good night and good luck sample essay

“Good Night and Good Luck” by George Clooney Essay (Critical Writing)

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Introduction

The movie Good Night and Good Luck created by Clooney was demonstrated to the world in 2005. It is a significant film devoted to the theme of struggle faced in modern world between journalism and generally recognized famous people. The film was produced in black and white; it provides the reflection of time through the conflicting strategies aimed against communism era and American old fashioned life of the society.

The period of communism radical accusations demonstrated in the movie was directed to people having small communism ties. The process of making career by Senator Joseph McCarthy was interacted with television campaigns and strategies developed by journalist Edward R. Murrow. The theme covers political activities and the role of television in the 50s in the USA. Murrow managed to challenge exaggerated McCarthy’s notions as to the role of Communism infiltrating American feel-good utopia and old-fashioned social life. The issues was that Communist impacts touched everyday ethical norms of American society interfering with established and recognized standards.

The movie shows that Friendly and Murrow faced news team hesitations taking on McCarthy. The project was too complicated and there was the threat of breaking career on the television. It is the story of interactions between Murrow and McCarthy; the movie managed to show a row of accusations and oppressions leading to the global conflict. Frankly speaking, the illustration of this interpersonal struggle allows to evaluate the flow of events in the USA. The movie does not dive into historical events and political formation but covers modern time strategies on the part of government experienced by the society. The events show the administration violating acting constitutional and legal norms influencing and damaging the system of human rights and international law. The role of media appeared to play the decisive role in the political process interpretation.

It was shown that American media failed to perform well enough against the torrent of news and lies manipulation accompanying the period of “war terror” taking place on the international level. The movie depicts the crisis of truth through the problem personalizing. It is important to stress that Murrow was not presented as disclosure stainless knight. The flow of events show that he tried to avoid attacking McCarthy; he event wanted to express the thought that the problem concerned moral terriorism submitted by the public rather than the actions and strategies offered by McCarthy.

“did not create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it” (Good Night and Good Luck, 2005)

Clooney managed to describe that Senator McCarthy played himself through the archived news footage use. The film appeared to provide an important message for the Americans disclosing the principle political plans and strategies.

The movie Good Night and Good Luck managed to play an important role for American cinematography reflecting political atmosphere and the role of modern medial in its strategies. The themes disclosed in the movie appeared to be close to life through various political interactions and international instability experienced not only in the USA but throughout the whole world.

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The Ultimate Guide to Analysing ‘Good Night and Good Luck’ for English: Summary & Analysis

If GoodNight and GoodLuck is one of your set texts, you’ve come to the right place to plan your analysis! 

We’ve compiled a summary of the film so that the themes, characters and context of the movie is easy to understand!  So, even if GoodNight and GoodLuck is in black and white, you’ll have no grey areas in your analysis! 

This article contains a summary, description of key characters, context, themes and a TEE table at the end to help you plan your essay. 

Let’s dive right in! 

Good Night and Good Luck by George Clooney Summary Key Characters in Good Night and Good Luck Context Themes Explored in Good Night and Good Luck Studying this text for Module B: Critical Study of Literature Essay Analysis of Good Night and Good Luck

Good Night and Good Luck by George Clooney Summary

Set in 1953, during the early onset of TV journalism and th e height of the Cold War ,  Good Night and Good Luck follows news anchor Edward R Murrow on See it Now who reports on a US Air Officer.

The film was released in 2005 and directed by George Clooney, It is a docudrama that features chiaroscuro lighting throughout the film.

Air Force lieutenant, Milo Radulovich, is forcibly discharged for refusing to renounce his family members for being Communists .

The decision to also discharge him was handed down in a sealed envelope and decided behind closed doors. Effectively, Radulovich himself and the American public does not know the real reason for his dismissal.

During this time, McCarthy had engaged in an ongoing ‘witch hunt’ seeking to purge the American government of supposed Communist threats despite having little or insufficient evidence. 

