In 1918 the leaders of the FBI William Burns and J Edgar Hoover expressed deep concern about the power of movie stars to affect politics. As a result, they began a surveillance program to watch over those they thought might be radicals. Since then, it has long seemed the Hollywood crowd was ideologically left; however, Steven Ross says that is actually not true. Maria Armoudian explores the various ways Hollywood has influenced politics in the United States with Ross.
Steven Ross is a Professor of History at the University of Southern California. He is an expert in American society and popular culture and is the author of Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics.
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Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the guest and not necessarily the views of The Big Q.
