RED BOOK - BLUE BOOK
The Language of American Politics
RED BOOK - BLUE BOOK
Documentary
STATUS: In Pre-Production
“Back in 2009, we started working on a project designed to answer a core set of political questions. Are American voters able to identify fact over political spin? How receptive is the average voter to good ideas presented by politicians from an opposing side? What can we do to give voters more unbiased information so that they can base their beliefs and opinions on real information?
Since that original experiment, we have had a historic Clinton campaign, two Trump Presidencies, the first black female presidential contender, and some polarizing state and local elections. Have we learned anything or are we more divided than ever? Can we calm the tribalism and move to a more critical thinking level of voting”? - Alex
“Red Book - Blue Book: The Language of American Politics” is a social experiment turned documentary that examines how language shapes identity, ideology, and division. The project began in 2009 with a bold idea: publish two identical books based on Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, one titled Rules for Republican Radicals and the other Rules for Radical Democrats. The content was identical, but the covers and branding were opposite. When readers were asked to share their reactions, the results were immediate and revealing. Many praised or condemned the same words based solely on which version they believed reflected their own political tribe. The experiment exposed just how much our political language is driven by identity rather than comprehension or context.
Now, fifteen years later, Red Book, Blue Book returns to see whether we have grown more discerning or more divided. In an era when edited sound bites, selective reporting, and social media manipulation shape public opinion, the project tests whether people can still engage with ideas on their own merit. It revisits a culture that increasingly confuses narrative control with truth and questions whether the constant churn of outrage and loyalty politics has deepened our inability to think critically. The documentary explores how modern media, political influencers, and algorithmic platforms have blurred the line between fact and fiction, creating echo chambers that reward emotional reaction over reason.
At its heart, Red Book, Blue Book is a reflection on perception and the human tendency to see what we want to see. It studies how tribalism has replaced curiosity and how political identity now functions as a language of its own. By putting identical content in opposing contexts, the film challenges viewers to confront their own biases and consider whether truth still holds value outside of branding. It asks one vital question: in a time when language itself has become a declaration of loyalty, can we still recognize shared reality, or have we lost the ability to read beyond our chosen colors?