For more filmic and visual techniques in black and white films, check out our full analysis of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window !

Edward Murrow reports the story and questions the American government’s practices and McCarthy’s fear mongering tactics despite the repercussions he is likely to face.

T he story gains the attention and support of the American public , meanwhile Murrow himself is also accused of close ties with the Soviet Union. 

Murrow’s next major story was on Senator McCarthy himself, reporting on his ‘witch hunt’, having collected enough evidence to run a story.

After this story, McCarthy requests to appear on Murrow’s show so that he is able to justify and explain his actions. During the broadcast, McCarthy accuses Murrow of being a Communist.

Murrow’s reply is broadcasted the next week by noting McCarthy failed to explain his actions and instead continued to accuse others of Communist sympathies. 

The movie ends with the US Senate commencing investigations against McCarthy .

Despite the apparent success of their reporting and journalism, their show’s air time is greatly reduced due to costs and Murrow’s controversial topics.

The movie ends with the performance of Murrow’s original speech when he reminds the public of TV’s ability to educate them and hold power accountable. 

Access Good Night and Good Luck by George Clooney Downloadable Sample Paragraph and Analysed Examples !

Key Characters in Good Night and Good Luck

Edward R. Murrow Murrow is the host of a popular 1950s news program called See It Now on CBS. Murrow rose to fame by reporting from London during WWII and is known to use the power of the press and his own popularity to shed light on the abuse of power and corruption. Murrow’s serious yet calm nature and articulate way with words reflect the integrity of this character. 

Fred Friendly  Producer of See It Now , he supported Murrow in running the story on Joseph McCarthy despite the risks it entails. He acts as the voice of caution. 

Sig Mickelson Head of CBS news 

William Paley Head of CBS network 

Don Hollenbeck Journalist, who was also accused of being a communist

The Cold War

Good Night and Good Luck is set in 1953 America, during the height of the Cold War. The movie explores the tension and fears of a post-War America , specifically those related to the threat of communism.  

Following Germany’s defeat in 1945, the Communist Soviet Union rose to power in Eastern Europe.

Both America and the Soviets had developed nuclear weapons of their own resulting in a tense power struggle where both countries sought to maintain diplomatic, albeit strained, relationships with each other. 

Read our deeper dive into the Cold War era here !

Red Terror and McCarthyism 

During this time, Senator McCarthy cultivated fear and paranoia of communism to control and manipulate the American public. The era of ‘Red Terror’ enabled the government to overstep their powers and for civil liberties to be infringed.

The film highlights the fear-mongering tactics that politicians use to gain and retain power, while also highlighting the importance of free media and journalism to bring it to the public’s attention and hold the government accountable. 

9/11 and the Aftermath

The movie itself was released in 2005, during the Bush administration’s ‘War on Terror’ which perceived the Middle East as a threat to American safety.

The film’s parallels to contemporary politics and underhanded government practices regarding corruption and powerful administration anchors a connection with modern viewers. 

Themes Explored in GoodNight and GoodLuck

The following themes can be used to help you write your thesis or guide your thinking on the text.

If you get stuck analysing a quote or film technique and explaining its significance, a handy tip is to relate it back to one of the themes ! 

Power and Complacency The theme of power and fear is evident throughout the movie. Through a combination of chiaroscuro lighting and small sets, Clooney not only engaged with the political issues prevalent in the 1950s but also created a suffocating viewing experience for the audience. 

Fear and Paranoia  Fear and paranoia is undercut through the entire film through the symbolism of the film’s darkness and chiaroscuro. This speaks to the underlying fear permeated from the tension between the Soviet Union and America, as well as the tension between Murrow and McCarthy.

Integrity and Justice Additionally, complacency and integrity are evident throughout the film. McCarthy’s oppressive methods and surveillance practices were allowed through his skilful manipulation of the fears of the American public. 

