The Pop Culture Cult of Democracy: Observing American
Anti-Communism in the Postwar Period Through Film
Abstract:
In the years following World War II, the United States became a world power claiming Democracy as its key to success. The film industry was expanding, and Hollywood stars became household names. With the rise of the Cold War, the expansion and preservation of democracy also became paramount. It is here, at the intersection of global politics and culture, where there can be a direct observation of how American ideals of Democracy evolved during the early years of the Cold War. This phenomenon stemmed from the perceived threat that communism posed to the American way of life. Anti-communist media whether direct or symbolic was done with the intent to promote the ideals of democracy through the lens of film and the people who brought it to life. The way that the United States tied ideology through culture during the early years of the Cold War enabled the government to push a democratic narrative through undemocratic practices.