2. Class and Allegory in Contemporary Mass Culture: - American

14 Pages·1999·1.65 MB·English

{5 MATERIAL MAY Hh PROPECTED RY

2

Class and Allegory in
Contemporary Mass Culture:
Dog Bay Afteravon as a
Political Film

‘One of she most peusistent Jeitmativs in liberslism's ieogicat
arsenal, ove of the: most ellecive anui-Marxist argomenis developed
Iny the rherovicof liberator ind anticommnniem, i the notion of the
iampearance of clase. The segment is gencrally conveyed iw the
farm oF an empiriza nbservalion, but ean take a mamber of ferent
forms, the most importanl ones lar us being either the agpeal lo
the unique develoyment of saci Hle sn tho United Scates (a> called
American exoentionaligay), ur the aatiun of a qualitative hee, &
‘quantum leap, between the olde industrial eter and wi go
ames ta he called "post industrial society. in the iat version of The
srgument, we are tl! Veal the existence of the fromicr ann, when
the rel frontiedissppeared, the persistence ofthat “incr” Quotes
‘af a vast continental merke! onimaginable to Europeans) prevnced
the formation of the olr, sully Eurypean class amagonismas, whe
the absence from the United Stiles of u classical ariocracy of the
Baropean type in esid ua secon for the Laure ofa classical haurgeo'e
sie ta develop in this counay ~a bourgeoisie whick wuld thon, fot
lowing the continental model, have generated a classical praletortat
ver agains: itsclf. This 1s what we may call the American mythic
txplanation, and sceme to flourish primarily ix those American Said.
lesprograms which haves vested enleret in preserving the specifciey
ff choir object and in yweserving the bunindariee oftheir discipline
The second version ia Hite less parochial and takes into account
what uscd to be called une Ansericaniamon, not onty of the older
European societies, but also, in ous time, that of the Third World at
well It reflects che realities ofthe tgngition of menemoly capitan
into 8 more puraly-consumer stage-wts sat i lop the fret sie a
lobil sale: and it Bice i lake advantage of the emergence of this
new stage of monopoly eapinaliam lo suggest shat clagsical Marxist
cognomics is no longer applicable, According to thie argument,
36 Clase aul slegore bx Contomporry Mess Cite

sasial hormuyenizetion is taking place in which th older clas dls
ences are disappearing, and which wan be described either as Ihe
embourgevisement of the worker, ar beter stl, dhe iausfocmation,
bf ach Aourgeois aid swurker into thal uew prey anenutzation pelson,
Jmnavwe ao toe sensumer: Meanwhile alanigh most of the ideologies
oof postindustzal stage would hesitate tw claim that valoc as i
{so longer boing proced an consuiner wicty, they are at Feast
anrious tosugyose chat ours is becoming serve contain whic
production ofthe classvad (ypes occupies st ever dwindling percent
Ape of the wark fare.

Now ii issu that the Marxian concept of sucial elats is. cateysey
‘of aincterutl-veatury Butopesa conditions, aed no longer relevant Io
‘oar situation wuduy, then Ui clear chat Marsison maybe se tte
uscum where it can he dissected by Marsologies (tere ee a
Increasing nuuber of those af work sll avtind ws today) md ean ho
Junge incerfere with the developraent of that sireamined and pos.
>ualern legirimalin uf American evoaoaxiewvalutin inthe seventy
and beyond, which is clearly the mon! srgent busines Ibe agenda
‘ow that the older hetoric of « lisscal New Beal type Iberalism
huas siccumbed so nnpkimned obsolescence. On the laf, meanwhile
the flore of a theory of clas seemel lee (anprtane practically and
Politicaty daring the snti-war scuatfumof dhe 19Ads. im whicl a lescks
‘pautwritarianiem, racssm, and sexiem had their we Intel just
cation and logic, and were lent urgeney by che exatenee a the wa
and conten; by the collective practi ul soctel groups, in parlicals
student, blues, roums, sel women. What becoming clemver tage
‘shat the demands fon eyisliey and slice proisciedby such groupe
sxe sot (unlike the polite of sucial class) intrnially subseraive
Rotter, the slogans of optic and the ideale of rac ustice ama
sexual cqualiy were aliadly themselves part and parcel of the Bn
Jighenment ies, inbercnr ual only in a socialise dentneindton of
ceeniinlnm, but wen and afgo in the honacpes revelation agast
the ancien régime. Te values of the chil eights mcvecnens and the
women's taovemen and the antiauiboritarlan egaltariomuae ofthe
stodent's woveent are thos preemincntly axspeable hecamee they
are abscauly-was ideals inscribnl inthe very ideolozy-ol capitalise
ltsel: and we must rake inte account the possltiy that these dae
fre part of te intemal lngie ofthe aystert, which basa fundamental
imterestinsevial equality to the degrvc to which it needs ty teatlarea
88 many of is subjcets or is citizens into identical consumers fale.
hanseable with everybody else. The Macxian pesition-—which im.
cludes the ideas of the Enlightenenons but secs fv around thera in
materialist theory of social evolution: vase on ihe conteary tbat

as om agar 1 Contamponary Sas Cave $7

the systean is eleucturally onahe to relize such ideas ever where it
has gn coomomie sletesl in doing vo

This isthe series wo which the caceuortes of ice and scx a6 wall
a the generational anes of the student movement ace theoretical
subordinate so the categuries of vosial clas, crea where they tay
seer practically and pulitcallsy grew! desl mons rvevane. Yeu |
vn adequate t0 angie the importance of class i the basis lame
tnerlying class scaly beneath a eclaively mone classless appear.
ance. There is, afer ilu reality of de appearances just a3 ach at
reality bein it: ov, ta pu mars concretely, sl ela ip te
merely siniceal fet hut ulga very sbafizanty a function of els
sconstioumes, ane the later, indeed, wns up product, Wie foFtiee
inst a¢ surely us &t $5 prodnved by it. Ths is the point at whieh,
Gialectical Usivking becomes unavoidable, teachingus tat we cata
speak of an underlying “esse ee” of things. of 2 Lundamnial class
structure inhereat a aaystem in which one gromerl pavple peda
salt for noth group. unlessswe alls forthe dies tical paxil
tht even this fundaynemtal "vealiy," aay ne "reafet” ot some hist
wall ganctures than af olhets, and thw the underlying objsce of au
thangs and represen tations—history snl lass suructure is ise
as profounly historteal ws our own cajciy wa grasp li. We may take
fs Ute ote for such + prises the folensing stilt extremely Hegelian
semeuce of the carly Mara: es nt ening thot thought shoul acck
toreallve itl: reality host alsa saree towards thous”

