Cold War Cinema represented Hollywood’s most prominent political cinema of the 1980s. These tales of US-Soviet relations are generally seen as jingoistic, Anti-Soviet, warmongering. Students will consider whether such claims really hold up to scrutiny, or whether some of them actually promoted East-West reconciliation through among other things critiques of politicized entertainment.

Learning Outcomes

A sound understanding of:

• Hollywood and the Cold War

• 1980s Cold War Cinema as hawkish entertainment

• 1980s Cold War Cinema as Glasnost Cinema

Preparation

Reading: Prince, 49–80.

1. What themes and positions does Prince argue distinguishes 1980s Cold-War Cinema?

2. What does he argue about Rocky IV?

Home Screening I: Russkies (1987)

Home Screening II: Rocky IV (1985)

Questions:

1. How do these films depict Soviets?

2. How do these films depict Americans?

3. How do these films depict the American entertainment media?