hey
Political Connection #2:
Military Propaganda
Captain America in real life: Sentinels of Liberty, hope, and Popularity
Captain America
(2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger is one of the main pro military movie that Marvel has produced.
Movie Background
In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers, the main character, constantly tried to enlists in the U.S army. Due to his lack of size and strength, he was rejected and deemed unfit for the military. During WWII, Rogers was accepted into an experimental program to make super-soldiers that could defeat the Nazis. The serum was injected into Rogers, increasing his strength, agility, and stamina, and making him into the perfect super-soldier. Although Rogers wanted to help fight in the war, he was recognized by Congress as more useful to the war as a symbol and was recruited to travel promoting the military and selling war bonds, as the red white and blue themed persona of Captain America. Eventually he though he could and should be doing more for America, and inserted himself into the war to save his friends, and fight for what is right.
Captain America is the protector of America, a model for military families, and a symbol of the heroism of family members fighting abroad. Captain America acted as wartime propaganda. Fans of the comic would join “The Sentinels of Liberty." The Sentinels of Liberty is a fictional youth group formed by Captain America to promote patriotism and national pride. Those who joined received a card with Captain America’s face on it. These comics, and Captain America himself, gave hope to children and adults. Because of this it was during the war when the comics sold the most. Captain America rapidly became the best-selling comic and most popular comic book character of Marvel. About a million copies of Captain America Comics were sold every month. Some troops overseas brought this comic book along with them. The New York Times estimated that comic books were 1/4 of the magazines read by servicemen. The fact that Captain America was about WWII and centered around the military was what made its popularity and success. Once so war ended, so did Captain America (at least for a little while).
Historical Inaccuracy
In attempt to make the military more favorable, there were historical inaccuracies found within the Captain America movie. Gabe Jones, a Black recruit for the army, is selected to accompany Captain America’s "super" team that will fight Hydra, a Nazi organization. This is not realistic or historically accurate considering that in the 1940’s the military was segregated. Furthermore, the army was racist, yet Gabe Jones does not experience any racism that he would have been subjected to. In Captain America; The First Avenger, Marvel presents the military as racially tolerant, treating Jones the same as any white soldier. This inaccuracy adds to military propaganda, painting the military in a better light than in reality. History.com says, "Despite African American soldiers' eagerness to fight in World War II, the same Jim Crow discrimination in society was practiced in every branch of the armed forces."
This movie is all about the military and war. In fact, the United States military worked with Marvel studios design the Captain America character. The Creators of Captain America, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, were members of the Writers War Board, a propaganda organization funded by the government, which was dedicated the the U.S war effort. The cover of Captain America in 1941, was Captain America punching out Adolph Hitler. The movie, Captain America: The First Avenger, glorifies the military. Not only is the movie military propaganda, but the is military propaganda in within it. Steve Rogers becomes Captain America, the next uncle sam, as blatant propaganda in the movie. He is sent to be the public figure poster soldier, to sell military bonds, and promote the military.
Use of Military
Propaganda
Captain America Comics:Symbol, Sentinel of Liberty, and Popularity
Script Notes
(from the Pentagon Hollywood Liaison)
Click on each to view
Key:
Notes to make military look better
Proof of back and forth
connection between production
and Pentagon, regarding the script
Main point: to make military
"Look Great!"
Apology for radical changes
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Military Involvment
The scientist Bruce Banner searches for a cure to the gamma radiation that turned him into The Hulk. While now a fugitive from the United States Army, Banner isolates himself at a soda bottling factory in Brazil. A drop of his blood accidentally contaminated a bottle and killed its consumer, revealing Banners location. Banner ran again and continued his search for a cure when he is faced with a monstrous new adversary, Abomination who has strength that overpowers Hulk's. By teaming up with General Ross, Banner's original nemesis, Hulk defeats Abomination. Although reconciled with General Ross, Banner is still sought after by the U.S government, and again on the run. However instead of seeking out the cure for his rage fueled alter ego, he tries to learns how to control it.
Although this movie is technically the antithesis of military propaganda, the government and Pentagon had major involvement in the production. The U.S government and military are the antagonist. While watching, the audience roots for Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk, and in doing so disparages the military for pursuing him. However, the military portrayal is not as harsh as one might think. In fact the Pentagon provided access to military bases for filming, and loaned numerous tanks, helicopters and other vehicles to the production in exchange for widespread changes to the script. They sent a set of notes on the script with an apology from the U.S Marine because of the radical changes. The government required the removal of references to military experiments on human subjects. The Pentagon also removed a reference to Operation Ranch Hand. this was when the US drop millions of gallons of herbicides on the Vietnamese countryside in order to starve the Vietcong and the general population.
