Changing Agendas and Changing Concepts in the U.S cinema Case Study: Rambo III (1988) and Body of Lies (2008).

Abstract

This piece of research deals with the changing agendas and changing concepts in the US cinema, as illustrated by the two American movies Rambo III (1988) and Body of Lies (2008). Our dissertation, unlike previous works, aims at examining the illustration of the ongoing representation and construction of foreign partners in the US cinema, according to whether they are perceived as enemies or allies. The portrayal of the Soviets in Rambo III (1988) and the Muslims in Body of Lies (2008) show how concepts evolve to fit the US interests. It purports to examine the role of Cinema in reinforcing American agendas. The importance of this dissertation is to raise the reader’s awareness on how the US gets constantly to change allies and enemies according to its changing interests, also, the way the US cinema affects this change and the way cinema is affected by this change too. In addition, it inspects the way the negative portrayals of the US enemies affect the people of these rival nations. To achieve our purpose, we chose to read the two movies through three different theories. We have relied on Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978) to shed light on the misrepresentation of the Other in the two movies namely Soviets in Rambo III (1988) and Muslims in Body of Lies (2008. We have drawn upon the concept of The Just War Theory in order to show how the United States justified its intervention in other countries, and how it shifts from an enemy to another according to its interests. In addition, Language and Power by Fairclough (1989) helps us to examine how language is used by the US in its cinema to establish a power status to itself and an inferior status for its rivals. Our research paper has led us to the conclusion that, both Rambo III and Body of Lies have the purpose to strengthen the negative depiction of the US enemies, and reinforce the image of the US as the leader of the world and as the guardian of peace worldwide. In addition, these two movies are used as propaganda tools, the first in the Cold War period against Soviets and the second after the September 11, 2001 attacks against Muslims