Role of the Media and Hypocrisy  However, if the public, senators and other individuals had stood up against these practices it would not have been allowed. Murrow’s bravery in reporting on McCarthy’s actions despite the risk demonstrated his integrity while contrasting with the public’s complacency. 

Another crucial film on the role of media is The Truman Show! Get more ideas of this theme here !

Studying this text for Module B: Critical Study of Literature

Excerpt of Module B in English Advanced Course Rubric from NESA

If you are studying this text as part of Module B: Critical Study of Literature, the rubric requires you to not only analyse the text but to consider the context surrounding it and how it affects the text.

Good Night and Good Luck takes on an intertextual form , engaging with media and issues of 1950s America during McCarthyism. This module requires you to explicitly engage with the form of the text and the various context that surrounds it in your analysis. 

Module B you also need to consider why audiences today may still be drawn to the text and what it says about the themes the movie engages with.

So you want to explore the 1950s context, contemporary context and your own context that you are wanting to engage with throughout your essay! 

Essay Analysis: How to Analyse GoodNight and GoodLuck in 3 Steps

Step 1: choose your example.

When picking an example, ensure that you are able to identify at least one technique in the text.  

Here, we’ve chosen to look at the presentation of Murrow’s speech at the end of the movie. 

“We will not be drive by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember we are not descended from fearful men – not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular.”

Step 2: Identify your technique(s)

Ensure that the technique you choose for your quote supports your analysis or helps you to build your argument.  

For the above quote, there is the breaking of the fourth wall , didactic , inclusive language, repetition and anaphora . 

Step 3: Write the analysis  

When writing the analysis, focus on the effect of the technique and how it supports your argument. (The quote we have picked out is quite long so that you have context on how it is delivered, but when you write your essay aim for quotes that are shorter than a line!) 

The use of inclusive language and repetition as Murrow delivers his didactic to the audience not only serves a reminder to the American public of the 1950s but also the movies’ contemporary audience as he states “we are… not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes”. By breaking the fourth wall and using an anaphora, the delivery of the speech feels more personal since it directly addresses the audience and encourages them to stand up against manipulative government practices. 

Need some help with your essay analysis of other texts aside from GoodNight and GoodLuck?

Check out other texts we’ve created guides for below:

• Run Lola Run
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• Romeo and Juliet
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Looking for assistance on how to write a Feature Article ? Check out our great article here!

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Tiffany Fong is currently completing a double degree in Media and Communications with Law at Macquarie University. She currently contributes to the university zine, Grapeshot where she enjoys writing feature articles, commentary on current affairs or whatever weird interest that has taken over her mind during that month. During her spare time, Tiffany enjoys reading, writing, taking care of her plants or cuddling with her two dogs.

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• NESA English advanced 2020 HSC exam pack This site includes past HSC exam papers and the subject syllabus

• Good night, and good luck. By Phillip French. The Guardian. 20 Feb 2006
• News in black, white and shades of gray. By A.O. Scott. The New York Times. 23 Sep, 2005
• Picture quotes : Edward R. Murrow Famous quotes by the newsman Edward R. Murrow.
• NSW Government - Education : Year 12 – Module B – Critical study of literature This NSW Government website provides support mateial for the HSC critical sudy of literature module B, on Good night, and good luck. It includes a sample assessment and a resource pack with an analysis of the film, characterisations, and themes and values.
• Crimson Academies Dux College : Good Night, and Good Luck – Study Guide A useful HSC study guide on the film.

• Interview with George Clooney on "Good Night and Good Luck;" (Broadcast Oct. 14, 2005). [YouTube 40min] George Clooney talks about various apects of his film, including the background story of Edward R. Murrow and Joseph McCarthy, and the political context in which the film was made and released.