Movie Background
The Contract Between Pentagon/Department of Defense and Marvel
Click each to View
Iron Man
(2008)
Movie Background
Tony stark, the main Character played by Robert Downy Jr., is the head of Stark Industries, a weapons manufacturer for the military. He travels to Afghanistan, with his best friend lieutenant Colonel Jame Rhodes, a military liaison, to test one of his weapons, the Jericho missile. There, he gets ambushed by a terrorist organization called the Ten Rings, along with being fatally injured by the missile he created. Stark was captured and held hostage in a cave where he met Ho Yinsen. Yinsen built a electromagnet for Stark in order to prevent the shrapnel, which was the aftermath of the missile, from reaching his heart. The terrorist offered Stark freedom in exchange for building a Jericho missile for the Ten Rings. Stark and Yinsen pretended to build the missile, and instead worked on a powerful electric generator, the Arc Reactor, for the electromagnet, and a super suit of armor. When the terrorists discovered the plan, Yinsen sacrificed himself, and Stark used the suit of armor to escape. When returning, Stark holds a press conference announcing that Stark Industries will no longer make or sell deadly military weapons. This is because he has seen first-hand the damage that can happen when these weapons are in the wrong hands. However, Stark found out that his father's old partner, Stane, was selling weapons to the terrorists, and steps in to fix it, and in the end, won and announced himself as the superhero, Iron Man.
Use of Military
Propaganda
Military involvement
Historical inaccuracy
To start off, the main character produces weapons for the military. His best friend, James Rhodes, is a military liaison, and member of the U.S Air Force. Colonel James Rhodes is the film’s honorable representative for the U.S. military. Tony Stark is a perfect agent for military propaganda, because his powers do not come from science experiments gone wrong or mythical forces, rather are more grounded and natural. His power come from knowing how to utilize his great intelligence and excessive inherited wealth for justice. The movie seems to portray that Corporate American Ideologies allow the never-ending war in the Middle East for financial gain. This is executed by Stane selling weapons to the enemies of the war. In addition, the military itself is portrayed more as the victim of corporate greed, than the ones responsible. Both Stark and Stane represent the military industrial complex; however, the film directs the backlash onto the enemy, stane selling to Afghanistan. The movie focuses more on the evil of Muslim terrorists than the glorification of the military, which, in speculation, is what the Pentagon wanted for this specific film.
In 2008, when Iron Man was first released, the view of the American military’s entanglement in the Middle East was questionable. Although the nation softened from their hostile nationalistic, post-9/11 attitude, the anti-Middle Eastern mentality was still fresh and centered in their minds. Iron Man epitomized this American philosophy, symbolizing capitalism as the protector of freedom, as he went to Afghanistan to demonstrate a weapon to help in the war, and was captured by the 'evil' Afghans. This film is an anti-terrorist story, made in order to make the invasion of Afghanistan appear noble. It starts with a a terrorist-hostage situation to condemn warmongering. In summation, the movie shifts the blame of war and destruction from private military companies and the military itself towards “the enemy” and making sure these weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands.
The Department of Defense signed a contract with Marvel for the production of "Iron man." The Production Assistance Agreement between Marvel Studios and the Pentagon shows that the movie provided the Air Force an opportunity to improve recruitment.The contract states that a representative of the DoD must be present during any time a military portrayal is being filmed. The government acquired final say on the script and personal appeared as extras. In return, the production has access to military equipment and resources. they filmed at the Edwards Air Force Base, used their air force fighter jets, and real air force pilots.
In the contract is Marvel agreed to work on ‘mutually beneficial marketing initiatives’, including to encourage recruiters to be involved.
This movie portrays the superhero and the U.S military deployed on foreign land to fight the 'good war'. However, in reality the violence executed by the US military is very similar to organizations, such as the Taliban. After the attacks in September 11, 2001, the U.S went to war with Afghanistan for national security and protection of freedom. It was stated that liberating the Afghanistan people from the cruelty of the Taliban was a secondary goal. Yet, the U.S endangered civilians in Afghanistan by maintained a system of arrests as part of its military operation that violates the international humanitarian law and human rights law on Afghani land.
Iron Man is a clean portrait of American heroism and swayed the public to believe its version of what the U.S military was doing in Afghanistan. However, the real events was messier and had more deaths. For example, soon before the American troops left Afghanistan, a strayAmerican drone missile killed seven children.
