June 03, 2025
A Brief Introduction to the Ties Between Militarism and Pop Culture
There's a collaborative relationship between the Pentagon and entertainment/media industries — sometimes referred to as the "military-entertainment complex".
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Did you know there’s a long standing relationship between the Pentagon and popular culture?
Pro-war and pro-military propaganda have infiltrated a wide variety of entertainment spaces – including (but not limited to) movies, television shows, video games, sporting events, social media, and even children’s toys.
This zine, created by IPS’ 2024-2025 New Mexico Fellow, was heavily inspired by Costs of War’s new research series and awareness-raising campaign #ConsumingWar. It serves as a brief introduction to understanding the connections between militarism and pop culture in the United States. Read below to learn more.
Originally in National Priorities Project.
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