• Freedom and you! When the Communists take over America! [YouTube 56min] This 1957 Anti Communist film was perhaps the best known anti-communist movie produced during the Cold War. It suggests the Soviet Union built a 'fake' American town in order to train agents to infiltrate an actual American town. It was produced and presented by the Directorate for Armed Forces Information and Education, United States Department of Defense.
• TED-Ed : What is McCarthyism? And how did it happen? [YouTube 5min] This animated short film explains McCarthyism.

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Good Example Of Essay On Good Night And Good Luck

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: War , Film , Middle East , Culture , Cinema , Politics , Journalism , Government

Published: 02/28/2020

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In the film Good Night and Good Luck, the infamous feud between noted journalist and TV presenter Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn), and Senator Joe McCarthy, who was the spearhead behind the anti-Communist witch-hunts that were happening in America during the Red Scare of the 1950s. This ideological battle, played out over the airwaves, is an example of Mass Society Theory, in which an ideological elite determines the mindsets and culture of an entire nation (Baran and David 69). In essence, while McCarthy was advocating for establishing a culture of fear and protectiveness toward Capitalism, Murrow advocated for tolerance, acceptance, and a fair and unbiased method of both journalism and government. In many ways, this battle for journalistic integrity acts as the film’s take on contemporary issues of post-9/11 paranoia and surveillance, particularly with regards to Bush’s instigation of the War on Iraq. In both cases, journalism is afraid of challenging the government, often waving the flag in order to maintain a united front and to not make waves – this happened with the support of McCarthy in the news in the 1950s, and the support of Bush’s assertion there were WMDs in Iraq. However, in the former case, there was someone like Murrow who was willing to stand up and maintain journalistic credibility; Clooney’s film seems to argue that is missing in today’s world.

Works Cited

Baran, Stanley J., and Dennis K. David. Mass Communication Theory (6th ed.). Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Clooney, George (dir.). Good Night and Good Luck. Perf. David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr. WIP, 2005. Film.

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HSC Advanced English Mod B: Good Night & Good Luck Sample Essay & Essay Analysis

Subject: English

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Other

Last updated

21 September 2021

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This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Advanced English Module B: Close Study of a Text.

A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.

A sample essay for the prescribed text, Good Night, and Good Luck, answers the 2019 HSC question:

No one changes; no one grows. A disturbing paralysis prevails.

To what extent does this view align with your understanding of Good Night, and Good Luck?

• There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

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Good Night, and Good Luck with that Historical Analogy

This paper examines the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck as an example of historical analogy in cinema. This is not a novel role for the film, with notable predecessors such as Inherit the Wind, Spartacus, High Noon and The Crucible. The author argues that Good Night, and Good Luck is a second-generation of this subgenre of historical film and investigates the making of the film, the argument it presents and the political context that inspired its making.

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Henry MacAdam

Review article based on Kirk Douglas' memoir I Am Spartacus (2012).

Dalton Trumbo, Howard Fast, and Mike Gold were part of the background to the troubled production of Kirk Douglas' "Spartacus" (1960). This paper, by focusing on the events of May-June 1959, looks behind the major issues in Hollywood, and the USA, during the McCarthy Era and the blacklist period. The interaction of these personalities, as well as others, shaped the difficulties making of "Spartacus" and helped to breach the blacklist.

Ciro Garofalo

Brenda Allen

In Edward Murrow’s 1958 speech to The Radio and Television News Directors Association he takes journalists to task saying that they need to keep a more watchful eye on media networks and companies. George Clooney’s film, Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), opens with a jazz soundtrack then the start of Murrow’s speech before segueing into a flashback of the events leading up to Murrow’s presentation of the famous television exposé of McCarthy, the broadcast itself, McCarthy’s rebuttal and the immediate aftermath. The film closes with a return to the speech thus implying that the flashback was the content of the speech and securing Murrow’s ownership of the narrative. The narrative is punctuated with jazz performances by Diane Reeves who provides a black, female presence and voice in an historical event where, as in the film, most of the participants were white men, and the film closes with credits over a jazz soundtrack. This bookending implies a link between the use of jazz and the American film industry. Does Clooney’s film carry an admonition to American filmmakers that we might compare with Murrow’s speech to journalists? This paper argues that jazz is used to provide a structuring device that separates the film from Hollywood style, gives a subversive political counterpoint to McCarthyism and resonates with contemporary audiences conscious of the vulnerability of their citizen rights in post 9/11 America. The paper then goes on to tease out some of the links between the film as cultural and industrial artefact and aspects and American identity and citizenship.