Important Scenes
Deleted Scene
Black Panther (2018)
Movie Background
A long time ago, 5 African tribes fought over meteorite made of vibranium (an alien metal). After a shaman ingested a heart shaped herb affected by the metal, giving him superhuman abilities, he became the first "Black Panther, forming the nation of Wakanda with the united tribes. As time passes, the nation of Wakanda utilizes vibranium to create highly-advanced technology, and isolates. T'Challa, the main character, returns from a mission to assume the throne while two men, Klaue and Erik Stevens steal a vibranium artifact to be sold to an unknown buyer. T'Challa planned to intercept the deal when he found that the buyer was a CIA agent, Everett Ross, who was severely injured in the fight between T'Challa and Klaue. He is brought to Wakanda where Shuri, T'Challa's sister, can use the advanced technology to heal him. Erik Stevens, the son of a Wakandan who was killed by T'Challa's father for trying to sell vibranium technology to the world, became "killmonger." Killmonger goes to Wakanda, reveals his identity as Wakandan blood, and challenges T'Challa for the throne. Killmonger defeats T'Challah and gains the power of the Black panther. Killmonger enacts his fathers plan, and prepares to ship Wakandan weapons to Wakandan operatives around the world. T'Challa, still alive, went to Wakanda to stop Killmonger's plan, but did not accept how his father left Erik in the U.S when he is part of the nation. They fight again, while Ross helps stop the shipments from leaving. T'Challa wins, and ends the isolation of Wakanda.
Military Involvment and Propaganda
Historical inaccuracy
Black Panther has a white CIA agent, Everett Ross, as one of its 'heroes'. This movie introduces the CIA as a Black ally. Agent Ross assists T'Challa in defeating Killmonger. It was a great accomplishment because the CIA was depicted heroically in a movie that extended to a more substantial demographic than other blockbusters sponsored by the military. The CIA was so glad to join forces with Marvel in this production that it constantly promoted it. For example, the CIA tweeted about Black Panther during the Oscars. Black Panther makes the CIA look better than in reality, and that is propaganda.
Although the movie does talk about duplicitous activity in the CIA, it is glossed over by the heroics of Everett Ross, a CIA agent who is allies with T'Challa. By doing so it leads the audience to believe that the CIA is truly, at its core, the good guy. In reality the CIA has committed several terrible things. They have destroyed democratic leaders, aided in American Imperialism, and most relevant, war crimes against black communities. Making the CIA an ally of a Black community directly ignores facts and is historically inaccurate. If it was, the CIA would have been planning on exploiting Wakanda or helping Killmonger.
Click the picture above to see more on thunderbirds flying on premiere of Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (2019)
Movie Background
Carol Danvers, a former United Sates Air Force pilot who was exposed to tesseract energy, and due to the destruction of the light speed engine, got cosmic powers. With a blood transfusion from Yon-Rogg, and the removal of her memories, Danvers became a Kree-human and a member of the Starforce. During the Kree-Skrull Wars, she was captured by the Skrulls which resulting in her return to earth and the recovery of her memories. With the help of Nick Fury and Maria Rambeau, Danvers recalled her past, discovered that Yon-Rogg and the Kree Empire had been manipulating her, and learned that the Skrulls were only looking for a way home. Danvers rejected her Kree persona, and unlocked her true powers, and stopped the Kree invasion onto Earth, led by Ronan. She defeated her rivals, and set off out into the galaxy to finish what her late mentor, Mar-Vell, started. In honor of Mar-Vell, Danvers became, Captain Marvel.
Military Involvment and Propaganda
Captain Marvel is a movie about a former Air Force pilot who became a superhero; however, it was not only a movie that used military propaganda in it, but was directly used to for air force recruitment. There are videos, such as "Monday Motivation: Taking Flight" (top left), that send the message that the heroics and qualities of Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, a fictional Air Force pilot, directly reflects the real life Air Force. Air Force Thunderbird planes performed a flyover for Captain Marvel's Hollywood premiere. Another flyover happened at Disney. At the premiere real airmen and airwomen were interviewed. Before the movie played in theaters, a recruitment video called "Origin Story" would precede it. The ad's intention was to convince women who are fans of superhero movies to join the Air Force, and become superheroes themselves. Captain Marvel was a great enlistment campaign, especially since the Air Force was lacking in female pilots, because of sexual misconduct. Amazingly enough for the Air Force, this campaign succeeded. The graduating class of 2023 consisted of 31.2% of female applicants, which is the highest it's been in 5 years.
Historical Inaccuracy
The Movie's protagonist, Carol Danvers, does battle sexism in flashbacks, but she moves past it and becomes an Air Force pilot. She is portrayed as strong and empowered; however, there is an issue with the facts. The Air Force and Military has never really fostered a safe environment for women. The movie only touches on mistreatment in the military briefly when Danvers was repeatedly told that women do not belong there. Even so, it glosses over the more pressing issues that servicewomen in the Air Force face, beyond the rude comments, and inability to fly unless its for testing.
A few days before the Captain Marvel premiere, senator Martha McSally testified that she was assaulted by her superior officer in the Air Force. Kara Ellerby, the author of "No Shortcut to Change: An Unlikely Path to a More Gender Equitable World," said, "The U.S military is one of the most dangerous places for women to work because of sexual violence." This movie uses propaganda to cover up the military's systematic issues involving sexual harassment and assault. 1 in 25 servicewomen report being sexual assaulted. This historical inaccuracy does wonders for the Air Force.