3h the svesent contest, he “thoush:” towards which Feil sikves
fs not gly ar even not yet chive conscious itis rather the seey
reeonditions for euch glasccunsciouscess in sa eal ely ht
i810 sas, uae meuUEMeN! Thal, (er penpls lo become Wore OL Aus
lis, the ulanses be already ly sound acnes iencenible as such. Thus
fundamental requirceseat we sll cil, ni nicoving a fern fim
‘read eather thu from Mars, che cequicement ol igerupiity. the need
fex social really ane evar: ile a9 have desiopall-o the point a
sshleh ist snderdyiogelass saucer ebacomen mproventae in tangle
unis. The poind can be made ba ferent war by uutlerscoring the
tunexpeccedly vital rule that culture wuadd Be cafled en 19 play in such
a process, culrun: uot on’y as an insleteul of ser eeuesness But
even bsfars that ws a sseuptom and 4 sige of posse sell couscious
tess in dhe Fst place, The relationship between clas cimecionemess
‘and igorability, in other words. mail sumthing mare bese thao
abstract knovwlerge, aud implies a mace vl expecisnce Il ie sore
‘isceraland existent tat Ia the abscrect cr ltaties of comms mract ad
‘Mulan social scence: she tier merely amine to come us ob
the sulurting presence, behind day hie, ol she logie of wapitabae
ah 5 Chis and Alger se Cartonponay Sse Can

genductian. To be soe, as Althone tlle the eancep of sezar
res no hove to taste sent None, tad far Fe hes
consleuanr- te posi we bat to be lrseuse hy abeteat
{fat clos rough de angle mein of sly Hn ved and
{Seana ways: and sey thot lasers icon cept
‘haahi aueaos that we have now gone bevond sere abuiract un

Standing un tee hat whol aon of petsonalfatry. calls

Noeyllag, sararee Sgorahig sich tthe dn a callus
nf no longer tat of acrat stony eouutnie nau. To
com igrabe= thao say ile fhe fot place acess
tb our inngiradons the cases have tobe ale tober fa some
‘lrushareeerr in thr um igh ths esos inh be orn

! Slonim our ts iw be taken as a working hypotheals,

‘Weill have thereby aiso already begun to Jastily an approach to
orumerca! Film, as that medium where all, some cmge in the
tlhse character of social reality ought to be detectable. since social
‘ality and the sterconjpes of our experienee a ecerylys social reality
‘ae the raw material with which coromereta] fun snd television are
incetabiy fenced to work. This is my answes, in advan, lo cries
‘who objcet a prin thatthe immense crstsafeanmereal aus, which
inesiteby place their praduction mneet che wynteul of xaulsinational
cmmporations, make any genuinely political conten? in thea untiket,
sand an the concrary ensure commerciab im’ socmiow ay a weicle
fur ideclogical manipulation. Na daub this s 60, we renin om the
level of the intention ofthe Bmmaaker who is baad to be limited,
tunscioasly or unconsciously by the abjentive sleaion, tit isto
fai reckon with che political concent of daily lie, with ihe politcal
lager eich already isheront in the vate ealacial with which the
Flower mist work: such political logie will thew ot manifest tele
sas an uveet political message, nor will f. (rasfiaew the film inv an
‘unambiguous political starorent. Bu i will ceclainly make for the
emergence of prulvund formal contradicdions lo wich the public
“ANGE ipl be Sensi. hother or nor ice paeiesses lhe camcepeval
inatnunents ty undorstand what those vongaclieus mean

In any cave, Dog Day dgiernoon (1978), wuld seem to have a great
deal more overt political cantent thaa sve wad aormally expect to
find ina Hollywood aroductian. tn fact, we Lave oaly to csi af the
CIhstype espiouage drier, or ahe poli se-ou elevision, ta ealine

lat overt poliical cuntent ofthat kind Ie 0 oniuipresent as to be
inescapable in le eulertainment indusmry, is indeed as though the
snajae legacy of the sities was to furnish a ehole neve wade, a whole
Dew set uf chemaries—dhut of the pobitieal—stth hich, afler that of
Se the entertainment industry could reinvest its led) poeadigms

(hess st Aitwors Contemporary Sass Clune 39

vrithous any danger w tel or ko the system: and we snl ake ite
secovnt the possiblity dha is i Cae overtly pliteal or contestatory
parts of Figg Day After wich wil prove te less (oneal Rex
class point of slew

‘But betore this becomes clear, we wiH want to tara litle farther
back, sith the anecdotal material tm which the fin ieee ite poigt of
departure. The wee 01 Lae smut 0 Far removed i ie Laat we canoe
remember il tue wheé twas: of more precely,ragembee Wat Oe
nei found interesting abut it, what zeit worthwhile erawsform
ing into a feauaye sory Hs ov right an otherwise bunal bank
robbery and sicer wit stages, ef the type with ehich counts
newscasts and arauert movieshavs faulted si the pase These
novelties distinguish the robbery cw which Dg Poy dftermacn wat
tobe based: fast leciuwalsympsthized withthe beak robber, booing
a the police av evokius the then etl very voccin Aiea massacre
setund. the bank vobher turned abt to be 8 homoreeial or, mare
properly, 1 have gone through » homexemtal moreiage carcenony
vwith a transsexun), nd indeed later Haima to hace committed the
tebbery in order m finance his partners xex-chenge opera ine faaly,
le television cameras and on che spot telephone tniersiews were 0
heavily involved inthe day-long negoliedione aso gives staking ave
twist €@ the concept of the “media event": andr dbis [eatuxe, we
shuld probably ad he final sub-novelty thatthe robbery Look place
to the cfimaecie day of he Nixon-Aznew nominating convention (i
gin 22, 1972)!

