Hollywood Counterterrorism: Violence, Protest and the Middle East in U.S
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Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2009 Hollywood Counterterrorism: Violence, Protest and the Middle East in U.S. Action Feature Films Jason Grant McKahan Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES HOLLYWOOD COUNTERTERRORISM: VIOLENCE, PROTEST AND THE MIDDLE EAST IN U.S. ACTION FEATURE FILMS By JASON GRANT MCKAHAN A Dissertation submitted to the College of Communication and Information in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2009 The members of the committee approve the dissertation of Jason Grant McKahan defended on October 30, 2009. ____________________________________ Andrew Opel Professor Directing Dissertation ____________________________________ Cecil Greek University Representative ____________________________________ Donna Nudd Committee Member ____________________________________ Stephen McDowell Committee Member Approved: ____________________________________________ Stephen McDowell, Director, School of Communication ____________________________________________ Lawrence Dennis, Dean, College of Communication and Information The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members. ii I dedicate this to my mother and father, who supported me with love and encouragement. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express thanks to Dr. Andy Opel, my committee chair. Since I first stepped into his office in 2003, Andy inspired me with his rebellious free thinking and encouraged me to see the deeper connections between things too often taken in isolation. Together, Andy and I daily observed an absurd world with deteriorating human rights and environmental catastrophe and sought to expose injustice and counter arrogance with resistant voices and compassionate values. I would also like to thank Dr. Stephen McDowell, whose broad background and extensive knowledge provided immeasurable guidance in the formative stages of the dissertation. Furthermore, Steve tirelessly worked in my interest, insuring through flexible teaching appointments that there was always a roof over my head and food on my table. I would like to genuinely thank Dr. Donna Nudd, who invited me into her madcap family of musicians, thespians and artists and schooled me in the values of democratic civil society and the potent role of humor in challenging racism, heterosexism, and injustice to disabled persons. I am privileged to have Dr. Cecil Greek on my doctoral committee. Dr. Greek kindheartedly accepted my invitation to join the committee and brought with him a wealth of knowledge in criminology and terrorism studies. I am greatly indebted to my sage mentors, Dr. Leon Golden, Dr. Mark Cooper, Dr. Kay Picart and Dr. Frank Tomasulo. Leon took me by his side and cultivated my passion for narrative analysis at an early phase, by teaching me to read and interpret Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides in Ancient Greek. Mark introduced me to the exhilarating and emancipating world of critical theory, empowering me to see things in a new light and challenge my students to do the same. Kay turned me from an advanced student to a nascent colleague through a series of fruitful collaborations resulting in scholarly publications. Kay has been one of my most ardent supporters, throwing open many doors of opportunity with her extensive networking and enthusiastic recommendations. Frank has been a brimming font of support; he’s a world class scholar, who loves most of all to share the secrets of the craft. iv I remember fondly the warm friendships in the college. I thank Delray Miller, Josh Meredith, Jolayne Sikes, Jason Smith, Matthew Grindy, Youngrak Park, Erik Peterson, Yarma Velázquez Vargas, Firat Tuzunkan, Bill Lawson and Andy Davis. I would like to thank to Florida State University College of Communications & Information for its generous support in providing tuition waivers and countless other resources that allowed me to prepare for my dissertation research and begin the writing. Shepherd University played a final role with charitable stipends and research grants that funded my various expeditions to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. v TABLE OF CONTENTS List Of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... ix Abstract ........................................................................................................................... x 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 Research Questions ................................................................................................... 10 Sources and Literature .............................................................................................. 10 2. CONCEPTIONS OF TERRORISM IN THE WESTERN PUBLIC SPHERE ........ 12 Defining Terrorism ................................................................................................... 13 Conservative Discourses on Terrorism ..................................................................... 18 Liberal Discourses on Terrorism .............................................................................. 20 Extensive Discourses on Terrorism .......................................................................... 28 Political Economy Discourses on Terrorism ............................................................ 29 Constructionist Discourses on Terrorism.................................................................. 30 Psychoanalytic Discourses on Terrorism .................................................................. 32 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 37 3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................ 38 Political Economy and Media ................................................................................... 40 Terrorism in the Cinema ........................................................................................... 46 4. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 55 Critical Theory .......................................................................................................... 56 Cultural Studies ......................................................................................................... 58 Archival Research ..................................................................................................... 62 Film Historiography .................................................................................................. 66 5. SEARCH FOR WORLD OIL AND ENCOUNTERS WITH THE ARAB OTHER 68 Nature, Arabs, Capitalism ......................................................................................... 71 “National Security” and Oil in the Middle East ........................................................ 74 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 85 6. BLACK SUNDAY: HOLLYWOOD COUNTERTERRORISM IN THE POST- VIETNAM ERA ........................................................................................................... 87 Israel: Special Relationship and National Interest .................................................... 88 The Genesis of Harris’s Black Sunday ...................................................................... 93 Black Sunday as Hollywood Disaster Blockbuster ................................................... 95 Novel to Script ........................................................................................................ 105 Preproduction of Black Sunday ............................................................................... 112 Shooting Black Sunday ........................................................................................... 120 vi Postproduction, Distribution and Reception of Black Sunday ................................ 134 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 144 7. DELTA FORCE AND IRON EAGLE: HOLLYWOOD COUNTERTERRORISM IN THE REAGAN ERA .................................................................................................. 149 Runaway Production and Colonial Culture ............................................................ 150 The Political Economy of Entebbe ......................................................................... 158 Cannon Fodder ........................................................................................................ 165 Reaganite Cinema ................................................................................................... 169 The Delta Force ...................................................................................................... 173 Preproduction of The Delta Force .......................................................................... 175 Shooting of The Delta Force .................................................................................. 181 Postproduction, Distribution and Reception of The Delta Force ........................... 183 Iron Eagle ..............................................................................................................