Vivian Kubrick, daughter of legendary director Stanley Kubrick, recently defended the Trump campaign's use of clips from her father’s iconic film Full Metal Jacket in a political ad, after left-wing critics expressed outrage. The ad, released on social media, juxtaposes scenes from the gritty Vietnam War film with pointed commentary on the state of the U.S. military under President Joe Biden. The Trump campaign intended to highlight what it sees as the weakening of America's armed forces, using the movie's intense depictions of military life as a metaphor for perceived failures under the current administration.
The controversy erupted after liberal commentators criticized the ad for misusing Kubrick's anti-war film to promote a political agenda they argued was in stark opposition to the director’s intent. Vivian Kubrick, however, was quick to defend the Trump campaign, stating that the outrage over the ad was misplaced and hypocritical. In a series of posts on social media, she lambasted the critics, calling them out for their lack of understanding of both her father's work and the political message behind the ad.
Stanley Kubrick’s daughter says late dad would have backed Trump after he uses ‘Full Metal Jacket’ footage in campaign video https://t.co/jA8azmVPHB pic.twitter.com/Y4WMpV84Gz
— New York Post (@nypost) October 14, 2024
Kubrick emphasized that while her father’s films, including Full Metal Jacket, are often interpreted as critiques of war and authority, they are also nuanced explorations of human nature, which can be used to critique any political ideology. She accused leftists of attempting to "monopolize" cultural narratives and expressed frustration at what she called their "cancel culture" tactics aimed at silencing opposing viewpoints. “My father never intended his films to be weaponized for one side or the other,” she wrote. “It’s art, and art transcends partisan politics.”
The ad in question uses footage from Full Metal Jacket’s infamous boot camp scenes, featuring R. Lee Ermey as the brutally commanding Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. Critics argue that the film’s portrayal of dehumanization and brutality stands in stark contrast to Trump’s narrative of military strength. But the Trump campaign claims the scenes represent the kind of toughness and resilience that they believe has been eroded under Biden's leadership, particularly with regard to military readiness and international standing.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣#Trump played at his rally parts of FULL METAL JACKET.
I remember in the movie
👇🏻
Un-f*ck yourself or I will unscrew your head and sh*t down your neck!
See 2nd post for clip.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/FEYMMrC00v— JUICY SCOOP (@MamaButterBean) October 10, 2024
This isn’t the first time the Kubrick family has entered political discourse. Vivian Kubrick has been an outspoken advocate for various causes over the years, sometimes aligning with right-leaning figures on topics such as free speech and government overreach. Her most recent defense of the Trump campaign is consistent with her broader concerns about the encroachment of political correctness on artistic and intellectual freedom.
The controversy also shines a light on the broader trend of political campaigns borrowing from pop culture to drive home their messages. Movies like Full Metal Jacket and others have often been co-opted by both the right and the left to promote narratives, regardless of the creators’ original intent. This practice has sparked numerous debates about artistic integrity and the right of creators to control how their work is interpreted and used.
As the 2024 election heats up, it’s likely that we’ll see more political campaigns using iconic media to communicate their visions, stirring up similar controversies. Whether or not this ad will sway voters remains to be seen, but the conversation it has sparked illustrates how deeply intertwined politics and culture have become in the digital age.
The reaction to Kubrick's defense of the ad has been mixed, with some conservatives praising her for standing up to the leftist critics, while progressives have doubled down on their criticism of the Trump campaign's use of Full Metal Jacket. However, one thing is clear: the debate over the role of art in political discourse isn’t going away anytime soon.
