Power, Politics & Society
The Military Are Heroes
Patriotic FervorMilitary MaverickPropaganda (positive military)
What it is
The military, intelligence agencies, or law enforcement are portrayed as fundamentally noble, heroic, and necessary. Service members are brave and selfless. Military force is justified and effective.
How to spot it
The plot contains ALL of: (1) military, intelligence, or law enforcement characters in prominent roles, (2) those characters portrayed as heroic, competent, and morally righteous, (3) institutional use of force framed as necessary and effective.
- Military equipment, missions, or culture are glamorized
- Service members are depicted as unambiguously heroic
- The military solves problems civilians cannot
- Sacrifice in service is honored and valorized
- Enemies are clearly evil, justifying the use of force
Classic examples
Top Gun, American Sniper, much of the MCU's S.H.I.E.L.D., most disaster films where the military coordinates rescue, Black Hawk Down
Contrast with
The System Is Rigged (The System Is Rigged says institutions are corrupt; The Military Are Heroes says they are noble)
