The Men in Black agency is either the ultimate expression of benevolent government power or it makes George Orwell's 1984 look like Fraggle Rock by comparison. We're honestly not sure which it is. Part of the problem is that Men in Black is a comedy, so it isn't designed to analyze the power the agency yields over society. It's about having fun with the concept.
Having said that, the film does show some of the good things government can do: the Men in Black act for the benefit of the people, protecting them from potentially dangerous situations and truths that they might find uncomfortable. Like that they're living among aliens whose heads can grow back. On the other hand, they answer to nobody, so they can wield their power indiscriminately over the populace. There are no checks or balances on the Men in Black.
Men in Black is like a political Rorschach test: Your interpretation might say more about your own view of government than anything the film is trying to get across.
Questions about Power
- Kay says the Men in Black answer to no branch of the government because "they ask too many questions." Would you say this is a positive thing? Why or why not?
- Does the film ever give you a reason to distrust the Men in Black or their use of power? How do you see the Bug playing into the theme of power and government? Do you see any real-life parallels to this?
- Which character do you see as most powerful? How does this character impact your understanding of this theme?
Chew on This
It's possible the Men in Black answer to an authority, just not one of this Earth. When Kay attempts to arrest the Bug, he does so under Section 4153 of the Tycho Treaty, implying a set of rules that the agency must abide. Unfortunately, we have no idea where these rules come from or who enforces them.
Knowledge is power in the Men in Black universe, as evident by the way the agency steals information, in the form of memories, and replaces it with the stories they want.