

How does music help set the mood for various How does music help set the mood for various scenes?scenes?

Role of the MediaRole of the Media Note how various media are used to move the story line Note how various media are used to move the story line

forward:forward: TV news reports, some created as the story TV news reports, some created as the story

progresses, some as archival research. progresses, some as archival research. TV shows as a means of diversionTV shows as a means of diversion Multiple televisions dominating everyone’s attentionMultiple televisions dominating everyone’s attention Public music on the speakers in the London streets. Public music on the speakers in the London streets. Lewis Prothero’s TV commentaries. Lewis Prothero’s TV commentaries. Newspaper headlines and archives. Newspaper headlines and archives. Computer archives. Computer archives. Tax records. Tax records. Surveillance camera images. Surveillance camera images. Gordon Deitrich’s TV show.Gordon Deitrich’s TV show.

ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism Constitutionalism is the idea that Constitutionalism is the idea that

governments should be limited and that governments should be limited and that these limits are necessary for democracythese limits are necessary for democracy

Constitutions are important because they Constitutions are important because they codify the most basic laws of societycodify the most basic laws of society

Constitutions place limits on power and Constitutions place limits on power and establishes rights for the ruledestablishes rights for the ruled

Why not just have laws that would do the Why not just have laws that would do the same thing?same thing?

That would require government to be That would require government to be constantly self-limitingconstantly self-limiting

Constitutions are harder to change and Constitutions are harder to change and thus provide more securitythus provide more security

i.e. i.e. Clear and Present DangerClear and Present Danger

War on Terror in War on Terror in VV

Terrorist threat and motives are Terrorist threat and motives are ambiguousambiguous

Do the terrorists exist?Do the terrorists exist?Whether or not exist, creates a sense of Whether or not exist, creates a sense of

fearfearHow must government respondHow must government respondWith force and promises of security from With force and promises of security from

fearfear““Need to avoid doubt and chaos” so that Need to avoid doubt and chaos” so that

“England prevails”“England prevails”

How does the Government try to How does the Government try to maintain power?maintain power?

Appeals to patriotism: Appeals to patriotism: “Strength though Unity, “Strength though Unity, Unity through Faith”Unity through Faith”

““Articles of Allegiance”Articles of Allegiance” What is faith?What is faith? Surveillance (random Surveillance (random

audio sweeps)audio sweeps) CensorshipCensorship Threat of physical Threat of physical

violence, black bags, re-violence, black bags, re-education campseducation camps

What role do the people What role do the people play?play?

Religion? Is the Church Religion? Is the Church and Jesus vindicated?and Jesus vindicated?

Similarities to Similarities to the the Cuckoo’s NestCuckoo’s Nest??

ResistanceResistance

Hero resorts to violence Hero resorts to violence pretty quicklypretty quickly

Do the filmmakers deal Do the filmmakers deal with the issue of the with the issue of the death of innocent death of innocent civilians? civilians?

Are other options Are other options discussed?discussed?

Is the conclusion Is the conclusion appealing? appealing?

Is it likely?Is it likely?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

V tells Evey that people shouldn't be afraid V tells Evey that people shouldn't be afraid of their governments, but rather that of their governments, but rather that governments should be afraid of their governments should be afraid of their people. Do you agree? Why or why not?people. Do you agree? Why or why not?

The totalitarian Britain depicted in the film The totalitarian Britain depicted in the film clearly needs reform. Is violence a clearly needs reform. Is violence a necessary tool for instigating change in necessary tool for instigating change in such a society? What's the difference such a society? What's the difference between a terrorist and a revolutionary?between a terrorist and a revolutionary?

Can we differentiate between situations Can we differentiate between situations justifying the use of violence and those justifying the use of violence and those where non-violent civil disobedience such where non-violent civil disobedience such as that advocated by Thoreau or MLK as that advocated by Thoreau or MLK would be more effective?would be more effective?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Is V's quest for justice justified by any Is V's quest for justice justified by any means? Why or why not? What are some means? Why or why not? What are some alternative plans he could have enacted?alternative plans he could have enacted?

The film discusses how ideas can’t be killed The film discusses how ideas can’t be killed with force. Do you agree? with force. Do you agree?