‘8 -work of art that lu been abe: to do justo: to auy one ofthese
xcaliarities by isell would have heen assured of a uaavoidably
Political esonance, The Sidney Two im, faithfully" ueorperating
all dee, ended i having vor Jite—and it probably easy,
although nor ineotvest, w say that they cancel ea: lier out by
projecting a set of cireuustanees coo uniquero hate any generalizable
teaming: literature, 9s Arisuoe Ills ws, Being mre plowophical
Uns history that it shows ut wht can happen, where tas factor
uly shoves whot did happen, Indeed. Ubcliovea case con be made
{ur dhe Jdealogieal.tusxtion af osesezpesute hy sommmertal- culture:
lic repeated stemntspieal use of othenise dictarBu val ation phe.
nomena in.qur present soviat conjuncture —poligeal alten. eh
den revolts, resistance tare bred of oly ccd
of santgiement forthe sysop) sy 4 whole To name something is tb

lamesticate to reler coi ropestedy is 10 persed a frafal aod
beleaguered middle-classpubli it all ofthat fear ot «known and
‘atalogued world and thes sormchov ia order. Sach a process would
then be the equivalent, i che resi of everyday aAdel life, oF tat
IO 5 Chis, snd gor a Ceonrany Mast Cie

ceoplalponhy ewedi, tht cbnostionfaobl sawing
‘cone foul echniquestn dein coteng sss
fice ssf soting I ths the eae, hon lew Beg Pos
‘Smo, wis wrsth ck atrsoa! dell ay be tar
‘eckoverame'o Depysnvaiupulsac tase mada tyler ce
‘asstance of suburban tw poe

Terry othe rast thease. worth Ining a
pausing asa ht the ln at hone Owe afr
Period and epuiwithan appt frtse documents act ket
celal sheen, the fatdbes. he ucsnrs mall seed
tesbes and unpre. Ruc goa beck Unease
Sciroplonuti aan Stns gone ut onen the weauled pare
‘fur tionsnecttonon he besser lins oe ins areas
siragembalinett tic nnn ina ele scras clones
Seas un Amin tees wh he etal davon ie
Scrat trea: mus olsedby ate, cleanse corey
Tike the Manson ure o the Shepherd cae or the ela tee
UeryFaulor uf etherur eine dies hkes Bg eso
“ightng by hal spi teamarsclinacoannenee ea
Mavs.» a wiactoma Wea Pan We wate ceed
a gre deaf could expin wy Dog Duy Rens be hae
Siukng iy consaon wri tse hclonal deconarts whee
Und tey songs tinge ducredsy nescassooretcal
‘sen the sues eatin pa aati ea
‘tihivchpauducumetaicrns on actoaos ee eae
Andie reprisenatin The none power af tbra press tae
teosefaeeeets ir bral onto abdicate tie
iBepinpiia geass occ, abnor recs
{hal ew ever lee bat rely aid tapes rs
ara junction betes form ond conta elatly peace sey
Ais cea gates tm ths of cnsacel Cekectson ee
eats: n moral, oof Ri jana rpc
ane on thes otto ole ates to moet pore oie
atorsip eat movies ad lar ore. tangs wich ne
Semele oyu

Sth" ich tha Dg Das Aer a one oe strona
ef owotuse sarees dest cien pon bee he ee
fon hs theta rns ana aerial eee
eth igs of wonecivat san noni eatery Pee
sharply dertiaes che Lumet fin for any af the IY terecioceea
Ineracos jon reno pei uy wy haben
ng veotets we ate made stu se the dicaee es ne
‘ibving venting nach ae hapmined eden are

Cass ane Ategry 0 Cemtrpevary Mase Cure #4

all chore is. The cometn js. gbsolpte praenge and abmolute truth; thus,
the sestbeUs sf repeesentation collapses the density of Ibe historical
vent, and Hatais 1 back ous in fiction. The older sahues ofall,
Jiving on in commensal lim, empty the ancedatal caw materiel of
fs interest ane vitality; while, paradonically the paleatly degraded
techniques of television narrative, ivemediably condewaed by their,
application to and juslipunition with advertising. cod up preserving
The truch of the even! by underscoring their own distaace from fe
“Meumwhile. itis the very «plendor of Al Pucino's ireuoso performence
‘which mars i off from say possiblity of verimn and irceparebly{
‘ondems itt remain a Hollywood product: the star aylean i und
‘mectally, structurally, rrecilable with aexrrealisty

‘Tis is indced the haste paradan.Fosgnt tw argue and to deepen in
Ure fllosain remarks: tat lal goad about the fil sel oe bed
uct it, ane what is bad about itt om ibe conteary, vather good
in many ways, that cveryshing which tstes ite finetrare pews of
Almmvakiug, with bravura actors, muserender i sper from vuother
point of view, while its historical originality is be seught in places
‘thar must seesnnocidental with sexpoct toils Fulcosle qualities. Yet
this fs not slate of things that eauld have hewn remedied by covet
planning: i is mata mismatch tha cavid have beer wveided bed the
Producers divided up their malerial property, and planned * net
realist documentary on dhe one hand anda glossy rubbery Alot na ih
other. Rather, we have to do here with that unwisulvable.profouudy
sxmpromatic thing which 1s called a contradiction, aid which We
ay expect, i{proporly managed sea intenogated to raise some hase
issues about tie direction of eanteruporary culture and contempora'y
social reality

‘What inclear frum the outsctis lal Dog Day Afternoon isan ambigu:
‘our product atthe level of reception: rvore than tha, thel the Bl is
sw structured chat jt cam be focused in Iwo quite dieser ways vhich
seem to ich) wu yuite distinct nateallve experiences. 'we promised
tw show that one of these narratives sggesiv an evolution, oat least
41 transformation, inthe fgueable class aruculation ok evatyday life
But this i¢ ccrmainly: not the mnst abvions ur the most auvwssible
‘reading of the film, which initially seame to inscribe itself fe very
dllfrent, and for us Inay ste much moxe repressive tradition his
is whal we may Inosely call the exisantial paredignu, in Use oon
(ech sense ofthis rus axing tin that alddle-brow media sceep”
‘two in which in euerent American colar i hus come tn desipnate
Gatch 22 Mailer'z novels, Existentialism here racans nether He
sSegqer uur Sartts, but raver the ame-herof the sal sack, Saul Below:
type, and w kind of self pitying vision of alienation (also meant in its!
2 ase ad Ag Conentprars Bass Cin

vedi cather than is Iwchuival sease), rustration, and abe all
yesterday all-American conerpr—ihe “inability to comsnadeale”
AWhecher tas particular narvative paradigm be dhe cause w the elect
¥ oe systematic pazchologlaation ancl privatization of the Weclogy
ot he lillies and carly istics, iy leas dh ding change mere
lely i the eultaral and narrative rstwn than they da in the more
evely ivoogtcal anc, 0 chat weitas tal Aliamuakers tend 10 fall
Back on paradigms such as this vo would orherwise haverio mmble
ccomnizing s dated, aoonger-fashionable idea. Meanwhile, tis"ua-
equal development” of dhe narrative paradigms through which we
cerplain daily ile to ourselves is then redoubled by another tnd
in vontemporury eunsumecism. namely the rir te the fife, the
‘nostalgia fad or what the French call "la nde née,” in other words
the debiberale subatitotiow of Uae pastiche and iit iun of pat ayes
fo the impossible Invention ol aequante contemporary or pace con
Fempuricy ones (e013 tavel ke Ragtime)

