Abstracts of Papers
Philipp Kneis:
Communicating Democracy:
Entering the American Republic Through The West Wing
When we compare German and American films and television, there appears to be a certain genre present within the American context that cannot be found in Germany: a format focusing on the portrayal of institutions of democracy, be it the courtroom drama, allegorical shadows of government in science fiction, or shows like The West Wing. How does The West Wing specifically compare to a line of tradition from biographical pieces, like Shakespeare's dramas about kings, films like "Nixon" and "Air Force One"? How are the institutions in question portrayed, is there a discussion that ties in to current political events? Is there something going on beyond "mere" entertainment?
A version of this paper has been published in:
Picturing America. Trauma, Reality, Politics and Identity in American Visual Culture.
Antje Dallmann, Reinhard Isensee, Philipp Kneis (Editors). Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 2007.
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