Sian Beavers

An analysis of the films Spartacus (1960) and Gladiator (2000), that illustrates how these films pose questions about the nature, direction and purpose of American political and cultural hegemony, and how the ancient world is repurposed to draw attention to societies failings, and in what ways the concerns of these failings are raised. Submitted in 2007 as a BA Dissertation in Classical Civilizations

Jose-Vidal Pelaz Lopez

R.J. Burgess

This dissertation is a discussion of fictional literary interpretations of McCarthyism in 1950s America. Focusing on three of the period's most renowned pieces of political fiction, this study analyses how the political consensus of the era shaped the ideologies of each author and their works. By studying the origins of the authors and each text's specific interpretations of 1950s anti-Communism, this dissertation investigates how the books were received by both state and public immediately after their release, and how these receptions affected their impact on US culture. It argues that the contradiction or correspondence of each author's political ideals with the popular political consensus of the time denoted the failure or success of their works.

Robert Burgoyne

American Sociological Review

Elizabeth Pontikes

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Module B Notes – Good Night, and Good Luck

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Good Night and Good Luck

Filed Under: Essays Tagged With: good luck

Good Night and Good Luck is a movie that tells the story of McCarthyism and the media campaign against it. Edward R. Murrow is described as the protagonist fighting against the evils of this man and his campaign. The greater message of the movie is the use of media. The ethical question posed is, what place does television have in society? At its conception, there was a debate. Was television merely an apparatus for entertainment or was it to be used to dispel information? The foreshadowing regarding today’s use or rather abuse of the media is sad to say the least.

As Murrow makes his appeal for television to be used to elevate the masses rather than turn them into dribbling fools, one can’t help but see the irony. As McCarthy is taken down by the power of the media, the viewer can’t help but wonder, what about today’s “McCarthys”? Who will take them down? Artistic Point of View The film is directed and written by George Clooney. Obviously this gives the production a liberal slant. In a Salon interview on September 16, 2005 he compares the plight of the accused to the political situation of today.

“The question was never whether or not these people were spies; the question was whether they were allowed to face their accuser or not. And I find those to be extraordinarily relevant today, those issues. ” His artistic view point was intended to demonstrate the use of media and its power. His point was to show not that Murrow did or did not do the right thing, but rather that he was a voice for those who had their voices taken away. That’s how he (Murrow) chose to use the media, productively not for entertainment. The all-star cast, including Robert Downing Jr.

The Essay on Television and Radio Is Important to Social Media Today

Anthony D. Alexander, Jr COM155 Nov 24, 2012 Instructor Iaccino Television and radio has been the engines for all social media invention today. Some argue that television and radio is no longer important to social media, people believe they don’t have a need for television and radio since the Internet, cell phones and many more. Television and radio play’s a sufficient role in everyday life, ...

, David Straithairn, Clooney and Patricia Clarkson (just to name a few) portray this subject with dignity and class, as the story unfolds to the talented vocals of Diane Reeves. It is shot in black and white which lends to the authenticity of the story. Straithairn’s award winning role is done with such care that to compare his newscasts to the originals, one sees little difference. Critique Roger Ebert says the movie creates a clear message about the place of media and its power. He also applauds Clooney’s use of black and white to highlight the period’s character.

Dave Ansen at Newsweek echoes this. “It’s passionate, serious, impeccably crafted movie tackling a subject Clooney cares deeply about: the duty of journalism to speak the truth to power. ” Indeed, this movie attacks its subject with depth and understanding. Clooney poses these questions to the viewer to make them question themselves and their own values. Why do we watch television? Is it a sad commentary on our society about what television has become or is it a commentary on television about what our society has become?

