Wall Street and Vine: Hollywood's View of Business

Abstract:     
American films have long presented a negative view of business. This article is the first comprehensive and in-depth analysis of filmmakers' attitude toward business. It shows that it is not business that filmmakers dislike, but rather the control of firms by profit-maximizing capitalists. The article argues that this dislike stems from filmmakers' resentment of capitalists' constraints on their artistic vision. Filmmakers' portrayal of business is significant because films have persuasive power that tips the political balance toward business regulation.

Keywords: Film, business regulation, corporate social responsibility

JEL Classifications: G38, K20, K22, L21, L51

Working Paper Series