The Power Game: Business, Capitalism, and Power in Film and Television Since the 1960S

Abstract:Given that business as an activity and institution is a central part of the modern world, it is surprising that it is seldom the central feature of films or television dramas. The representation of business over the last sixty years has a number of common features, the main one being a deep scepticism about the moral standing of business as an activity and of the kinds of personal qualities required for success. However this should be qualified by the frequent use of the idea of the Miltonic anti-hero. There are significant changes over the period, in particular a shift in focus from the firm to the individual entrepreneur and a growing interest in one particular business (finance). Positive representations of business are becoming more popular, particularly in India, but there does appear to be something about the culture of film and television making that predisposes its participants towards a sceptical view of the moral standing of business.