George W. Bush: Superstar?

Village Voice film critic J. Hoberman's in-person presentation uses film and tape clips to examine the way George W. Bush is increasingly packaged as a media star. After the presentation, Hoberman visits the bookshop to sign copies of his recent book.

Please note special start time. If President Reagan was an entertainer who mastered politics, President George W. Bush is a politician who's increasingly being packaged as a media star. Thatís one of the provocative arguments in Village Voice film critic J. Hoberman's in-person presentation, (first produced at this yearís Rotterdam Film Festival to a sold-out house).

Using abundant film and tape clips, Hoberman sees it like this: "George W. Bush's elevation to president is something new: real prez as fictional protagonist. Indeed Bush inaugurated his election campaign 50 weeks before the 9/11 Memorial Republican Convention with a telefilm dramatizing his exploits on and after that fateful day. What sort of fantasy figure is the current U.S. president? Spoiled frat boy? Affable cheerleader? Gary Cooper marshal? Reagan in reverse—a pre-sold pol packaged cheerleader? As the canceled comedy show exclaimed, That's Our Bush!" (Program: approx. 150 mins.)

After the presentation, Hoberman visits the bookshop to sign copies of his recent book, The Dream Life: Movies, Media, and the Mythology of the Sixties. "Cultural history doesn't get any better—or scarier—than this," comments Mike Davis.

support credits

Season support provided by the Rohauer Collection Foundation and the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation.

Contemporary films, international films, and visiting filmmakers presented with support from the Ohio Arts Council.