Derek Johnson writes the following of the popular post-9/11 television series, 24:
Undoubtedly, we could read the television text of 24 in terms of its neoliberal ideologies. Jack Bauer’s controversial heroism derives from his embodiment of a do-it-yourself ethic that leads him to take action individually when government institutions and policies fail (Johnson, 152).
Stephen Prince writes:
Jack is a rogue agent. He doesn’t spend time in the office; he’s always on the verge of being fired, often is fired and then rehired. He spends his time in the field, dashing here and there, bashing witnesses and bystanders, shooting people and/or knifing them in the interests of national security (Prince, 239).
Prince also writes:
Jack’s behavior manifests the series’ core political outlook, which verges on an authoritarian contempt for due process and a belief that methods of extreme brutality offer the best way to counter terrorism, The show, in other words, was in love with torture…(Prince, 239).
Based on your own examination of clips from the television series and subsequent miniseries, do you agree with these statements? If you like, you can comment on how the show’s conception of neoliberalism, national security, and the utility of torture relates to Donald Trump’s statements about torture and terrorism during the presidential campaign.
I would have to agree with these statements, for Jack Bauer is often taking actions into his own hands when the government strategies fail to get the job done. He is very willing to break the law and he will use almost any torture necessary to attain the information necessary to protect the country. He is portrayed as a hero regardless of how man laws he breaks or how many people he tortures because he does so “in the interest of the American public.” He represents the edgy government agent who won’t stop at any costs until he achieves his goal and because he is charismatic and hard working, his actions are seen as acceptable. Donald Trump said in an interview that he would 100% support waterboarding and that he would even do worse things than that. Trump in a way capitalized on the do-it-yourself/ say-what-you-feel mentality throughout his entire campaign because it represented him as someone who will diverge from the “politically correct” path to “Make America Great Again.” Similarly, Jack Bauer is the type of guy to take matters into his own hands and go beyond what both his job and the law allows/requires. National security in the show is seen as a constant battle between Good (America) and Evil (any other terrorist threat) and Donald Trump framed a similar us vs. them narrative in the same interview that he supported waterboarding. He said things like “they are cutting peoples heads off” referring to ISIS in the middle east and in a way suggested that the majority of the Middle East wanted to kill any and all Americans. Similarly, 24 others a lot of people in the middle east and suggests that many/most of them are against the United States.