Narratology

• Between roman a clef and invented narrative on urban politics (NY, others) or politics in general

• Bildungsroman in context of “careers fall apart”

• Dominant fable or counter-fable?• Struggle between conflicting narratives

Political Junkies

• Calhoun as example• Young, idealistic, hard-working, ambitious• Involved in campaign, usually for the reform

candidate against the party establishment• From campaign to executive assistants to

politicians (mentor/protégé relationship)• Then run for office (e.g. Stephen Harper)

Dominant or Counter Fable?

• Negative on politicians: corrupt, self-seeking (Yes Minister (80s), The Candidate (1971), All the President’s Men (1976), Wag the Dog (1997)

• Idealistic view of politicians (The West Wing, 1999-2006)

• Tragic view of politicians: City Hall (1996), Oliver Stone’s Nixon (1995)

Erikson’s model

• intimacy versus isolation: Calhoun• Generativity versus stagnation: Calhoun, Stern• Three views of generativity: Erikson (caring for

next generation), Pappas-Calhoun (caring in politics), Enron traders

• Integrity versus despair: Stern, Pappas, Anselmo (?)

City Hall as product

• Critics liked various scenes and performances, but overall reactions less favourable

• Political film or investigative thriller? (truthfulness or truthiness?)

• Cost approximately $40 million, grossed approximately $33 million

Startup.com

1. Give a comprehensive explanation for the failure of gOVWORKS.COM, looking at such factors as strategy, leadership, execution, marketing, competition, etc.

2. Startup.com is an example of direct (fly-on-the-wall) cinema. What entrepreneurial and aesthetic problems did its creators (Jehane Noujaim, Chris Hegedus) have to solve in terms of conception and implementation and how did they solve them?