Description
Is it possible to trace a parallel between the COVID-19 response and ideas generalized in popular culture, particularly movies? This paper aims to answer this question, using the film World War Z as a comparison tool. Although there are many similarities between the movie plot and the global response to the pandemic in a securitized context, the view of the relation between world politics and popular culture as a continuum adds complexity to this case. The presence of visual, narrative, and cinematic cues that can justify a war-like response during a pandemic and the reach of relevant film production on the subject are crucial to better understand the potential impact of movies on real life politics related to the COVID-19 response. This paper tests the hypothesis that film narratives influenced political behavior in international relations during the pandemic. There is great potential in broader research about the influence of film narratives on political behavior during pandemics, as a more in depth understanding of the impact of film on securitization and global health emergency responses can bring a relevant contribution to the field of cultural studies and international relations.
