American Sniper: A Wolf in Sheep Dog's Clothing
Among the recent Oscar-nominated pictures, none has attracted as much attention as Clint Eastwood's American Sniper.
A substantial section of the media and film industry predictably hails the film as a worthy celebration of a true American hero. Others, claiming to speak from the left, defend the movie as a complex and ultimately anti-war work. Meanwhile, the timid criticism raised by a few celebrities against the film has been met with a torrent of abuse.
What are the political issues raised by American Sniper and its reception? Which social interests are behind appeals to patriotism and calls to "support the troops?" What is the real record of American militarism in Iraq and the likely consequences of its continued expansion?
In the Aztec Student Union, Metztli.