Machiavelli Goes to the Movies

This book argues that the purported Machiavellian dictum 'the end justifies the means' is misrepresented by his reputation as a teacher of evil. According to the authors, even though Machiavelli does counsel the use of force and fraud without regard to ethical considerations, he does so in the service of the common good. It is true that political leaders sometimes need to act against the common good, but this extenuating advice is only meant for political leaders rather than ordinary citizens. Despite popular misconceptions about Machiavelli’s advice, the authors find abundant evidence to support their own interpretation of Machiavelli in popular television programs and films (almost 40 of them). The attempt to illustrate how Machiavelli’s thought pervades everyday lives raises interesting questions about distinguishing between ordinary human cruelty evident in antiquity and the 'common good cruelty' suggested by the authors. By considering why Machiavelli is so unique, readers are given the opportunity to begin to understand why a book like The Prince has withstood the test of time and even inspired a few private citizens to act like political leaders in order to achieve political power. Useful for faculty who have difficulty making Machiavelli’s scintillating and intrepid prose more interesting to students. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduates. * CHOICE *
Machiavelli is one of the most famous philosophers of all time, and the advice he offers in The Prince is noticeably influential in politics and in popular culture. Through the lens of this book we see that we can also learn about Machiavelli through television and film. The chapters in Machiavelli Goes to the Movies piece together significant works of popular culture, and insightfully demonstrate their reflection of Machiavelli's ideas, and what movies and television can continue to teach us about philosophy. -- Timothy M. Dale, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
The devil. Old Nick. Teacher of evil. Murderous Machiavelli. Known by many infamous names, Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli remains one of the most intriguing and frequently misunderstood political thinkers in history. Though it was called ‘poisonous’ by his contemporaries, Machiavelli’s The Prince, his most influential work, establishes a prescription for political realism that continues to frame discussion and policy today. In this book, Eric Kasper and Troy Kozma reveal why. Through movies like Lincoln, Harry Potter, The Godfather and The Hunger Games, and television shows like Breaking Bad, House of Cards and The Walking Dead, Kasper and Kozma bring The Prince to life and penetrate Machiavelli’s mystique. In the process, they offer deeper insights and reflections into Machiavellian thought as intriguing as The Prince itself. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand not just Machiavelli but power and politics laid bare through film and television. -- Joseph J. Foy, University of Wisconsin Colleges