Socio-Political analysis of the movie Elysium

Socio-Political analysis of the movie Elysium

The words of the Nun, “Our world is a metaphor, child. A great and wondrous metaphor that deftly critiques the social inequality of the early 21st century by magnifying it eleventy-two million times” could be the best summary for the movie Elysium. Elysium is a 2013 American dystopian science fiction action thriller film.  Neill Blomkamp wrote, directed, and co-produced the movie which speaks volume about socio-political life between the rich and the poor. The planet earth is known to be a planet which is dirty, where crime, disease, and poverty are prevalent.

The notion of ‘Elysium’ which is also known as ‘the Elysian Fields’ is said to have been derived from Latin word ‘Elysium’ and from Ancient Greek word ‘Elysion’ (pedion) which means ‘abode of the blessed’ or that which basically concerns with the concept of afterlife or  the final resting places of the souls of the heroic and the virtuous. The movie is set in 2154 and tells the story of Max (Matt Damon) who lived amidst the shamble planet with many poor and suffering people while the very wealthy people lived on a pristine man-made space habitat called Elysium.

Elysium in a very dramatic and metaphorical way explores political and sociological themes such as immigration, overpopulation, health care, exploitation, the justice system, and class issues. The rich and powerful people like President Patel (Faran Tahir), Defense Secretary Delacourtn (Jodie Foster)  Agent C.M. Kruger (Sharlto Copley) use their power to build power neglect the suffering people on the planet. Political leaders were concern only with their power, prestige and position and were least bothered about the poor people who were in their territory. Leaders want to have more and more wealth, power and honour.

Life in the planet was a misery. People’s rights are violated and people have no say to speak out because robots would be there to hunt them down at any moment. People long to migrate to the Elysium so that they have access to clean air, better medical facilities and a well protected environment but there is no inner peace and joy because they are being controlled by few people.

Elysium unveils the reality that rich people are concern only with wealth, power, position and honour. Poor, sick, underprivileged people on the other hand have a compassionate, caring and loving heart towards other fellow human being. Frey Santiago (Alice Braga) represents a woman who acts as a Good Samaritan even when her daughter was so sick. Spider (Wagner Moura) and his gang were rowdies and are not very influential people but tried their best to bring a society where all are taken care well. Elysium was a very inspiring and thrilling movie.

                                                                                               

Analysing ‘Shattered Glass’ from ethical perspective

Shattered Glass, written and directed by Billy Ray speaks volume about ethical norms that journalist need to keep in mind while reporting or when writing a story. This 2003 American drama film tells the real-life story of Stephen Glass, a budding reporter for The New Republic whose career was ruined because his stories were based on fiction and fabrication and do not have the news values.

Immanuel Kant’s Deontologism suggests that the position of rightness or wrongness of an act in some way is characterized by universality or that it conforms to moral law. The act of Stephen Glass in creating fake and fabricated news is against the moral norm. Stephen Glass was deceiving his colleagues, he faked every report of evidence or the facts in his computer hacker story, and ‘He lied to his editor.’ Therefore, according to Kantian perspective what Stephen Glass did was wrong.

Shattered Glass raises questions about the ethical issues in modern journalism especially with the coming of the new media.  It is a cautionary tale to people that fraud or fabricated reporting is not acceptable. Fabricated news might entertain the people, my win name, fame and honour but ultimately there will be a downfall of shame and confusion.