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Freedom of expression as liberal fantasy: the debate over The People vs. Larry Flynt

Southwestern University, petersej{at}southwestern.edu

The People v. Larry Flynt initiated a public discussion in the United States on `freedom of expression'. By analyzing reviews and discussion of the movie in US newspapers and magazines, I look at the way in which `freedom of expression' is constructed as a core American liberty. I argue that this construction is an example of ideological fantasy, which relies on a fetishization of individual expression as proof of freedom. The public discussion I analyze constructs a fantasy of exaggerated `freedom' by focusing on individual and sexual elements of speech and ignoring economic constraints on speech in the movie and in US political and social life.

Key Words: fetish • free speech • neoliberalism • popular culture • pornography • reception

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