I’m personally a huge fan of Dream Scenario as a comedic take on cancel culture on the surface, but in my opinion it is much more so about parasocial relationships
"It’s about the economic security of the professional managerial class”: This reminds me of the Harper’s “Letter on Justice and Open Debate” in 2020, which struck me as something to do a close reading of. And I unpacked that it’s about a professional class defending its economic security:
That’s my reason to comment here, as I think it links to your points. But it went on, as I couldn’t stop. On the next day, I added something about how the letter constructs a “we”:
Aside: I heard you’re giving a talk in Basel later this month, but that it might be online rather than in person. If it’s in person, I hope to be able to make it!
"If you watch John Cleese’s path from Monty Python to anti-”PC” crusader"
It is a pity that you are considering only "serious" middle-brow films because I reckon that Cleese's comedic film Clockwise (1986) has a lot to say on the subject. Cleese really does contrive to have his cake and eat it, giving himself the role of both victim (unjustly suspected of infidelity by his wife, carted off by police in the end) and nemesis (the climactic moment when he gets to berate most of the other characters.) The film also conveyed the impression to me at the time (I've never re-watched it) that Stimpson was going to make his wife's suspicions about Laura come true even as he resented her for having them.
Your Friends & Neighbors (Jon Hamm) is the most recent example I can think of. If cinematic music counts, see also https://youtu.be/qJTAnvM-jH8?si=sGAuh3y_2NCvD9_v.
I’m personally a huge fan of Dream Scenario as a comedic take on cancel culture on the surface, but in my opinion it is much more so about parasocial relationships
"It’s about the economic security of the professional managerial class”: This reminds me of the Harper’s “Letter on Justice and Open Debate” in 2020, which struck me as something to do a close reading of. And I unpacked that it’s about a professional class defending its economic security:
https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-signatories-of-harpers-letter.html
That’s my reason to comment here, as I think it links to your points. But it went on, as I couldn’t stop. On the next day, I added something about how the letter constructs a “we”:
https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-illusion-of-inclusive-we-in-harpers.html
And a year later, I wrote about the reception of my two posts, especially the first:
https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2021/07/one-year-after-harpers-letter-on.html
Aside: I heard you’re giving a talk in Basel later this month, but that it might be online rather than in person. If it’s in person, I hope to be able to make it!
"If you watch John Cleese’s path from Monty Python to anti-”PC” crusader"
It is a pity that you are considering only "serious" middle-brow films because I reckon that Cleese's comedic film Clockwise (1986) has a lot to say on the subject. Cleese really does contrive to have his cake and eat it, giving himself the role of both victim (unjustly suspected of infidelity by his wife, carted off by police in the end) and nemesis (the climactic moment when he gets to berate most of the other characters.) The film also conveyed the impression to me at the time (I've never re-watched it) that Stimpson was going to make his wife's suspicions about Laura come true even as he resented her for having them.