House Of Cards Analysis

Despite the dramatization of the series, House of Cards seems to be closer to our reality than many would hope. Though Episode 13 does a great job at concluding a number of story arcs and providing a plethora of discussion points, it’s important that the series be evaluated as a whole. The writers work to carefully frame fictional events in the context of modern geopolitical situations to maintain realism, while using countless plays to emotion that draw the viewer in and blend the fictional world with our modern reality. However, while the show is thoroughly entertaining, there is a clear deeper meaning behind the various storylines. The writers use their well-framed storylines to emphasize the dangers of power left uncontrolled and to expose

Primarily, the series plays on the innate fear of unknown and relies on emotional persuasion to deliver its message. In the American system of government, the ideas of the people are conveyed by representatives in Congress and eventually executed by the president. A major fear of many Americans is that their ideas are not being accurately represented by those elected to do so. Similarly, many Americans fear that the government is “out to get them”. By depicting these elite heads of state as corrupt and devious politicians, House of Cards is able to target these fears in their audience. Ideally, this fear would cause the American public to demand greater accountability from their elected representatives. By bringing these emotions to the forefront instead of letting them linger, the writers hope to empower the viewer and drive meaningful change. However, these powerful emotional arguments are not without

At times, the events seem so incredible that the average viewer may have trouble relating and may lose sight of the deeper message. However, by appealing to emotion, utilizing realistic current events, and breaking the fourth wall, the writers maintain their ties to reality and force the viewer to think deeply about what may seem to be a hyperbolic drama. Below the façade of political mayhem, House of Cards consistently strives to deliver a powerful message about the danger of excessive power and warns about the impact of corruption in U.S. politics. To accomplish that goal, they skillfully maintain enough of a connection to reality that the viewer feels intimately attached to the events of the show and feels a call to action in their personal life and is forced to evaluate their political