The Problematic Gaze
The Problematic Gaze
David Moor and Lee Arnott
'It’s a Wonderful Life' (1946) Jimmy Stewart and the Shattered American Dream
49 minutes Posted Dec 9, 2025 at 7:00 am.
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Show notes
In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we take a smart yet light-hearted look at It’s a Wonderful Life from 1946, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, the man whose shattered dreams somehow become the emotional glue holding Bedford Falls together. We explore how the film mirrors a nation rebuilding itself after WWII, balancing hope, anxiety, and the looming pressure of the corporate machine embodied by Mr. Potter. We dig into the film’s gender politics, especially the Madonna/Whor...