Hollywood and Indiewood’s War on Terror: George W. Bush and American exceptionalism in war cinema

Abstract

American exceptionalism is an expression that refers to a multitude of ideas revolving around the belief Americans have of themselves as a nation apart from and above others, different from the Old World, and with a special mission in the world’s history. The idea of American exceptionalism is deeply rooted in the tradition of the United States, dating back to 1630, and has been more or less strongly invoked throughout history up to present time. In the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001, various elements have become the major themes of George W. Bush’s public rhetoric, creating what is now called the “Bush Doctrine”. The decisions taken during his presidency were strongly influenced by the aforementioned idea of exceptionalism which also justified the American interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The US involvement in the Middle East contributed to expanding the already flourishing movie genre of war. The Department of Defense have been collaborating with cultural industries to shape the content of many cultural products; in particular, in the Hollywood’s movie industry, there have been script changes in exchange for military equipment and personnel. To be eligible for assistance, the movies must depict military life realistically and create a positive image of the US armed forces. Hollywood hasn’t been the only source of war movies, but many smaller independent production companies have been releasing movies about the War on Terror: the so-called Indiewood. After the analysis of 40 movies, released between 2008 and 2019 and produced by both Hollywood majors studios and independent companies, the results are pretty clear: Hollywood movies tend to privilege a heroic, exceptional vision of the soldiers and of the United States. Independent productions, instead, not only often avoided the idea of exceptionalism but, when it is present, they usually criticize it. In conclusion, Bush’s exceptionalism not only has permeated his political thought during his presidency but keeps trying to emerge up to present time with the powerful help of the cultural industry. However, a counterbalancing point of view keeps trying to surface, in hope to give a different perspective and the opportunity to reflect on some events that forever changed the world.