# Hollywood leans left: why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2006, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632 "2006-01-19T07:16:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/21 "2006-01-19T14:44:58Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Yeah, that would certainly explain why “Constant Gardener,” “Good Night and Good Luck” and “Syriana” were green-lighted. I mean, everybody knows that the American public was crying out for movies about the evils of McCarthyism, pharmaceutuical and oil companies. Didn’t you see the lines around the block to see “Good Night and Good Luck”? Didn’t you see the hundreds of millions of dollars “Constant Gardener” rake d in? > > Hollywood bosses were ONLY concerned with making huge profits when they agreed to make those films! Making a political statement was the last thing on their minds! None of those movies are “liberal” or even especially political. Your cartoonish and inaccurate descriptions suggest to me that you have not seen any of them. You clearly have no idea what any of them are about. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/22 "2006-01-19T14:51:20Z")
Actors make excellent liberals - they are used to living in a fantasy world. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/23 "2006-01-19T14:58:33Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Actors make excellent liberals - they are used to living in a fantasy world. > > Regards, > Shodan Yup, them there John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Ronald Reagan, they sure did live in a fantasy world, didn’t they? I think part of it is that prolonged work in the artistic fields is going to involve extensive contact with the gay community (for whatever reason, gays seem to be disproportionately represented in these fields), and with that contact comes more tolerance and a tendency toward liberalism. Another part might be that they do more travelling than average folk, and anytime you leave the US you’re going to be immersed in a more liberal culture. Over time that might sway one’s opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/24 "2006-01-19T15:02:07Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I disagree. If you want to sell to the masses, you’ll make heartwarming family fare. Do you really think the guy who greenlighted ‘Brokeback Mountain’ or ‘Syriana’ thought there was a huge movie-going audience just aching to see a movie about gay cowboys or a big-oil conspiracy in the middle east? Note that “The Passion of the Christ” wound up being produced and financed by Mel Gibson because he couldn’t find a studio that would bankroll the project, despite Gibson having a great track record for turning in profitable movies. And of course, it turned out to be one of the most profitable movies of all time. _Brokeback Mountain_ is currently the number one movie in the country. _Syriana_ is not political. I personally always thought the Passion would make money but the reason the studios were afraid of it was not because it was religious but because Gibson wanted to film in original languages. Movies with subtitles rarely make money because Americans don’t like to read. It makes their heads hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/25 "2006-01-19T15:06:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Actors make excellent liberals - they are used to living in a fantasy world. Just the opposite, I think. As **Liberal** pointed out, a lot of actors struggling through their early careers have experienced the very _real_ world of economic hardship: low-paying McJobs, no health insurance, etc. I imagine that gives them some empathy for those in a similar position. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/26 "2006-01-19T15:46:17Z")
Anyone who belongs to the side of the political spectrum which embraces overt religiosity in place of science (ID anyone?) should be very careful about accusing the other side of “living in a fantasy world.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/27 "2006-01-19T16:02:15Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Anyone who belongs to the side of the political spectrum which embraces overt religiosity in place of science (ID anyone?) should be very careful about accusing the other side of “living in a fantasy world.” And the award for “Best Performance in an Irrelevant Tu Quoque” goes to… Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/28 "2006-01-19T16:06:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > And the award for “Best Performance in an Irrelevant Tu Quoque” goes to… > Regards, > Shodan And the award for the most unintentionally funny placement of a signature goes to you as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/29 "2006-01-19T16:10:34Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Just the opposite, I think. As **Liberal** pointed out, a lot of actors struggling through their early careers have experienced the very _real_ world of economic hardship: low-paying McJobs, no health insurance, etc. I imagine that gives them some empathy for those in a similar position. Well, again, this is based on the false notion that only liberals care about the poor. Of course, actors who make it to the top (those few who do) escape economic hardship by entering into a fantasy world. Therefore, they may tend to be pre-disposed to believe in fantasies for other people, too. > [@](#): > > And the award for the most unintentionally funny placement of a signature goes to you as well. I’d like to thank my make-up artist, my plastic surgeon, and all the little people as well. And I pledge to use my award to help children everywhere. You like me! You really, really like me! 😃 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/30 "2006-01-19T16:48:34Z")
I think it’s gonna be really hard to talk about this without implying something about the other side. If we say that they lean left because they care about X, then it necessarily implies that the right doesn’t care about X. That’s why I framed it less in terms of what they care about and more in terms of ideology. Surely, we would all agree that people on the left or right, or people who are libertarian and even authoritarian are capable of caring about the poor. It isn’t a question of what they care about, but of how they believe it is best to address the object of their concern. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/31 "2006-01-19T16:50:55Z")
Once I’m rich, I too will be a socialist. After all, all you need is love. Give peace a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/32 "2006-01-19T16:53:39Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Although not economically paramount, entertainment is perhaps the most _conspicuous_ US export there is. The rest of the industrialised democratic world lies _way_ left of the US, and so it is perhaps not surprising that entertainment stars adopt a more international perspective than the average resident of [del]Dumbfuckistan[/del] the red states. Forgive me, you are my soulmate and friend, and I greatly admire your intellect, but that comment was not becoming of you. I am a rather average resident (or at least an average caricature of one) from a red state: little formal education, simple tastes, a strong faith in God, and fairly traditional personal values (for the most part). And while I realize that I’m no intellectual giant, I really don’t identify with the dumb fuck label. I think that dumb is as dumb does, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that many of the actors and artists themselves come from red states, at least originally. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/33 "2006-01-19T17:10:23Z")