‘Phas, a6 it it were not encigh that ee policical saa elective
lungencies af the sstos ennsiged. Ihe aatichore ang the-ansinewe to
the aéfvess cristo, we mow hon dean being sevived a4 paradosi
ceil sign ofthe pood old days when all wo had to worry aboue wen
ppeychologics problems, mommy, andl whether televisitn would ruin
American culture. Lwauld argue, lc instance, not an: that Milos
Toren’ 1975 One Flee over the Cuckoo's Necr fram the Kesey auvel
vf 1962) $e typical Bien netatgi lim, which rovieey all Ul the
sieveotypical protests of chat bygone uaivicualistic era, le also that,
irtuallyw Coch Sa in disguise, it veduplicales that pevtctlar time
lag by anotler, more chacactorisvically Centra] Europens lorm of
*unecual development.”

Method wecag was the working out of Une ideology of the anti
hhero in thal relatively more enncretarealin uf theatrical styl, voiee,
gesture, which burders on the bahavioval stances wad gestural iin,
Ube interpersoaal languages, of everyday lige, where in indeed te
‘stylization and eit of eloaents alteady present im the parts of the

| American commits, and also the cause an] evade of news kinds
of behavior that azn it to the street and Io Uke teal word, Hece lor
the Bt time pertaps we can understand concretely how whal is beat
‘abun Fig Bay Ailernoon is also what is lent guod about i: lur Al
Pacino's performanes as Scony by ita cer brilbiaase thrusts the Hlan
furthet and further back into the astigusced paradigm of Hh su
Jhoro and the method actor. indeed, che inert contradietion ul tas
‘rformane is even tnoge striking then lal: tur the anther, 28
‘euggrsted, wis predicate! on nen-conemuniciliow aul Sarticulacy,
frum Bréderie Morcau nud Kafka’ X's all the way to Kellow, Wale

less ond Aeon Canteens

a8 Care #83

smu, Rods, and che rest and the agovien an exhalations of method.
facile were pecfoctly ealeulated co render this aaphyaiation of the
split that cannot complete is sentente, But n Pacino's sevund-geaer
lise reapprupriacion cr this style something parsconical hapaens,
namely, thatthe inarticulate becomes the highest form of eapresive.
ess, sha onedles Stamner proves voluble, wl tbe agen over
<ammuncabaly suddcaly tars at to be everywhere Hecully co
prshensible

At this paint, thon, something ditlzrent begins vs happen, and Son
y's stony ceases tu express dhe pute of the isobted fndvidual oe
fheexistencab loner in munch the ore way thatthe zo mater fea
‘which ii drawn—thar of manginality or deviauny bus ceased to be
‘honght of a auf socin and has rather become a new soialcaveqory
{nits own righ. The gesture of ewult aad the ery of rage beg fo
lose their frustrativn.—the expressiew “liapotent rage" hd howe
ereotype of Anvaisteatorytelling from Faulkner, ised, [rom Nor
tis and Dreiser, on au 0 take on another meaning. Not because ol
_33y 2eW politcal content tbe sure: far Soung’s robbery, the politics
‘oF mzargiuaity, is noe much nore than part of the wilde sirikes of
ontemnporary exersdey Life: but rather simply because the gesture
“prujevts"and is undersioat, We mentioned the sappare ofthe awa
‘Goa i eal Lie and in the Famer movie), but That ie ely the swat
sanventional Inscriprion of ths Inugsblerexonance uf Sonny's este
‘thin the flea. Mare significa, it seme to jue, fe the maniest
ssmpalhy.of the suburhan mavingeiog, audience tell, which froca
‘within the tract housing of the soci de contomtbianvrcleery zances
the relevance wits own daily life ofthe reenactment ol lhis otherwise
fairly predictable specimen af arhan crime, Galike the avience ofthe
ogant films, whe had to ctand hy: aad watch the outcast tuereiessly
destroyed hy the monolithic and omnipotent ineticatian of Society
this one has wiluessed the collapse of the sytem's lesiinnacy fad
the capping of the legitimations on sehich h was based): nol ouly
Vietnam, least ofall Wacergnte, mast sigviicandy surely the expert
ence of inflation itsel, which ts the primloped phenomenon thrmugh |
‘which a middle-lnss audience suddenly eovies loan unpleasant cre
sciousness of its svn historicly—dhese are sone of the historical
reasons for that gradual crumbling of those older prosestant-cthi-
lype values (respect fr law and oder, for property, and inaitations)
‘lich allows a middle-class audience to oat fot Shiny. da the lea
uu, However, the explanation miss be sought inthe wry logic the
‘cotumadity system isc, whawe programing ends up lqutdaling even
those ideological values reaper for authority, patriotivts, the ideal
‘of the tamilly, obedience tothe law} ou which the scial and pattial
#1 Class aud Algor in Contonnoray Mass Cure

# ater of the system reste. Thus ideal consumers: cumpared to their

|, pfulestanr-othle ancestors, wit their repressive cthice af duilt and

| work and self-denial —tare oul to be a far more doubt quuudty
than they prdenessurs wene whoa it eames te fighling frcien wa
or honoring your debts or cheating on Sour daring taxes. Par Ene
citizens of some multinational sige of post-inonopoly vapialisn, the
ractcal side of daily fe ie test of tagcanity and a game.ol wits
‘Wagel benvern she consume’ aca she plan! faceless cocrurvion,

