TransformingTransformersinto Militainment: Interrogating the DoD‐Hollywood Complex

In: The American journal of economics and sociology, Volume 76, Issue 2, p. 405-434

Abstract

AbstractThis article examines how the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Hollywood collaborated to manufacture the blockbuster filmsTransformers(T) andTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen(TRF) to sell in global marketsandto sell a positive image of DoD personnel, policy, technology, and practice to the world.TandTRFare global militainment films made by the "DoD‐Hollywood complex" to make money in markets and put the U.S. military before the world in a positive light. To show how, the article's first section defines the "DoD‐Hollywood complex," presents a brief 20th‐century history of its formation, and describes the current DoD institutions, policies, and practices that fuse DoD publicity agencies to Hollywood filmmakers. The second section highlightshowDoD assistedTandTRF's production and contemplateswhyHollywood solicited DoD support. The third section shows howTandTRFput DoD in a positive light. The conclusion addresses some of the consequences ofTandTRFwith regard to democratic theory. By showingTandTRFto be global militainment commodities, this article interrogates the nexus of "reel" and "real" U.S. military power and sheds light on how DoD interacts with Hollywood studios to influence how it gets screened by entertainment media and seen by global spectators.