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    National Security Cinema by Matthew Alford & Tom Secker Summary

    National Security Cinema
    Matthew Alford & Tom Secker
    3.87 (108 Reviews)
    Politics
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    Economics
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    Overview of National Security Cinema

    Behind 800+ Hollywood films lies a shocking truth: the Pentagon and CIA secretly shape what you watch. "National Security Cinema" exposes how government agencies rewrite scripts, turning entertainment into propaganda while hiding in plain sight. Even "Zero Dark Thirty" wasn't immune.

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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Invisible Hand: Hollywood's Secret Pentagon Partnership

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    Ever wondered why American military forces always seem so heroic on screen? Since 1947, the Pentagon has maintained Entertainment Liaison Offices specifically designed to shape film narratives, with the CIA establishing its own Hollywood office in 1996. Their combined influence is staggering: over 2,500 entertainment products have received direct government assistance, fundamentally altering how Americans perceive their military and intelligence agencies. This isn't just creative storytelling-it's calculated influence hiding in plain sight at your local theater. The relationship works through a simple exchange: filmmakers get access to equipment, locations, and personnel that would otherwise cost millions, while the Pentagon gets script approval rights. The scale is breathtaking-814 films and 1,133 television titles have received Pentagon support, from obvious war films to surprising productions like "American Idol" and "Cupcake Wars." Even seemingly trivial changes serve ideological purposes: for "Jurassic Park III," the Pentagon leveraged a dinosaur battle scene request to secure a "nice military rescue" ending and change a military character to a civilian.

    2

    The CIA Goes Hollywood: Crafting Its Own Image

    3

    Marvel's Military Machine: Superhero Propaganda

    4

    Sanitizing War: The Black Hawk Down Effect

    5

    Rewriting History: Charlie Wilson's War

    6

    Subversion Through Satire: Verhoeven's Resistance

    7

    Breaking Free: Challenging the System