‘hese, thea, ate the people who undersisil Sonny’ geste, aad
whose ssmpathies ae strangely itersected an at least arrested by
the whote quite difrent countervultural theine of heuwvecxvalite
Yot such viewers have their counlerpart within the fm mot zo van
sn the sireet cow, which is only a chorustike sign of this implicit
publis for Sonny's ae, as ruher ha the hostages, thanelve, the
‘rumen, cruployees of. zhe branch hank, whiea changing atttodes so

ards Sonny. dbus boronic significant part of yehat thy film bas-to

sho us. Tadrel I would atgue that ow a second reading of the Ble
‘ie Flationship of loom and backeround reverses sacll and the Souny
sharcter—the leo, us We have soen, ala more vonveniunal ance
Dron plo.—now becomes a sinipe pretext forthe eaargence und ree
Visibility of something more Hendamental in what might otheresse
simply seem the background itself. This more tandaments? thing fe
tte sociologieal equivalent of hue wholeselelinuidation ol older deo.
logical selurs by consumes society on wish we hove alia Gone
neared fu here taker th Mare tangle ¢ chetioiztion
othe alder urban neighboxfeads. The phenome is neta hits
city exteivey reéent une; doe is ie uskauwin ether to secialopial
fournalism or-oliterature tof, here is one senge fis Fepresecenion
‘may be seo go all the bay’ buck t Balzae's description uf the
corrosive and solvent aleve of une mchiey evonamy and the tntket
system on the seopy Gemeinsefaltn of the vlder provincial towne
What is Jes well understood is the degree ta sshich this process,
which in the United States was siguliuntly aeederated abc ite cod
fol World War tf sad chus eontermorancaus with the imraductios of
ielevision andthe launchingal the Cold Way, was the aul of deliter:
| ate political deisions ghar can be idewified aml dated. The postsnat
fedecal highway program and the momennun) given t0 Uae Consione,
tow of individual funy dein by veterans’ housing bills wee
‘ssentinl components in the new corporate strategy

The 154 Housing Sot juewdvced Ue iden of eer sasiemace for
Drivate devel ofthe ame ies, en eppronch taba he
tmewal vigonuy peste by dae Goaurnl Eherte Camipony hae

ss nd Ary x Comengrary Mass Cale 1

hams au insure companies. The canter citi were not 19 be
thesis f bows development fo working clas opie: These
Folica and vote dtons elective detercin the patter
Ot indtdnl and exile eveloption! lr the newt generation.
‘he white working elas we fated for fisgeral the center cles
swopero borestvefr the eer poor tthe alive ave da the
Sraumetaness, decable wo patches sary, wasting achtass,
tine family hausesbeyan Ws abe aus Ics promuron ef
‘workers! freomcs and lia am encrmnay sac am WT pane?

‘We may add tla! this vision of the future was fist systeanatically
nied aut on Newark, New Tersey, shih may chus titty lay cli 19
something of the omincus and egendacy quality which sueroonuls tas
smames of the targels of the World War I strategie bombing expert

{Gur there isa huadaewete dietorion tthe vay in which we have
‘raditionally tended Io deplore such developments in eonteinpucary
American society as the destruction of the inner city and the rise of
shopping center culaure.Cn ths whole T wuld chink fe wild be lar
tora thatrehave though! ol thosedevelapmentsasinevitable resus
‘of logic ofconsurar soviely which neither individuals nor politic tre
‘ould do very mech 1) veserae: even radials awe Seem enotend to
ices the continuity botwees the present-day auumaization ofthe older
ononumities and socisiyroups and Mars ays uf the destructive
elects of classical capital iv, rom the enclosuse sage al the way t
the emergence ofthe fxcoey system. What i new uaday. what can fe
sense inthe excerpt from Stauley Aronawsitr’s Fale Promises quoted
shure just as such a in Dog Day Aferioa iell iy the dawning,
realization that sumcone was respansibfe forall th, that sel or
‘menus social transformations were age metly part ol the on-going
logic of the system—although they aze certainly thet coobuc were
also. and abuveal, the eansoquences ofthe decisions al powerful and
strategically placed individuals ara gruxpe. Yer the rveracrzence of
these gronps—the renewed possiility ol once again catching sight of
what Enki wuld have catled the pubjer that bistry of which the
restofusaresillomlyjuct theoljgets this is at tole inderstood a8
{he fesse iers ed information on ue part of scales sevisiomee
Iiscorians; rather, aac very possbilny of necrcins hissors fa this wa¥
ig fee tohe understood asthe funtion uf a fundamental angen
th historical situation uel andaf che punter andlclass elaine that
‘ndeie i.

‘Before we say whal that change is, however, we want to remember
how vividly Dog Day Afirioor explores thy space which fs the elt
45! Cs and Algor in Conterzorary Mess Cite

of thase historical changes, the shesisized neighbor hu with ies de
caving stall businesses gradually beiug replaced by packing lots or
fdhzin stoves. tis mo accident indo Ut the principal circuit of
fcommenieatians ofthe film pasces hel ween The mani-snd-pup stone
Jn which the pulice have set up their headquarters, an! the branch
fbank the teal-ile original sas appropsiately snough 1 broach of
(Clase Manhutin- ia which Soony is holdiag is hostages. us it ie
passible fur le uth of receut arban history lo be expressed within
le fromework of the bank scenes theenseleey: itis enough Io note,
first, hav everyone jn che branch is nothing bul a zalaried eruployes:
‘of ap invinble multinatlons] empice, ard then, ns the fl goes on,
‘thai the worl inthis alveady peripherel ancl decentcred, Fin amens
tally colonize, space x dane ty those dou second las and wader
payable beings who are women, and whore straccurally marginal
Situation is dhus not without analogy t Sony's own, oF at least
reflects iia much the same way that Fhind World preletaviat nigh
rellect minority valence and crime in the Piet. One of the ore
rolitic things abour recent American commercial culture, ined,
has been is willingness to recogniue and to rebreseal at aot 16
passing the sree cocuistonce ant superporition et te America Of
today of social workls as eigily divided froin wach uthor av faa
‘casts system, » Mod of post Bowery sud ur permaneat ‘Third World
‘existence atthe bear! ofthe Fist World isa

