Starship Troopers (film)

Politics of Starship Troopers

The film depicts a future state that some interpret as broadly reminiscent of The United States' society, in that it is extremely militaristic and uncompromisingly warlike in its attitude to attack a race of bugs that lives in a distant planetary system. The military training is modeled after that of the USA, but is more cruel: officers purposely wound recruits, and flogging is a mode of punishment.

Related Topics:
The United States - Planetary system

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On one level, the movie encourages us to identify with the gung-ho antics of the Earthlings as they destroy the bugs. However, their attitude, combined with the unsuccessful first attack on the bugs' homeworld, is similar to the Vietnam War, and there is considerable moral ambiguity, as it is never explicitly stated that the bugs started the war - indeed, it is implied that the bugs may have been reacting to human expansion into their system. Furthermore, there are several scenes that appear to be deliberately reminiscent of the Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will, and some of the military costumes resemble those of Nazi Germany, particularly Neil Patrick Harris's Colonel Carl Jenkins, whose costume apes that of the Gestapo. At the conclusion of the film, the main characters are depicted training new recruits barely in their teens, which may be a reference to the children and old men drafted for the Volkssturm as a last-ditch defence of Germany in the final days of the European theatre of World War II. The fact that director Verhoeven and some of his crew came from the Netherlands, which suffered heavily in World War II and whose society has had an anti-militaristic attitude ever since, should be taken into account when interpreting this film.

Related Topics:
Earthlings - Unsuccessful first attack on the bugs' homeworld - Vietnam War - Nazi - Triumph of the Will - Neil Patrick Harris - Gestapo - Volkssturm - Germany - World War II - Netherlands

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the society depicted in the film also contains notable differences from fascist ideology, and at times seems more reminiscent of liberal politics. For one, the society depicted in the film is very open about sex and sexuality. Men and women bathe together, and they appear to feel natural about it. Second, humanity's army consists of soldiers of all races, sexes, and religions. Third, military service is not obligatory, and civilians that have not served in the military are well respected (as evident by the high-society status of Rico's parents). However, these civilians are not allowed to vote.

Related Topics:
Fascist - Liberal - Race - Sex - Religion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1999, the video release was banned in Germany for teenagers under the age of 18 due to excessive brutality, glorifying militarism, xenophobic tendencies and an overall nationalistic attitude. However, a version cut by 16 minutes is still shown on German television.

Related Topics:
Militarism - Xenophobic - Nationalistic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~