> [@Lib](#): > > I am a rather average resident … from a red state Not under the specific right-wing criterion we’re talking about, _ie._ whether you voted for that particular right-wing dumb fuck of a tyrant in 2000 and 2004. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/34 "2006-01-19T17:21:24Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > _Brokeback Mountain_ is currently the number one movie in the country. What? It won the GG award for best picture, but it’s never been #1 at the box office-- Yahoo list it currently at #9. > [@](#): > > _Syriana_ is not political. Puh-leeze. Syriana is a cartoonish version of the US government as the bad guys. As for the OP, I think there is just a lot of speculation going on and no data. Is it all of Hollywood that gravitates left, or only the most visible part? Along the same lines, why do professional athletes tend to lean right (I assume this is as much common wisdom as is Hollywood leaning left)? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/35 "2006-01-19T17:28:32Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > What? It won the GG award for best picture, but it’s never been #1 at the box office-- Yahoo list it currently at #9. [Boxoffice mojo](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2006-01-17&p=.htm) has it #1 as of tuesday. It’s per screen average has been number one for weeks, it just hasn’t been in very many theaters. It opened a little wider last weekend but it’s still in less than half the number of theaters of all the other movies that it’s beating. > [@](#): > > Puh-leeze. Syriana is a cartoonish version of the US government as the bad guys. Not really. or at least, not that simplistically. _Syriana_ is about how the oil industry corrupts everybody involved on every side, but is is not political in a partisan sense. It’s not about left/right ideology. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/36 "2006-01-19T17:40:29Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > [Boxoffice mojo](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2006-01-17&p=.htm) has it #1 as of tuesday. It’s per screen average has been number one for weeks, it just hasn’t been in very many theaters. It opened a little wider last weekend but it’s still in less than half the number of theaters of all the other movies that it’s beating. Hmmm. There’s something screwy about those numbers. Do you notice that Tuesday, for which it is listed as #1, has $ totals about 1/2 of every other day previously (not just for Brokeback, but for all the movies). That’s got to be preliminary data. Let’s see how it settles out when the final data is in. It’s only listed as #1 on that site for Tuesday (and it gives Tues’ numbers as estimates). I’m sure it’ll get a bump from the GG award, but I doubt it’ll reach #1, but we’ll see. > [@](#): > > Not really. or at least, not that simplistically. _Syriana_ is about how the oil industry corrupts everybody involved on every side, but is is not political in a partisan sense. It’s not about left/right ideology. I doubt most people see it that way. The idea that the US government assasinates heads of states to placate oil executives isn’t what I’d call political neutral. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/37 "2006-01-19T17:40:47Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Along the same lines, why do professional athletes tend to lean right Hard to tell with the jock strap in the way though. ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/38 "2006-01-19T17:45:04Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > [Boxoffice mojo](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2006-01-17&p=.htm) has it #1 as of tuesday. It’s per screen average has been number one for weeks, it just hasn’t been in very many theaters. It opened a little wider last weekend but it’s still in less than half the number of theaters of all the other movies that it’s beating. It’s been number one for one day (Tuesday, according to your site). IMDB has _Glory Road_ has number one. Rating number ones is done on Monday by a weekly gross estimate. I agree with **John Mace** that _Brokeback Mountain_ is number 9. Maybe with a GG push they’ll make number 1 this Monday (but they’ll definitely need to be released in more screens). > [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Not really. or at least, not that simplistically. _Syriana_ is about how the oil industry corrupts everybody involved on every side, but is is not political in a partisan sense. It’s not about left/right ideology. What are you expecting _Farenheit 9/11_? :dubious: I could’ve sworn I even heard George Clooney describe his last two movies as covering politics, which, incidentally, includes _Good luck, Good night_. Have you even seen both movies? I don’t understand your definition of politics and not come away from seeing the political motivations in that movie. What do you think of _Lords of War_? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/39 "2006-01-19T17:47:09Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Hmmm. There’s something screwy about those numbers. Do you notice that Tuesday, for which it is listed as #1, has $ totals about 1/2 of every other day previously (not just for Brokeback, but for all the movies). That’s got to be preliminary data. Let’s see how it settles out when the final data is in. It’s only listed as #1 on that site for Tuesday (and it gives Tues’ numbers as estimates). I’m sure it’ll get a bump from the GG award, but I doubt it’ll reach #1, but we’ll see. The drop off on tuesday is because monday was a holiday…more matinee business on holidays. The last day there’s data for is tuesday and on tuesday it was number one. My point also still stands that it’s per screen average is huge. So the assertion that _Brokeback_ wasn’t a commercially viable venture is hereby put to rest. It was made with an A list cast and director and it’s been hyped through the roof. It also isn’t “liberal” and doesn’t have a political message. > [@](#): > > I doubt most people see it that way. Then they don’t understand what they’re watching. That’s not the movie’s fault. > [@](#): > > The idea that the US government assasinates heads of states to placate oil executives isn’t what I’d call political neutral. What’s partisan about it? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632/40 "2006-01-19T17:51:53Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > _Brokeback Mountain_ is currently the number one movie in the country. _Syriana_ is not political. I personally always thought the Passion would make money but the reason the studios were afraid of it was not because it was religious but because Gibson wanted to film in original languages. Movies with subtitles rarely make money because Americans don’t like to read. It makes their heads hurt. BTW, although I was nit-picking your Brokeback comment, I do tend to agree with you about your disagreement with **Sam**. Particularly in the case of Syriana. The public eats up those conspiracy theory type of thrillers. As for Brokeback, I’m sure the producers are thinking that the time might just be right for a movie like that to be accepted in enough households that it could make money. Even the cast of Will and Grace were joking at the GG awards that you had to have gay characters in your shows these days. What was taboo 20 years ago is standard fare now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632.md?page=3)