Yet chiskindf perception docs nol dtself eonstnure that renewed
clas consciousness we evuked at the heeinning ofthis ery, but a8
stich merely provides ihe material x a Theorie of manginality. for
swew and more virulent populisma. Tha Masian conse} ion_of class,
indo saat bedistingolshed from the arademic bout geoixsacidlog?
alone aboseall by itseinphasis on relatlonality For academic sociob
by, the sual clases are worerstoad i wofiticn from ench ober,
om the order uf subcultures ur independen! eroup “lle styles" the
Feequently sed term “sbotvuu" effectively omveys ths view ol inde
Deudent socin’ units, whieh ionplies im ware that each ean he sed
separately, withoul reference vane anather, by some reacarshee wo
pes oa nw the lied. So we can have monngraphs on che eulogy
of the professions stratus, on the political apuihy of tho sceetarial
strato, xaisolorl, Fr Rtarsirn however, shescempiical ber
ons do nol yet pensiate othe simitural rally of the class ster
‘which it ses as being eascntially dichotomaus, si feast in that laest
and lest social fomalion of prehistory which is capital: “The
‘whole of socter.”afaos semtonceed the Camus Marifesto tll
bs, imoreasingly sl ito te gre heatlecarmps, inte two Brest
lasts direcely eonfromtingane anoaher: Uke Bourgeois and the ro
letaviat,” To which we nmst only ad fi dat this undertving stanly

(lass and Algo se ContanrororeStass Caton #37

slishotomous elas antagunism only Becomes fully visible evipisteally
in limes of asaluteerives and polarization, thet ie to say. pattie
bho. the moment of secial evolution sell: und 2) thee i & hence
lorth worldwide classsystem the opposition in question aveevidently
4 good deal more coo plicated und dificult w reconstrice than Uv
‘yee within the mors representational, o Highcable, Frames Te
older nation stat.

This sued. eis evident that a Marxian theney ul efssses valu te
esiuctuciag of the Ragmentary and uneefted datn of empirical
bourgeois suciulugy in a halisie wan tein, Lukice would ay, af
the social lousy, or, 3 his slagonist Althusser would have iu ud a
“progivea complex hicrazchacal simian of dormant and subord
nace eleteris "Inciher case, te radomn sb groupings of academ Is
sociology would ind thelr place in coterrainatallhough somctin
anvhivalent, structeral pottqnn with ropact t the dicheterou ore
Position of the wo fundamesia! social clasas IReinselves, abet
‘hich faanvative recent work Ts thinking, for Ihe Boungecicie, of
‘Sartre's Flaubert trilogy, forthe proletariat, of the Aronenite book
alresdy quoted from—has demonsisated the meshwuisaus by which:
‘each cla defies itself in verms af the viher and eonsilutes virtual
‘onticlass with respect eo the other, aud thir, fom mvert ideological
values al the way own tathe most aparently non-political, “merely”
culewal festutes of evervday Bi.

The difference berween the Marsan view uf structurally dichoto-
roous classes and the academic socielovica pictore of indepentent
strata is however more chon a mevely jatllectual one: ave agin,
‘consciousness of solal reality, or om the avher anna the repression of
Uke ewareness of such reality ssc detecenimed by social helng' in

‘Miaux’s phrase and is thezefore a fanction af the social and historical

shuation A remarkshle sorvological investigation by Rell Babrendort|
has Indeod eanfirmed the view thae these ewoapproaches tothe social
<lassey—the sescemte snd te Mlorsist--ave shemaslves clanecomdi

Fionedl umd allet the stichural perspsctives af iby two fundamental
LARS postions tNembsctven. Th td thoes on the higher rags oF thy
sbcial ladder who tend ts fornolate their view ol the torial ord
looking down at it, as separote strate: while those om the boty
toking up tend to muap deit social enperience i ler of the star
‘oppusitiva of "them" aid “us.”

"But W this iss, then the representation of vitlaiced classes in
igolation «schether in the person of Sony biznsett vs u marginals or
the hank’s clerical workers as an exploited group-~is not ecough to
constitute @ class system, let aloue co preipitare a hegluting con.
aciousness nf class im its viewing pablic. Nor are the repented rolen
fences to the absent bunk management sufficient tn Ganslora the
| Clas end Agony Conentponar Mss Cale

situation ito a genuine clase relacivasbip, sinee his term dies aoe
Sind conse representetion—ur figuration, so rotorn to our earlier
torm—within the Elis macrarive steal, Yee mucll represencation is
present in Dog Day Afiernoun, and it ls this unexpected apmentunce,
inva part of the film whore ene would vo wormatly lok for i thet
‘eonstituresits pretest interes in the prewen cemtest our poasibilgy
of focusing it beiag as we have argusd directly proportional to ous
ability tv let go of the Sonny siury atd to relinguicds thove older
| navtalive babits chat program 140 fol ihe indvtloal experiences
ola eso ran antéliry, racher thin the weplocion a te texted the
‘operation of meaniag i other, aculum narive hagments.
ue can dh this —iod te have beguat todo so when we ane oiling
toroverse the mbiway ite, and mead Sony's roleas hu ofa anes
pretext forthe rewsalion of chat colonized space which isthe batch
bun wit ts peripheralizod.cr macgionlize werk free thei what
levy comes to oScupy te ile: scenterafgranily isthe ag ion oursite
{he hw self, ead io porticalar che szrugple facprecedcuee better
tera poice andthe EBT oficieta. Now there are varios aye oT
plaiting this sit of loss, none af them wrong: for one thing, we
ean ohserve that, anee Sunny has buen ellcetively banca ded inside
fhe bank ecu a0 Tonge

placement ofthe acting can be understood ag the neceuaive sItempS
topeueratean authuricy fire whocan deal diectly wilt hit ovthoee
surcunbing to his cam. Bod this aot pet a matter of narrative
dynamics it also iuvulves an ideclogical newer to He fundamental
guests lunes magia auchoricy cada, hun to conceive Stnaghsae
ftxely— tht i i non-aestract, wun-canceptial fom -ol a pitti
of authority thst cai eapréss the essential impersenatily-and reat.
indliiduaiistl: amseraref che. paver sraclyce of our society le
still operating aenong rel peopl, ia the tangible ecctaaltice of daly
life and indistdalslalions of nevssion? ‘

4 tea tha the Bure ofthe FBT agent (Tawaes Brvdevick) cepre-
sents a nacrative solution zo this ideological eoutradirion, and the
‘ature of the solwdion is underscored by the chavacterologteal styles

