V for V for VendettaVendetta

Politics in FilmPolitics in Film

Constitutionalism and Civil Constitutionalism and Civil LibertiesLiberties

BackgroundBackground

Guy Fawkes tried to Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament on blow up Parliament on Nov 5, 1605 Nov 5, 1605 (Gunpowder Treason)(Gunpowder Treason)

Government protestor Government protestor acting alone (like V)acting alone (like V)

Both believed that Both believed that destroying a symbol destroying a symbol of power would of power would change the nation’s change the nation’s political directionpolitical direction

Story Driven by how Story Driven by how characters changecharacters change

EveyEvey FinchFinch VV Do other characters Do other characters

also become Guy also become Guy Fawkes reincarnated?  Fawkes reincarnated?  Why? Why?

What are their goals What are their goals and achievements?and achievements?

Role of the MediaRole of the Media Note how various forms of media are used to move the Note how various forms of media are used to move the

story line forward:story line forward: TV news reports, some created as the story TV news reports, some created as the story

progresses, some as archival research. progresses, some as archival research. TV shows as a means of diversionTV shows as a means of diversion Multiple televisions dominating everyone’s attentionMultiple televisions dominating everyone’s attention Public music on the speakers in the London streets. Public music on the speakers in the London streets. Lewis Prothero’s TV commentaries. Lewis Prothero’s TV commentaries. Newspaper headlines and archives. Newspaper headlines and archives. Computer archives. Computer archives. Tax records. Tax records. Surveillance camera images. Surveillance camera images. Gordon Deitrich’s TV show.Gordon Deitrich’s TV show.

ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism Constitutionalism is the idea that Constitutionalism is the idea that

governments should be limited and that governments should be limited and that these limits are necessary for democracythese limits are necessary for democracy

Constitutions are important because they Constitutions are important because they codify the most basic laws of societycodify the most basic laws of society

Constitutions place limits on power and Constitutions place limits on power and establishes rights for the ruledestablishes rights for the ruled

Why not just have laws that would do the Why not just have laws that would do the same thing?same thing?

That would require government to be That would require government to be constantly self-limitingconstantly self-limiting

Constitutions are harder to change and Constitutions are harder to change and thus provide more securitythus provide more security

War on Terror in War on Terror in VVTerrorist threat and motives are Terrorist threat and motives are

ambiguousambiguousDo the terrorists exist?Do the terrorists exist?Whether or not they exist, creates a Whether or not they exist, creates a

sense of fearsense of fearHow must government respondHow must government respondWith force and promises of security from With force and promises of security from

fearfear““Need to avoid doubt and chaos” so that Need to avoid doubt and chaos” so that

“England prevails”“England prevails”

How does the Government try to How does the Government try to maintain power?maintain power? Appeals to patriotism: Appeals to patriotism:

“Articles of Allegiance”“Articles of Allegiance” What is faith? What is faith? ““Strength though Strength though

Unity, Unity through Unity, Unity through Faith”Faith”

SurveillanceSurveillance CensorshipCensorship Threat of physical Threat of physical

violence, black bags, violence, black bags, re-education campsre-education camps

What role do the What role do the people play?people play?

Religion? Religion?

ResistanceResistance V resorts to violence as his V resorts to violence as his

solutionsolution Do the filmmakers deal Do the filmmakers deal

with the issue of the death with the issue of the death of innocent civilians? of innocent civilians?

Is the conclusion Is the conclusion appealing? appealing?

Are other options more Are other options more realistic?realistic?

Are they likely, in real life?Are they likely, in real life?

Discussion Discussion QuestionsQuestions V tells Evey that people shouldn't be afraid V tells Evey that people shouldn't be afraid

of their governments, but rather that of their governments, but rather that governments should be afraid of their governments should be afraid of their people. people. Do you agree? Why or why not?Do you agree? Why or why not?

The totalitarian Britain depicted in the film The totalitarian Britain depicted in the film clearly needs reform. clearly needs reform. Is violence a Is violence a necessary tool for instigating change in necessary tool for instigating change in such a society? What's the difference such a society? What's the difference between a terrorist and a revolutionary?between a terrorist and a revolutionary?

Can we differentiate between situations Can we differentiate between situations justifying the use of violence and those justifying the use of violence and those where non-violent civil disobedience such where non-violent civil disobedience such as that advocated by Gandhi or MLK would as that advocated by Gandhi or MLK would be more effective?be more effective?

Discussion Discussion QuestionsQuestions

Is V's quest for justice justified by any Is V's quest for justice justified by any means necessary? means necessary? Why or why not?Why or why not?

The film discusses how ideas can’t be The film discusses how ideas can’t be killed with force. killed with force. Do you agree?Do you agree?

