The satire Network (1976), directed by Sidney Lumet, deals with issues that have come to trouble and plague modern society over the last few decades. One of the main characters, Howard Beale (Peter Finch) has been given his own show in which he is the “mad prophet” and where he proclaims many of modern society's ills, while commenting on vital political issues and exposing the power, manipulation, and abuse of media and television.
The Greedy Ambition of Media and Television Executives for Ratings and Profits
The character who best embodies greed for ratings and power regardless of human pain and suffering is embodied in Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway). She is said to be of the “tube-generation,” and she lacks empathy and is only passionate about her work.
Her lover Max Schumacher (William Holden) accuses her of not being able to have any real human emotions, of being a “humanoid." She uses others according to her needs and treats them as “actors” in a “script,” even when it comes to her personal life. Her reality is that of television shows and programs and she ruthlessly exploits others to reach her goal of high ratings.
This kind of obsession for success in the media is not uncommon nowadays as many different shows have demonstrated ever since. There are various reality shows and other talk shows, such as Jerry Springer, for example, which represent controversial concepts and trends that have become popular in today's media. People tune in for sensationalism and they prefer news that is “infotainment,” a mix of actual news with definite features of the entertainment industry.
The Message of the “Mad Prophet” Howard Beale about Life and Individualism
Howard Beale is out there to deliver a message because “he is on television” and “millions of people are watching him,” according to the character himself. Ironically his message is one of revolution and anti-establishment. He wants people to turn off their television sets and not to be dragged into a world of illusion and phoniness. People do not read any more and are wasting their time and even lives on the tube, he laments.
Despite it all, he continues to use the media to get his message across. His shows are televised and popular because he is reaching out to people, because he is addressing them directly with messages that resonate in their daily lives. His catch phrase, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" is at one point shouted out of many windows in an act of solidarity and frustration.
But not all of his messages are welcome. When Beale starts talking about the end of individualism and the death of the individual, when the message or “truth” is dark and pessimistic, the ratings actually go down. Viewers want to be moved and inspired, while bleak truths about their lives do not seem to interest them.
Furthermore, as with any sensation or phenomenon – and applicable basically to everything in life – after a while it all wears off. People begin to get bored about the shows and get tired of the messages of the so-called prophet. The novelty has worn off and people stop following the show. As a result, the executives are left with the only option of canceling the show and they do so with a “bang,” the ultimate climax of the violent obsession and disregard of individual human life.
The movie Network may be outdated in some of its parts, yet its philosophy and its conclusions about the media and its impact on human lives are still valid. It would be interesting, however, to consider a new perspective with the advent of the Internet, as the most recent generation is not raised with the “tube,” but with computers. The movie The Social Network (Fincher, 2010) addresses some of the issues related to this new generation.
Readers may also enjoy Sonny as a Figure of Rebellion in Lumet's "Dog Day Afternoon", The Social Network and Portrayal of Facebook's Founder Zuckerberg, and Nolan's Batman and the Field of Ethics.
Arash Farzaneh - Arash Farzaneh is a writer and a language professor. He has a Master's degree in French literature with a minor in Psychology. Since his ...
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