{ofthe TBF ayents nad the lace! polie eff, Maroti (Charles Durmiagh
| whose impotent rages and passionate iuctimpetence are there, aot 80
| much to urn him, s¢ rather 10 se ofthe cou! wud technoeratie
i expertise of his rv). non sense of evumse, this contrast is what is
‘mowadys coms tae called intertrial one: this fs aot realy the
eacouiter of wo characters, wha represen two “ilvidual,” but
‘other theensounuzruf twona.isineparadigms, indeed oftwo as.

tess wt Algor Councnpnory Mase Cars 49,

lave stermol pos: the clsan-ent Eire Zuibacit. type EBLagent, ll
sci Eftes Pures, and ie earthy ahaa cop whose television at
odimenis aye so rxaltiple sto be eraurasting: LBL mecis Rojekt
Yet ons of the rst effective things in the lm, al the n:ost awe,
tunpression lef bs Dog Day Afternouac the area ul performanve,
surely noc sp nich the Febte iru ol Al Farino ae rather ei
slistic oppasily, tho starkdy hlank aad wrsutiontes, expressonlers
‘suless of the EBL dian himéelt Ihe giving Igoe, behind sshiel
sdeasiunieaking i reduced wa (oelévelaped mo) puee 3eebriguc ye.
‘whi judgmanesanel uosesaracate are atery inatoeysible to Hye
tis either sithin og sthour the Blmie farms, is da of thee rina
alorniny uchievermenis of secant Acxiean movicinakiag, and Mey
be said ww embody sterething Ue the truly oe rathew dierent bot
fenatally acial gene, ie epionage [ter whore it bas tended a

remain o'v'nscnted by she cumbersome theslngical apmouits of ©

ialootie a) Goud and Feil

Meanwhile, che more esiztential andl private Irapie visions of dhs
ind ot hghre—'im thinking of te haeauen (Dewver Pyle) in Arif
esu's Borie end Cyde(1963)—projoe.y nemesis hich ig still aie
vwutvdl by personal vindictiveness, so inst dhe proveos of tracking the
sictim dost retuins a Kiva of pastfon of a atill ryrzable hecsn
ype: Penn's wore recent Fhe ASissuet Breaks (19761 Ire to Wake on
wlvuncs of this personalized dramatization of hy iupiscahliy ot
sana instiatiogs By chau dls enforcer vith keneralzed pace
nia and, incidewtally,furmishiagg Marlon feundo wich the scene
‘sl outa his supreme bravura periormances| ur it is a relly much
laut iuprawement and dhe wv remains lakod fo the palBios of +
solPpityiny ara Individustitic vise of history

1h Dog Day Atenoom, however, ake aeganization man is neither”!

vindictive nor para; he isin Ibis seuss quite boond he good
and pvt} uf comentiona) malodeanes, and inatirssible to any of tht
Psythologizing srevearypee thas are ndulgsd fn mont of the este
al represenations of the poveer al inateusiany; hiv waongnts Las
tures mark a chilling ard nnezpevtel ingetton oie real tate ibe
oshenwvie refatively proditable hamewctk of the fiction Bim aed
this not, as we have potnied wet sarive, by mnitiona documentary
vr montageecuniques, bul rather thrawgha kindof dinectieofenmans
lations on the level ofthe site of acting hind of sHese ur charged
absence in a signsvstem in which the oles anodes af nesfarmacee
have progtammed us for dlleea kind al enpress-veness

‘Wow the basic contras, ae bolwcen the police chieFared the BRI
ert drmmatires » social and histories: change which was unce ay
ienpoclant theme al purliesrsture bur cowhich we favs today became
0 accascaned as 6 hae lust Out senlvigy eas 1 teks very afer
81 Css nd Mager on Comergenery Ma ce

ent win he novels of ok O'Mara and the sielogical nvetigoe
tos of Wright ils documenta gradual betineees Ulseeetoy
af leal and stato-we power struciures ard leaershin ve cathe
astovekabtaational sd, a our at tie, millinasnal case Thick,
fake anta hierarchy of Gibbsllecomng nie dalosonanecoren,
‘sth the nw wealeh ave! the new poligel Nears of she Recs
Deal et: tink-eneu shane recent for aur preane herpes ook
ch sss of Guest anid hy ht power or he faces
place snull-cive Me slations A di older atm oae so tke
alniraciumot audop-vige pcr (1 rns allealy sagened Eee
ineacy sepesntation of police op n spacatoed dene ee
“he pole leienant that cones to nearest he vate behdonrtecs
and iupeten agtaion af the local power srccures wed ea tn
infection a our easing, siya ferbreuve seectinn Ge ahs
allegcien!suuctare of Box ay afer udony cheats ee
Tight day. The PBLagent, rs that we hare sureeedot eadboahe,
ing bats sapeseder eos se oetays thc iaseof th eens
snl degealzed power newock wich marbse prose ooh
Hol sage of monypaly capitalism. The very absence me encnee
‘aeons sigh and an expres the resenewasnence cornet
over inunr daily es allshaping wud urmnpoest and yekeeele
Reecutblem fguable terms. tha wtosaysin he reeecerioele ee,
ulinditdeat actors or agers The FAY tan is Uns the soured
apport ol he sccreasal seat te Branch ban the lator oer
inal tei enistentiol huiicilty, bur meeschtal and utters eas
fBvolzed, the former su uepersouulzed a tbe ihe meee hey
‘atler—in he empickal world of everyday fool fe de ag
1 Bewipeer ails ofthe pace ol ava power ace conte
Yel wih cs the shadowy ebdinet te foro hase
snulinatioal ssporace stoctute hat arene bec ooreeatenn
‘sec history. the potsibiliy of peouine Rgurusen ace ae
Doss ofa Mind of hegnng adequate clos ounestouseers Hoe
Js given. Now che wuss struc ol the fim becomes antcelated
Si ges the fs. that Newly Smiéad els Boipeais oF te
Gites huss “‘prelaianisiton” aoe manieliatin emcee
both bs the wvimen smplovers on the one ond dy the Reeeees
au the otter {Sunny ond hit comp, Sal Lk Catal, bee ls
tte cos ial an embodiment ofthe logo warsnaliy that cone
llth was fe the normal’ deviances of emasceualg edly
tite ote pathoogis ef Sal's paraiola tnd Ries levee See
do] wansseratites eesonetlotl ie wmticued by the latent
Posen strwlues ofa fora ealgliborhoods, which eopntentonee,
Shion he dhecaonaibourgensiesel the Thicd Want lose el
sted ofthis obder content, let vith thle taaee thas the lies