What does this say about the general What does this say about the general thrust of the U.S.’s efforts to fight the war thrust of the U.S.’s efforts to fight the war on terror?on terror?

Do you agree with the political suppositions Do you agree with the political suppositions of the film? Are our democratic societies on of the film? Are our democratic societies on the path to oppression and totalitarianism?the path to oppression and totalitarianism?

Civil LibertiesCivil Liberties List the freedoms you enjoy both in your home List the freedoms you enjoy both in your home

and your community and your community List the limitations we have on our freedomList the limitations we have on our freedom Can you understand the reason for these Can you understand the reason for these

limitations?limitations? Civil Liberties are Constitutional provisions, laws, Civil Liberties are Constitutional provisions, laws,

and practices that protect individuals from certain and practices that protect individuals from certain types of government interferencetypes of government interference

Where are they primarily found in the U.S.?Where are they primarily found in the U.S.? Primarily in Primarily in the Constitutionthe Constitution, particularly the Bill , particularly the Bill

of Rights and the 14th amendmentof Rights and the 14th amendment Do people in other countries have these Do people in other countries have these

protections?protections? Why or why not?Why or why not? Failure or success of ConstitutionalismFailure or success of Constitutionalism

What restrictions do we have on What restrictions do we have on our privacy in the U.S.?our privacy in the U.S.?

FBI surveillance FBI surveillance Corporations collecting Corporations collecting

data on consumers data on consumers Internet privacy issues Internet privacy issues Drug testing at the Drug testing at the

workplace or school workplace or school Employers monitoring Employers monitoring

employees’ e-mails, phone employees’ e-mails, phone calls, or bathroom usagecalls, or bathroom usage

Limitations at home or in Limitations at home or in school school

War on TerrorWar on Terror

In any time of war, it may be necessary to In any time of war, it may be necessary to suspend some freedomssuspend some freedoms

Following the attacks of 9/11/01, the Following the attacks of 9/11/01, the government sought and received greater government sought and received greater powers to combat terrorismpowers to combat terrorism

Patriot Act allows government access to Patriot Act allows government access to 213: search home without informing you213: search home without informing you 215: collect information about what books you 215: collect information about what books you

read, what you study, your purchases, and read, what you study, your purchases, and your medical history without probably causeyour medical history without probably cause

216: read parts of your email and monitor 216: read parts of your email and monitor what you look at online without probably what you look at online without probably causecause

ProtectionsProtections How does the government justify limiting our How does the government justify limiting our

freedoms?freedoms? These limitations are necessary to combat terrorism These limitations are necessary to combat terrorism A war on terrorism is an unconventional war where A war on terrorism is an unconventional war where

the enemies don’t wear uniforms and attack civiliansthe enemies don’t wear uniforms and attack civilians This is true, but how do we know the government This is true, but how do we know the government

won’t make mistakes?won’t make mistakes? How do we know our civil liberties won’t be abridged How do we know our civil liberties won’t be abridged

capriciously?capriciously? How do we know the rules will be followed especially How do we know the rules will be followed especially

toward those who are critical of those in power?toward those who are critical of those in power? Can we or should we trust the government to do Can we or should we trust the government to do

what is right?what is right? What about the role of critical thought?What about the role of critical thought? How are these questions are addressed in the films How are these questions are addressed in the films

we’ve seen this semester?we’ve seen this semester?

ThoreauThoreau

According to Thoreau, what enables According to Thoreau, what enables the few to use the government to their the few to use the government to their own ends?own ends?

What makes it possible is that people What makes it possible is that people think they need the complicated think they need the complicated machinery of government and crave machinery of government and crave the order it provides so they ignore the order it provides so they ignore their conscience and sense of justice, their conscience and sense of justice, eschew critical thought, and just follow eschew critical thought, and just follow alongalong

Simply that people do nothing Simply that people do nothing

War on TerrorismWar on Terrorism

Describe any similarities between the Describe any similarities between the war on terrorism in war on terrorism in V V and the and the contemporary war on terrorism in the contemporary war on terrorism in the U.S. U.S.

Is it possible that our government Is it possible that our government could come to resemble the type of could come to resemble the type of government portrayed in government portrayed in VV? Why or ? Why or why not?why not?

What role must the people play?What role must the people play?