For Arnold, material like Oliver Stone's JFK and the popular television series The X-Files reflect the final transition, which began in the 1990s. Cynicism did not disappear; it was supplemented by disaffection. Surprisingly, Arnold points to The Truman Show as one of the prime reflections of this transition, saying that, in some ways, it is "the epitome of conspiracy theory."
That is certainly open to debate, just as it's possible to argue whether Arnold should have examined other films (Enemy of the State) or television shows (The Lone Gunmen). Ultimately, though, his analysis supports his thesis. Picking nits about the most significant or relevant films or shows ignores that it is almost impossible for any work on the topic to be all-inclusive. While Conspiracy Theory in Film, Television and Politics doesn't examine the impact of dozens, if not hundreds, of books, by examining screen portrayals it relies on likely more ubiquitous material.
Arnold, a professor of liberal arts at Montserrat College of Art, generally succeeds in ensuring his book doesn't take too academic a tone. His writing is clear and both it and his analysis are easy to follow. He does, though, tend to utilize an aspect of academic writing. At various points, he summarizes the premise to be discussed, explores and explains why the premise is valid and then summarizes the premise and its supporting exploration and explanation. While such repetition might be advisable in some settings, it can be bothersome for the average reader.
While Arnold looks at a few post-9/11 screen efforts, Conspiracy Theory in Film, Television and Politics is far from the last word on its topic. It simply is too early to assess or predict the impact of those events on the role and acceptance of conspiracy theory in popular culture. Regardless, this is a credible analysis of how and why conspiracy theory transforms and is transformed by American politics, both literally and metaphorically.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
good review, sounds like an interesting book