Antiwar Quote by Renata Adler
“The motion picture is like journalism in that, more than any of the other arts, it confers celebrity. Not just on people - on acts, and objects, and places, and ways of life. The camera brings a kind of stardom to them all. I therefore doubt that film can ever argue effectively against its own material: that a genuine antiwar film, say, can be made on the basis of even the ugliest battle scenes ... No matter what filmmakers intend, film always argues yes.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Yorker, 1971
Film best celebrity status to subjects, making it hard for anti‑war movies to truly oppose war without glorifying it.
In simple terms: Movies make everything famous, even war.
Key Takeaway
Recognize media bias in storytelling.
Themes
media influence
celebrity
war
film
propaganda
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- film criticism
- media literacy
- activist filmmaking
Key Concepts
media studies
film theory
political communication
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a film truly be anti‑war without showing war?
- How does fame affect perception of conflict?
A Different Perspective
Even anti‑war films may unintentionally glorify conflict.
