In light of the impending election season, the world of the arts outside of Hanover has taken a political turn and will likely continue to do so over the next few months. The recently released documentary "2016: Obama's America" (2012), by Dartmouth alumnus Dinesh D'Souza '83, ranked fourth on its opening weekend, even beating out "Premium Rush" (2012) starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. From films to books, politics have taken over.
Last week, we saw the release of the controversial book "No Easy Day," written by a Navy SEAL who participated in the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, which offers literary support for Vice President Joe Biden's motto, "Osama is dead, and GM is alive." This week, however, Bob Woodward's book "The Price of Politics" will offer a rebuttal, poking holes in Biden's motto and attacking Obama's fiscal policy.
The visual arts have also become a battlefield for political advertisements and endorsements. Davis Guggenheim, director of "Waiting for Superman," created a short film for the Democratic National Convention, and film actor Clint Eastwood controversially spoke at the Republican National Convention.
As we await the election, the arts can serve as a means of both realism and of escapism from today's harsh political climate. Hot topics will be covered in such programs as "The New Normal," which will premiere on NBC this week. Other upcoming releases include "Resident Evil: Retribution" (2012), which we hope is no allegory for the upcoming elections, and Dave Matthews Band's new album "Away from the World," which might serve up the needed dose of escapism for returning students this fall.
