Editing Back to the Future (section)

===Reaganism and American anxieties===
[[File:The Reagans with Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon.jpg|thumb|alt=refer to caption|(Left to right) [[Nancy McKeon]], Michael J. Fox, [[Nancy Reagan]], and U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] in October 1985. ''Back to the Future'' has been interpreted as an endorsement of Reagan-era policies concerning the American dream, self-reliance, initiative, and technological advancement.]]

Critics [[Justin Chang]] and Mark Olsen suggest the film can be seen as promoting [[Reaganism]]{{snd}}the political positions of president Ronald Reagan{{snd}}which endorses older values of the American dream, initiative, and technological advancement. The Hill Valley of 1985 is depicted as run down and in decay, while in 1955 it is presented as a more simplistic and seemingly safer time, seen through a nostalgic lens.<ref name="LATimesHoldUp" /> Marty's future is bettered because he goes back to 1955 and teaches George to be more assertive and self-reliant; his initiative leads to a more prosperous future for Marty with materialistic rewards.<ref name="UproxxAnalysis" /><ref name="LATimesHoldUp" /> The film uses many brand names of the time, ostensibly to make the setting more realistic, e.g. [[Mountain Dew]], [[Pepsi]], and [[Texaco]], but the filmmakers received financial compensation from the brand owners, making their inclusion promotional and commercialistic instead of artistic.<ref name="BOMGaleInterview" /><ref name="UproxxAnalysis" />

Film studies lecturer Sorcha{{spaces}}Ní Fhlainn argues that many 1980s films resulted from the American public's desire for escapism from cultural anxieties and fears, including nuclear proliferation, unemployment, crime, growing inequality, and the AIDS crisis. In her view, films like those of the ''[[Star Wars]]'' series and ''Back to the Future'' offered a childlike reassurance of safety and comfort, emphasizing idealized American values and the positive effects of instilling power in a patriarchal figure like George McFly or Darth Vader.{{sfn|Ní Fhlainn|2014|p=5}} English professor Susan Jeffords considered Doc Brown to be an analog for Reagan, a man who embraces technological advancement, who conflicts with Libyan terrorists and provides the means for a failing family to better themselves.{{sfn|Ní Fhlainn|2014|p=7}}

The song "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry is used during the film's final act. Berry initially resisted allowing the song to be used in the film. [[NPR]] argued that while Berry's resistance may have been a matter of money, there are underlying racial issues involved in Marty, a [[White American|white male]], seemingly rewriting history to invent the [[rock and roll]] music genre, which was heavily influenced by African-American music.<ref name="NPRPopCulture" /><ref name="LATimesHoldUp" /> The 1955 segment also presents a distorted view of America, showing an African-American band playing at the high school dance, which would have been disallowed.<ref name="LATimesReview" /> Similarly, the African-American character Goldie Wilson is seemingly inspired to work towards becoming mayor by Marty's intervention, inspiring a Reagan-style initiative and self-reliance.<ref name="UproxxAnalysis" />