Wag the Dog? Part One
Script (by David Mamet) for the film, Wag the Dog. You may also wish to rent or borrow the film to watch it again. Here is a fantastic resource: full cast list for Wag the Dog, plot summary and, best of all, a glossary of vocabulary and idiom with examples.
Make notes on your reaction to the film. Did it seem ridiculous and exaggerated to you? Why do you think the film was made? Was it purely for entertainment or for some other reason?
Watch the following videos at YouTube. You can turn on closed captions if you need to.
Pentagon Blackout (Part 1)
Pentagon Blackout (Part 2)
Pentagon Blackout (Part 3)
Pentagon Blackout (Part 4)
Congress Testimony of Nayirah (before first Gulf War)
Take notes about your reactions to the information presented. Did you know any of this before now? How has this information changed (or not changed) your thinking?
I will post a further assignment before the second week of the holidays that requires a written response. For now, all I ask is that you view and consider the information presented.
7 comments:
My reaction to the film “Wag the Dog” was varied by how I thought it was really supposed to make people feel and how I really felt about it. For example, I thought that it was a ridiculous portrayal of American lives and how they dealt with extreme hardships. I felt annoyed at this because it was hard to differ between the reactions of the characters and what they were portraying to the audience. In “ Wag the dog” the characters to me, seemed to ramble on about some things and others not. They didn’t give a good enough idea of what they were telling the story of. I believe the film was made to give an example of one of the Gulf wars that had not actually taken place but was political in nature, in this case Albania. Whether or not it is purely entertainment or not is up for debate, yet I believe it is supposed to give a message to the viewers that are very cryptic. The message that this portrays may be that only the Government can be trusted to do what is right, or it may be some other message.
-response to a movie (part 1):
I can’t sleep at all these days because I was disgusted by how other people can manipulated and how easily can brainwash us after I saw a movie and the documentaries provided by Brad. Even though we’re denying, no rather defying ourselves to be brainwashed, they’re still brainwashing us constantly. I remember when after showing Iraqi war on a documentary film, American soldiers were up the statue hanging American flag first then the Iraqi flag. After seeing this, I was stunned by a commentary person said this wasn’t a mistake when American flag was up first, they planned this beforehand. And especially, when I hear about Libya’s war, I’m afraid that Libya will be the next Iraq even though the war is going to be different.
-134 words.
As I watched “Wag the Dog” last Friday, it reminded me of how the government has deceived us people numerous times. For instance, when a political figure is trying to become elected or re-elected, they do anything to convince people to vote for them. What bothers me the most is how some do similar things that had been shown in the movie, yet they can get away with it so easily. Such as George Bush and the “weapons of mass destruction” issue. Where were they? How did people believe this? It seems as though we do not really have a choice as we are told, because you cannot distinguish who is the lesser of evil. I believe the movie “Wag the Dog” was made for both entertainment and awareness. Awareness of what the government can accomplish or get away with. Though, this movie is most likely a bit exaggerated because Hollywood has the reputation of making it so. However, it gives viewers an idea of what the government can do, which is unfortunately reality.
-174 words
Hi Hilary, Esther and Natalie.
Glad you're feeling motivated to comment, but please do read the directions for Parts One and Two. I've not asked for a general comment here, but do have two assignments posted at Part Two, one for comment at the blog and the other for homework.
Thanks for your efforts in any case and please do leave your comments up for others to read. No need, however, for your classmates to join in.
hi, brad... sorry to bother you like this, but i thought i saw a post saying that be sure to do the part one as well on a recent post...
Hi Esther,
If you read Part One in full, you'll see that I only ask that you watch and make notes for the videos. The link to the script and idioms is for your information.
The written assignments are in Part Two.
yeah, that's what i thought too but when i saw hilary's post, i did that too sorry for the misunderstanding...i'm doing the hw rite now...^^
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