Mahrad Shahi
Mr. Ahumada
ENG-3U1
2 February 2016
Ideology in Films of the1980s: Rocky IV
Since the beginning of politics, propaganda has been a vital part of influencing people’s views on different matters. Every day people are subject to some form of propaganda. When Ronald Reagan was appointed President, propaganda through film was used in order to shape public opinion in favor of Reagan. Films of the 1980s seemed to all have one reoccurring theme, conflicts against the Soviet Union. In the mid-1980s, as tensions between the U.S and USSR was reaching an all-time high, a sense of fear started to grow amongst Americans. Films of this decade not only aided the morale of people but also were strong factors in shaping general belief. The film …show more content…
Ronald Reagan wanted to prove to the world that the Soviet Union along with communism was collapsing. Even before his presidency, he told many that his plan to stop the Cold War was that “We Win, They Lose”. When Reagan was elected President in 1981, he immediately went on the offensive and questioned the Soviet Union’s policies on several occasions. He once said that USSR was "faltering because rigid centralized control has destroyed incentives for innovation, efficiency, and individual achievement.” He later went on to say that the Soviet Union was in a “great revolutionary crisis” and that a “campaign of freedom” would eventually domineer the nation. It was this attitude that Reagan had wanted from the United States against the USSR. The film Rocky IV shares much of these anti-communist beliefs. American hero Rocky Balboa, a self-determined, idealistic heavily contrasts the cold-blooded, machine-like Soviet Ivan Drago. In one scene, Rocky and Drago are seen training ahead of their clash and while Drago is practicing with the most technologically advanced equipment alongside scientists who examine his every action, Rocky is training with his surroundings and using the earth(e.g. Rocky cutting down trees vs Drago receiving procedural training). This contrast between the two fighters represents the Soviet Union’s potentially harmful power while the U.S.A’s power can be seen as a plan for …show more content…
Ronald Reagan wished to end the Cold War with the downfall of the Soviet Union without major armed action. Even the enormous military budget increase by Reagan was planned. A main goal of his was to involve the Soviet Union in an arms race Ronald Reagan knew the Soviets couldn’t handle for too long. The Soviet Union responded by increasing military budgets but this led to more economic downfall. The Soviet Union started to crack after trying to keep up with America’s out of the blue military improvement. Rocky Balboa performs in a very alike manner to that of Ronald Reagan. After the finale, when Rocky has beaten Ivan Drago, he gives a speech and talk about the conflicts between nations and how one can change. “There were two guys killing each other, but I guess that 's better than 20 million. I guess what I 'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!” This represents how the United States would eventually conquer over the Soviets not by acts of war but acts of negotiation and intervention. The boxing match can be interpreted as negotiations between Reagan and later would-be leader Mikhail Gorbachev as they attempted talks to reduce tensions. Talks that Reagan would in the end be seen as victor
Mr. Ahumada
ENG-3U1
2 February 2016
Ideology in Films of the1980s: Rocky IV
Since the beginning of politics, propaganda has been a vital part of influencing people’s views on different matters. Every day people are subject to some form of propaganda. When Ronald Reagan was appointed President, propaganda through film was used in order to shape public opinion in favor of Reagan. Films of the 1980s seemed to all have one reoccurring theme, conflicts against the Soviet Union. In the mid-1980s, as tensions between the U.S and USSR was reaching an all-time high, a sense of fear started to grow amongst Americans. Films of this decade not only aided the morale of people but also were strong factors in shaping general belief. The film …show more content…
Ronald Reagan wanted to prove to the world that the Soviet Union along with communism was collapsing. Even before his presidency, he told many that his plan to stop the Cold War was that “We Win, They Lose”. When Reagan was elected President in 1981, he immediately went on the offensive and questioned the Soviet Union’s policies on several occasions. He once said that USSR was "faltering because rigid centralized control has destroyed incentives for innovation, efficiency, and individual achievement.” He later went on to say that the Soviet Union was in a “great revolutionary crisis” and that a “campaign of freedom” would eventually domineer the nation. It was this attitude that Reagan had wanted from the United States against the USSR. The film Rocky IV shares much of these anti-communist beliefs. American hero Rocky Balboa, a self-determined, idealistic heavily contrasts the cold-blooded, machine-like Soviet Ivan Drago. In one scene, Rocky and Drago are seen training ahead of their clash and while Drago is practicing with the most technologically advanced equipment alongside scientists who examine his every action, Rocky is training with his surroundings and using the earth(e.g. Rocky cutting down trees vs Drago receiving procedural training). This contrast between the two fighters represents the Soviet Union’s potentially harmful power while the U.S.A’s power can be seen as a plan for …show more content…
Ronald Reagan wished to end the Cold War with the downfall of the Soviet Union without major armed action. Even the enormous military budget increase by Reagan was planned. A main goal of his was to involve the Soviet Union in an arms race Ronald Reagan knew the Soviets couldn’t handle for too long. The Soviet Union responded by increasing military budgets but this led to more economic downfall. The Soviet Union started to crack after trying to keep up with America’s out of the blue military improvement. Rocky Balboa performs in a very alike manner to that of Ronald Reagan. After the finale, when Rocky has beaten Ivan Drago, he gives a speech and talk about the conflicts between nations and how one can change. “There were two guys killing each other, but I guess that 's better than 20 million. I guess what I 'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!” This represents how the United States would eventually conquer over the Soviets not by acts of war but acts of negotiation and intervention. The boxing match can be interpreted as negotiations between Reagan and later would-be leader Mikhail Gorbachev as they attempted talks to reduce tensions. Talks that Reagan would in the end be seen as victor