The book presents cinematic case studies in political realism versus political idealism, demonstrating methods of viewing popular cinema as political theory. The book appreciates political myth-making in popular genres as especially practical and accessible theorizing about politics.

John S. Nelson is Professor of Political Theory and Communication at the University of Iowa, USA. There he has directed the Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry, the Bridging Project for International and Interdisciplinary Studies, and Honors at Iowa. He has edited Poroi, an interdisciplinary journal on rhetoric in culture, inquiry, and politics, plus book series on Rhetoric of the Human Sciences and New Practices of Inquiry. His books include Video Rhetorics and Tropes of Politics.