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Originally Posted by irateplatypus
the predictable rebuttal is always a permutation of the "we do it too" notion. as if a democratic west were no different than nazi germany, ruthless islamists, militaristic japan, or the soviet union. by drawing the moral equivalency line where they have, they effectively are saying that there is no right and wrong or that neither side can claim to have a larger share of it. indeed, if there is no moral difference between north korea and the US (or the UK, canada, italy etc.) then such thinking would be right on the mark.
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I am not taking the position that "we do it too". What I am saying is why should we be upset or suprised when cultural industries make products that reflect the culture and the cultural bias of the world in which it is created?
I am not surprised that the US produces films like True Lies or Syriana. They are two very different types of film that deal, in part, with the same subject. They reflect the rich tapestry that makes up the US experience but ultimately are both very aware of their paying audience.
Two things are at work: 1) the desire to tell a story that will find an audience. 2) Part of finding an audience means giving them what they want to see while (more or less) playing with their expectations within the genre.
Are you suggesting that viewers are so naive that they cannot tell fact from fiction? Perhaps you are right. This turkish film will go and make more suicide bombers. I know after I saw Syriana I wanted to punch oil executives in the face.
Do we know if the stories they are telling are even in part true? If they are, why shouldn't they tell these stories. Isn't that the job of a storyteller? These films are not govenment propaganda anymore than True Lies, the latest James Bond film, Black Hawk Down, etc.
I can understand your discomfort. Get used to it. It's a big world out there and not everyone sees things your way.