In the American President one the charming themes is the courtship between the president and Sidney. The tensions come not from the relationship itself but through the power imbalance between them. The president is late for a date not because of a dentist appointment, but because he is in a meeting with the prime minister of Africa. That same date has to be cut short for the fact that an attack was made on an American base in a foreign country, and plans for a retaliation was to be made. The tensions between the president and Miss Wade are made by the separation of there classes. Another tension of this power imbalance presents itself in the fact that so many start accusing Sydney of manipulating the president into what she believes is right. These problems may not be political in nature but they do deal with the issue of social consciousness. Even though Sydney may not have direct political power it is feared that she may have mental and physical influence over someone who does.
When we apply this theory to Wag the Dog, we can see that that the economic structure does in fact directly correspond with the definite forms of social consciousness. The issue of where the funding will come from to create this imaginary war is risen several times by Mrs. Ames, and is settled rather quickly by Mr. Brean. The funding of the war is paid for by the general public through the fundraising of the war effort, through the selling of ribbons, and other such war effort merchandise to the general public. In the world of the film this can be easily accepted but are we in fact rely paying for cover ups like this? Unfortunately we will never know. In terms of the film and true life, if we are kept under the social consciousness of our class, then we will never truly what we are paying for, and in a way buying our own illusion. There then becomes a steady flow of economic standing for those who want it.
�The mode of production in material life determines the general character of the social, political and spiritual processes of life.� (Marx).
�Capital and with it every form in which the national economy objectives itself is, according to Marx, �not a thing but a social relation between persons mediated through things.�� (Lukacs)
If we take a look at president Evans from The Contender we can see that in many ways to him this idea of material production is a joke. When ever President Evans wants a sandwich he will order the most difficult concoction at odd times just to see of there was something that he couldn�t receive as a sandwich. We as viewers may find this idea amusing, but when we think about it the individuals who are working at the kitchen have no choice but to respond in a quick and orderly manner. It is in the job that the needs of the presidents meal be met but this is just one example of the many needs that the political powers have. Pilots of Air Force one, drivers of the presidential limonene, the secret service men and women and even the maids of the white house are all major workers that make a great product that we all see and take national pride in, the symbols of our country. The actual power holders of the society are just as used to there way of life as the individuals who work for the soul reason to make there lives easier. The characters of the each individual involved is thus represented in the jobs they hold and the importance of there position.
In The American President we can take a look at the makeup of the political situations that Sydney herself experiences as constructs of material life, in the political form. The reception of the diplomatic meeting with the Prime Minister of France is a prime example. The ball room of the Whitehouse is decorated in the most elaborate of decorations, with political and military officials strung through out the room. The food that is served is of the top quality, and an orchestra is playing. By all rights none of these elements are necessary, however they are used to make an impression not only on the visiting diplomats but also on the citizens of this country. Each element set in place by means of workers paid to make the illusion of the home advantage. The president even mentions to Sydney how the area of Washington DC is designed to give a frightening image to visitors who come from other countries to form yet another home field advantage.
These theories are the very ideas that Wag the Dog is out to make fun of. In the film it�s self you hear three political commentators make the judgment �The president is a product�. The entire film is based on the plot that the president has gotten himself in trouble and may not make reelection due to these actions, and the work of Mr. Brean, Mrs. Ames, and Produces Motts to make a distraction from this scandal, while at the same time make the president look like a hero. A production is formed that employs hundreds of people to make a person into a product. All of these stages of employment from makeup artists, to actors, to limo drivers to CGI operators are added together to make an illusion of a product that the public buys into completely.
�Those who are exploited may attempt to reduce or eliminate their exploitation, while the exploiters are expected to resist these efforts, or even to intensify them. The Existence of classes thus implies class struggle.� (Greenburg)
In the Contender this issue falls on the shoulders of Laine Hanson. The first woman ever to be so close to have the vice-presidential position, and if that position then perhaps even the presidential position of the current president should die, is facing the opponent Shelly Runion, who himself calls Laine the cancer of affirmative action. This is a perfect example of the power struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed. Even though Laine is one person who is being exploited she represents thousands of woman who are trying to break free of there traditional gender roles and fight for equal rights. Shelly Runion represents many individuals who wishes to keep the power in the hands that it is in now, and not to give any power to anyone who wishes to make change. As a result Laine Hanson places her career on the line in her battle while Congressman Runion does the same. With every passing moment Congressman Runion increases his pressure on Laine to resign form her nomination. When she doesn�t back down with the sex scandal, Runion moves to other forms of slander in attempts to destroy her reputation as a professional instead of just a person.
In the American President a new different form of exploitation has been used. After the discovery of Sydney�s actions in the rally, Senator Rumson takes full advantage and exploits Sydney through her history into making her a weapon against President Shepard in his presidential campaigns. This is not an action that is caused to keep Sydney in her position, however her face is showed with a burning flag and is presented as antipatriotic while she is in herself in the very heart of the political arena. In this case scenario she doesn�t fight back, like the classic male dominate role her boyfriend saves the day. The president makes an emergency speech in order to save face of his girlfriend. This I think is interesting for the fact that Senator Rumson is the oppressor and the one person who can oppress him just did. The film ends there, but if in all reality this scenario did in fact happen, this action could easily be turned against the president, by saying that he is letting his personal issues get in the way of his job. The President himself in ways would become oppressed.