Presenter(s)

    Julie Pugh

    Comments

    10:45-12:00, Kennedy Union Ballroom

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    Description

    This presentation examines Raoul Peck’s film Moloch Tropical and its ability to critique political power, within the broader context of Francophone cinema. Although it focuses on a fictional regime in Haiti, the film’s portrayal of President Jean de Dieu’s unraveling governance is not merely a reflection of one nation’s struggles but a universal commentary on the cycle of corrupt power. The film illustrates how leaders consolidate authority through fear, suppress dissent within their inner circles, and rely on foreign influence—mechanisms that ultimately render their power unstable. Peck’s work reveals how corruption can emerge subtly, even from supposedly good intentions, and serves as a cautionary tale for all governments, including democracies. By analyzing how Francophone cinema, particularly from Haiti, delivers urgent political messages, this presentation explores the film’s significance as both a critique of authoritarian tendencies and a warning of the fragility of democratic institutions as they are susceptible to authoritarian decay.

    Publication Date

    4-23-2025

    Project Designation

    Course Project - FRN 381 01

    Primary Advisor

    Marda Messay

    Primary Advisor's Department

    Global Languages and Cultures

    Keywords

    Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

    Institutional Learning Goals

    Critical Evaluation of Our Times; Diversity

    Corrupt Power in Governance: An Analysis of <em>Moloch Tropical</em>

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