Considering the timeliness and relevance of #Unfit to this week’s module, I have created this thread to discuss the documentary. Avoid polemical approaches (e.g., I like this or hate that), instead addressing how the film employs various aspects of popular culture to make its political points. You may alway wish to comment on how the medium of documentary differs from “pure” entertainment fair like movies, TV, sketch comedy, etc.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465142/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Film Questions
As a spoof of the Bush presidency, what aspects of real life make it on screen in American Dreamz?

An argument is made that the president needs the show more than the show needs the president. How does this relate to the themes of the course?

How important is the popular culture presidency and what does the film show us about that?

Reality TV came of age in the Bush administration, but now a reality-TV star is president. What aspects of the narrative presage the Trump presidency?

The film treats the president as an “empty suit” used as a tool by his advisor (an ersatz Dick Cheney). Does this tell us anything about the office, especially in the current era?

Compare American Dreamz to Obama’s appearance on Between Two Ferns. Are there similarities or are these two totally different phenomena?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnW3xkHxIEQ&list=LL5PMVjyYF1c45iaLBTRXMmg&index=857