The Agony of War and a World without Law

Authors

Josh Zetlin

Abstract

This note analyzes Lewis Milestone's classic film A//.Quiet on the Western Front in order to illustrate the importance of law in society. Philosophers and legal theorists have pondered endlessly on the importance of law and the roles it serves. Building upon the concepts such as the "social contract," the creators of our legal system carved out particular areas of laws to satisfy specific societal wants and needs. Milestone's war epic reveals how war destroys these legal institutions. The chaos of war and unaccountability for immoral acts shatters the foundation of law, bringing great suffering to the characters in the film. This underscores the importance of legal institutions in society and provides additional depth to the film's anti-war argument. Additionally, in light of the societal breakdown and governmental vacuums resulting from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this message is especially relevant today.

Recommended Citation

Josh Zetlin, The Agony of War and a World without Law, 32 UC Law SF Comm. & Ent. L.J. 409 (2010).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_comm_ent_law_journal/vol32/iss3/3