What does this film say about the founding What does this film say about the founding of the U.S. and it’s current efforts to fight of the U.S. and it’s current efforts to fight the war on terror ?the war on terror ?

Do you agree with the political Do you agree with the political suppositions of the film? Are our suppositions of the film? Are our democratic societies on the path to democratic societies on the path to oppression and totalitarianism?oppression and totalitarianism?

Civil LibertiesCivil Liberties List 5 freedoms you enjoy that are List 5 freedoms you enjoy that are

guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. List the limitations we have on our freedomList the limitations we have on our freedom Can you understand the reason for these Can you understand the reason for these

limitations?limitations? Civil Liberties are Constitutional provisions, Civil Liberties are Constitutional provisions,

laws, and practices that protect individuals laws, and practices that protect individuals from certain types of government from certain types of government interferenceinterference

Where are they primarily found in the U.S.?Where are they primarily found in the U.S.? Primarily in Primarily in the Constitutionthe Constitution, particularly , particularly

the Bill of Rights and the 14th amendmentthe Bill of Rights and the 14th amendment Do you think Constitutionalism is a failure Do you think Constitutionalism is a failure

or success?or success?

Bill of RightsBill of Rights1)1) Freedom of religion, speech, press, Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, & petitionassembly, & petition2) Right to keep & bare arms in order 2) Right to keep & bare arms in order

to maintain a well regulated militiato maintain a well regulated militia3) No quartering of soldiers3) No quartering of soldiers4) Freedom from unreasonable 4) Freedom from unreasonable

searches and seizuressearches and seizures5) Due process, self-incrimination, 5) Due process, self-incrimination,

grand jury, double jeopardygrand jury, double jeopardy

Bill of RightsBill of Rights 6) Rights of accused persons, right to a 6) Rights of accused persons, right to a

speedy and public trialspeedy and public trial 7) Right of trial by jury in civil cases7) Right of trial by jury in civil cases 8) Freedom from excessive bail, cruel 8) Freedom from excessive bail, cruel & unusual punishments& unusual punishments 9) Protection of rights not specifically 9) Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rightsenumerated in the Bill of Rights10) Any non-federal powers are those of 10) Any non-federal powers are those of the states and the people the states and the people

What restrictions do we What restrictions do we have on our privacy in the have on our privacy in the

U.S.?U.S.? FBI surveillance FBI surveillance Corporations collecting Corporations collecting

data on consumers data on consumers Internet privacy issues Internet privacy issues Drug testing at the Drug testing at the

workplace or school workplace or school Employers monitoring Employers monitoring

employees’ e-mails, phone employees’ e-mails, phone calls, or bathroom usagecalls, or bathroom usage

Limitations at home or in Limitations at home or in school school

War on TerrorWar on Terror In any time of war, it may be necessary to In any time of war, it may be necessary to

suspend some freedomssuspend some freedoms Following the attacks of 9/11/01, the Following the attacks of 9/11/01, the

government sought and received greater government sought and received greater powers to combat terrorismpowers to combat terrorism

Patriot Act allows government access toPatriot Act allows government access to : : 213:213: search home without informing you search home without informing you 215:215: collect information about what books you collect information about what books you

read, what you study, your purchases, and read, what you study, your purchases, and your medical history without probable causeyour medical history without probable cause

216:216: read parts of your email and monitor read parts of your email and monitor what you look at online without probably what you look at online without probably causecause

ProtectionsProtections How does the government justify limiting our How does the government justify limiting our

freedoms?freedoms? These limitations are necessary to combat terrorism These limitations are necessary to combat terrorism A war on terrorism is an unconventional war where A war on terrorism is an unconventional war where

the enemies don’t wear uniforms and attack civiliansthe enemies don’t wear uniforms and attack civilians This is true, but how do we know the government This is true, but how do we know the government

won’t make mistakes?won’t make mistakes? How do we know our civil liberties won’t be abridged How do we know our civil liberties won’t be abridged

capriciously?capriciously? How do we know the rules will be followed especially How do we know the rules will be followed especially

toward those who are critical of those in power?toward those who are critical of those in power? Can we or should we trust the government to do Can we or should we trust the government to do

what is right?what is right? What about the role of critical thought?What about the role of critical thought?

War on TerrorismWar on TerrorismDescribe any similarities between the Describe any similarities between the

war on terrorism in war on terrorism in V V and the and the contemporary war on terrorism in the contemporary war on terrorism in the U.S. U.S.

Is it possible that our government Is it possible that our government could come to resemble the type of could come to resemble the type of government portrayed in government portrayed in VV? Why or ? Why or why not?why not?

What role must the people play?What role must the people play?