Mythic Analysis of Red Dawn
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
The film "Red Dawn" was released in 1983 to a mixed response. Its patriotic message of Colorado high school students calling themselves Wolverines and waging a guerilla war against invading Russians struck a chord in Cold War America to the amount of $8.2 million in box office gains. At the same time many groups saw film as overly violent, anti-communist propaganda.("Red Dawn," dvd insert, 1998)
Starring Patrick Swayze as Jed, the leader of the resistance, "Red Dawn" also featured Lea Thompson and Charlie Sheen. It was directed by John Milius, produced by Valkyrie Films and distributed by MGM. The screenplay was written by Kevin Reynolds and John Milius.
"Red Dawn" is built on archetypes central to the American mythos. In particular, myths that conservative and Republican elements tend to draw on are strongly represented. Those myths give "Red Dawn" a rightist slant...