Chasse Alagoy sn Concengaery bse Chas + 5

Stalls ond extean) cupping of authority and daxision making. fi
nally, of cause tba muliinasonal expt io ehh ie ser
Zlinglaners of one world baye evolve, and whose primacy ie in
Sserthod inthe spat rectory ofthe in wala t ores rom te
Bhediced squat ofthe bunk interior (6 that ere aL mpersont
stenae itv lu lscape othe airpor tinal a crmprete space wit
atinbabisals uuestytechaologaed and futon 3 place Boje
Sane con alke~culloctivs yet wiaont peel outa aod
fomputrized, jel widhou any of vhat older atopan oe dystopian
slamer, withoot any ol rio il isnt qualces hot career
dae the then sil "mevera” and stteamtined func vision of
comperate future in tor awa recemt pas. Hota in ty blank sql
acting ofthe FBT agento~tho fi malceapowerdl sonencepteal
int by destroying is cw nunc ces and eanccling wm arcady
Dower, yt eoutentiva, Sie and petormatve language

“Two nal obsarvations abot ee work the one about tale
sestheticand politicaleffeets th other abot ite historiealeo li
SF possibility. Let as take the second prey fst we ave here
Fepeutedly stressed the depecionce ofan altve figuration of less
conscinstoss on the historical sinuation, We le stewed both the
disholomons natare ofthe clase suet, pe the dependence of
elias consciousness Jee ou the logic of the social and historical
‘onjuaclere, Marv’s diccnm, spa conciousness deleeained by so-
fal being, holds for class couselousniss elf Yess tho for any
the fn, We must now tevere Icy la make prod one iz, and
Say why if sone new and renewed pomsibiiyof lass naciousness
sins at teas Tainlly detectable, this shoud be the ene nove and
today rather sn tem or event years ago.

ar the answer to dhs questian cam be gwen canckey and dec
sively: tis imp in the very exprewsion, "multinational toepore
tian,” which~-as great inom ny be nce a of her re
inrealty expressions of American capitalist) would not have been
{vented had not sonething new rade emer which acted to
demand ancw namefor ite lsces abe sine thatater the le!
‘The Vietnam War, the socalled snllinthenl corporations Wel
sed 10 be call the “ruling classes" ov lter an the“ poner cite”
Imonopely espitalism “have once again ewesgo in public fom the
swings of history to adusuce ei owe apes: Theft af the a
“as meant that the advgacemmear ae wend caplet revolution ww
dle moss om the native ef erp ans ul La um govern.
"els, Teinercasingly pil el prctensonsof the globe corpuracion
a hus unavoidable be ley insta mem ore pic expose,
land expovore carries with tte isk of inereased hostiliy* Bat i
‘ur tem, the psychological language of the authors ol Glebe! Resch
‘ay be tuslated as “lass vonsciossee ad with chis new histo
al vigfsbly coszalism become obieetibud und dremscized su
Bi aie ACA ajc of slur wich a allpariea! ssa aut
‘implciy tat Nl nen the case sae the 19208,

[Now i ial wor ul the eden mica fons of the fl self
ad the complete ofthe kin of alfagurival structure we has
inte tae Can Dag Day Astron be said fo be a political fen?
Surly nt scicetheelasssyston we have ber tkingabout iiecels
lamplicit in tune can jet a6 easily he ignore or repressed Dy te
viewers as boul tw cuaseiousnes. What we haye Seva dese bing
‘au hese something pacpultics. Uae gradual rarictlacion o dis
‘ese ateral ofa flea ot ers Kind in erm an yladionshis Which
ste ace sgoin, afer the ui) pulitcal sme privatizing. "exten
paradigms of the fortes aval lies, eu, guizebly Dove 9 clase

Yel we shoul uke undsrstand that the use of such mncerial is
sch more complicated and prublemeneal than the letminclogy of
sornsentilion woul suggest Fadeed, the proces by sth clase
Structure lids exprsion in the sriaagulaesclatinnship within the
film berwoen Sona, te police chief, am the IBY rig, we hove
lel! out an sssetiad stp. Far the whi aa 'ative and Aalactcca
ncgvaley of ths zelatsinrup 2s mas hy he sea system isl,
fd in sat sense ar mae alequately haa ivi overt cation of
Ue mais expoitaiva of Sonny's hold ep the lien ean Seaahd te
aboot sl. indeos we reach ea of the major acorn 9 Ler Ens of is
itace oan the star evstom: Suny’ tational to Mal feat
sf superstar tw chetacieracior, sad our roading of this particalge
‘arate is rot chet! gussage from one sharveter or atant oe
‘svete, but passes tbroush the mediation uf our elenttation aa
cdesuding othe actus’ stuns as such, Even more intereating sed
conse tha this se desenling othe FBT acne, whee snonsly
‘nde nie nooratiseseospreniee very priory thi ust Nicene:
ity within the Hames ur the Hallverood sae aca Th
‘avisand unreadable prviels beause the aioe is Me te
abl

{isctel course 1 only within tke wdtng ola Hay wun yystem
tte fs afar sr fur the actor‘ qiustign suon atioe bases &
Permupoatfeanvre oF tke durable vad well hnnien tleviion sores
Faselv (C630) Yt she point is precisely teat inthis napcel selene,
son arid in refetenco i cilereni sytem of pralttion, bor avey
nur the ttvssioc comes ivell cof gate. with respect tol llyeesy
Zs. thas new and inpetsnelrainaianalsyetan which cong
tosupursoe che mors uliidualstic oneulan ride satin coneat
ism auc! au older comsncdily eutce, Thus, the ekamaal etn
sweiotnaical ctor syxtsin of reali tnds itell mserhed wake tes

Class ort Agony = Contanporacy Mass Cute #53

interca sotsinsic egpeseuce of te Fm in whal Gocire ina suggestive
anu too-ttle lnoven concept in lis Payfaony of Pmaginavon tails
‘the enslogon’: tha: structural nexis incur realing or viewing experts
en, our opersiivus of docading er asthe i reception, «hich can
‘hen da double duty and stands le subst intr and therapreseatative
swthin.the: aesthetic object vx phenomerwn fn the citiside whic
‘cau ja the very nature of things be “readered" diratly This com
plex of itew anid extra-sesthetlercietintships reight thee besthemat
lealle ncpreserted as Fallows

aaa dian

t