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Good Night and Good Luck

‘Good Night and Good Luck’ and Marxist Social Theory

The core message of the George Clooney’s Good Night and Good Luck is basically a warning to the modern YouTube culture where mass hysteria has jeopardized civil rights and liberties. Notably, Clooney has employed a Marxist ideology to attack the prevalent corporate influence and the government over the media industry. This influence of the media by the government and the corporate world according to Clooney, has led to undermining of the freedom of speech, and the right to information which are the most basic liberties in America. At the center of Clooney’s ideology is an emphasis for writers/journalists to provide some form of interpretations to the kind of news they write instead of simply reporting verbatim what they encounter. This may even entail questioning the integrity and operations of the government and or corporation firms irrespective of their relationships to the media organizations. Clooney also revisits the tensions that resulted from the post-war paranoia through the sound, editing, lighting, characterization and acting.

The events of the film are clearly a reflection of the modern world where the news and news media are largely run through advertisements. On the same note, the government, particularly the American one has taken control of the media industry and is keen on the news that seeks to tarnish or expose its evil dealings. Those that do so are treated to a harsh environment that threatens their business sustainability. On the same note, media corporations would not want to write negative stories of entities that advertise through them. Therefore, in Marx’s perspective, capitalism has contributed to the “bourgeoisie” of corporations including the media outlets (Etienne, 1995). Amidst these restrictions and media environment, some reporters are known for going against the whims of the seniors when doing their work. One of these newsmen is Edward Murrow who is considered as the master of the pause. The journalist is accredited for being courageous, principled, and clear who adheres to the specifications of his profession. During the tumultuous moment in his time, he and his producer Fred Friendly at CBS chose to remain brave and refused to be influenced by the political class. For instance, they took and exposed the wickedness of Senator Joe McCarthy with disregard to the position he had held at that time. The period was in 1950s when the senator was popular in America as well as the entrancement of capitalism in the society. The phrase, Good night and good luck is commonly employed by Murrow as a signature of his TV and radio news programs.

During the 1950s, the activities of the then senator McCarthy and the political environment which generated a climate of fear became too much for Murrow, the CBS reporter to tolerate. Through his speeches and outrageous claims such as the prevalence of 205 card carrying communists who were operating for the government, McCarthy was intimidating everyone including the president. It is also clear that he was also brandishing the idea of communism at the expense of promoting capitalism. In other words, McCarthy was against communism and as such, he was using evil tactics to attack it and portray it negatively. It is also suffice to say that being in the political class and having amassed a substantial level of wealth at that time, McCarthy was protecting capitalism for his own advantage.

Marxist ideology is perhaps most applicable to the hierarchical nature of the CBS Corporation. In this corporation, the chief executive of CBS William Paley bars the station’s reporter Murrow from reporting the news in an interpretive perspective. The reason why he prevents them from doing this is because he wants to conform to the pressures of advertising and to earn good rating in the industry. Stated differently, William Paley is clearly avoiding the risk to the source of income by doing something that is contrary to the advertiser’s demands. Consequently, the reporters are deprived of the autonomy in making decisions pertaining to how or what stories to make. In this CBS context, Marx would opine that the “bourgeoisie” of CBS has pulled back the vocal news reporters presenting the class struggle between the capitalists and the citizens.

In light of the current political environment, Good Night, and Good Luck has showcased the danger of the government and corporate influence on the news media. As explicitly depicted, this grasp of the media will eventually lead to social and political chaos and the widespread hysteria. The Murrow/McCarthy feud portrayed in the movie is certainly is certainly used by the Clooney, the film author to encourage citizens to freely question the government and corporations regarding their motivations in relation to their actions. If the integrity of the news outlets are threatened, then the civil liberties will be jeopardized. Just like the time of the film’s era, there are many ways in which governments and corporations tries to control the media. To avoid repercussions which include possible loss of business, these news organizations have to tilt towards the whims of these entities.

