John Belton brings up author Ayn Rand in his discussion on Cold War and post-Cold War cinema. He quotes her as saying “Don’t give your character – as a sign of villainy, as a damning characteristic – the desire to make money” (Belton 285). Capitalism and American culture often go hand in hand, for better or for worse, and we see this struggle reflecting in our artistic expression. Artists tend to be more liberal, but film production companies are owned by individuals with often comparatively more conservative ideals. The “American Dream” is often characterized by an individuals’ ability to rise and succeed economically in this country based on their wok ethic alone. This struggle (between liberal artistic expression in art and conservative financial ideology) can be seen in the movies themselves, if we take a closer look…
is the pursuit of money portrayed as a positive or negative cultural ideal in American cinema? First, choose an American film that was released before the end of the Cold War (1991) that directly relates to these themes. Then, consider how that film portrays these figures such as “bankers, industrialists, and stock specialists” (Belton 285) in a positive or negative light. Does this conflict with or support your interpretation of American ideals?