Clooney, G., Strathairn, D., Clarkson, P., Daniels, J., & Downey, R. (2006). Good night, and good luck. Montreal: Distributed by TVA Films. Etienne, B. (1995). The Philosophy of Marx. Verso: La Découverte, Repèrs.

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Good Night, and Good Luck

By george clooney, good night, and good luck essay questions.

What is the central historical issue tackled in this film?

Good Night, and Good Luck seeks to tackle the issue of Senator McCarthy's HUAC trials, and the responsibility of the media to fight back on behalf of American citizens to stop corruption on the part of Joseph McCarthy. While McCarthy was already falling in public favor at this time, Edward R. Murrow's on-air goals helped to catalyze his downfall.

Who, historically, was Edward Murrow?

Edward Murrow was a broadcast journalist who came to be well known for his journalism covering World War II. He had a group of foreign correspondents who became known as "Murrow's Boys" and the coverage attracted millions of viewers. He is considered one of the greatest news journalists of all time, and was prominent in the fight against HUAC and Senator Joseph McCarthy during 1954. His willingness to stand up to McCarthy and the US Government led to a public backlash against McCarthy and his hearing, which would subsequently help to end the trials.

Why was George Clooney so interested in making this film?

Clooney majored in journalism in college and his father was a television anchorman who worked from Buffalo, New York and Los Angeles. It was a subject matter that hit very close to home for Clooney, a staunch liberal, who believed it was time to bring up how government can use fear in order to stop debate. Clooney was so passionate about making this film that he even mortgaged his own home to get insured for the production.

How does Murrow compare two different ideas of how television should work?

In his speech at the dinner in his honor, Murrow speaks with conviction about the fact that television is used more often to delude and distract than it is to educate. He alleges that as long as television networks are controlled by corporate interests, they will not take risks journalistically. But, he argues, they should take these risks since they have a responsibility to educate citizens and create a more informed society. He pits entertainment against news and information, saying, "This instrument can teach. It can illuminate and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it towards those ends. Otherwise, it is merely wires and lights in a box."

How does Joe and Shirley's story mirror the overall plot of the film?

The story of the Wershba's secret marriage does not directly relate to the plot of the film, but in some ways, it mirrors the general political and social atmosphere in which the film takes place. The era of McCarthyism is depicted as one marked by a lot of fear, a time of kept secrets and sudden exposure. Joe and Shirley are not Communists, but they are married in spite of their network having a policy forbidding employees to get married. Thus, the secrecy of their marriage mirrors the way that everyone feels they have to be secretive at this time to avoid being exposed as politically disloyal communist sympathizers of any kind.

Good Night, and Good Luck Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Good Night, and Good Luck is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

George Clooney’s 2005 Good Night, and Good Luck is the story of two television newscasters who put their careers and reputations on the line in order to challenge McCarthy's brute authority. GradeSaver has a complete plot summary available in its...

why are they concerned about signing a loyalty pledge?

I think this refers to being involved with the communist party,

… "are you or have you ever been a member of the communist party?" Joe says, "If I don’t sign it, they’ll fire me."

fear of communism

Sorry, I saw the film a very long time ago. I can't remember the details for your question.

Study Guide for Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck study guide contains a biography of director George Clooney, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Good Night, and Good Luck
• Good Night, and Good Luck Summary
• Character List
• Director's Influence

Essays for Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by George Clooney.

• How the Cold War Context Created New Perspectives: Film and Literature
• 'Good Night and Good Luck' and Marxist Social Theory
• Personal and Political consequences of the Cold War period
• ‘We all editorialise, it’s just to what degree.’: Bias and Point of View in Good Night, and Good Luck

Wikipedia Entries for Good Night, and Good Luck

• Introduction