Empowerment and hype in entertainment is the alpha and omega when it comes to the need for serotonin boost. Hype music- hype for the underdogs- hype for the nerds and after the me too movement, hype for female empowerment...also a hype for the marginalized.
Is it though?
Especially in the big ballz industry we see a picture drawn -a symbol if you please- for a concept, a light romanticized representation of a reality which is usually very appealing to the wider audience. It is so wide that resonates to one's deep rooted subconscious needs and instantly creates a strong identification that keeps you focused while they can pass any subliminal message they want.
And that's the case with the new Wonder Woman film, 1984. The sequel title certainly rings true. Not because of the funky haircuts and colorful scenes, definitely not. It serves as a warning of the subliminal message passed from the whole storytelling- purely dystopian- purely Orwelian.
In the first instance and mind the spoilers - Yes it is a crystal made from Mayan Gods that makes your wishes come true that falls into the hands of the bad guy and of a nerd-ugly duck chick that gets harassed and most importantly is neglected by men (isn’t that every ‘woman's‘ fear!?).
Oh the tragedy, they wish to become powerful, rich… blah blah blah. The whole shebang starts to happen and Diana Prince AKA Wonder Woman has to fix their mess. In the end she is a powerful woman, strong enough to overcome her personal feelings and choose the greater good sacrificing her one true love for the good of humanity. She saves the day and everyone lives happily ever after.
Although seeing the movie something doesn't add up.
In a first base reading how come a movie, all about female empowerment makes you feel enraged when the antagonist stands in her own feet and most importantly is depicted to lose her shit over power. She is losing her humanity, her kindness and sweetness while she gains strength…. interesting.
In a second base reading, and through a philosophical prism all this film is about a class warfare and how maintaining the world order is beneficial for all of us. And this is where the danger lies. Your two villains are: a loving father that he unfortunately lost his money in wrong business ventures (as villain overall he is not making that much harm) and a nerd researcher with uber low self esteem that is mocked and not taken seriously, both from a working class background who want a better future. On the other hand, Diana Prince, a ‘royalty’ born in power that chose to live among the ‘mortal’ world to keep the order. She doesn't need power- she is power. A comic universe Sloane-an aristocrat that is willing to give up her own wish for the greater good and be the example once again.
But her own wish was the one true love…. And the others' wishes were just…. Better living conditions…. which are deemed as evil…
In a nutshell the final subliminal message we all got was: All you stop wishing because if your wishes became true the whole world will fall. It is bad, and you should be put in place. It is good to be losers and feel good about it .PERIOD.
There is a small minority that can identify with Diana Prince in actuality. But her true identity is covered under the fact she was fair, strong and had a one true love. While Minerva was just smart … such a bitch.
It is also quite interesting -an ode to nepotism I would say- how these two women work in the same post in the SMITHSONIAN. It is highlighted that Barbara Minerva is a DOCTOR, obviously highly educated and she is righteously placed in this work position. On the other hand Diana Prince has the exact same position because it is just Diana Prince?
Also why do you have to be nerd and ugly when you are educated? A movie that is all about female empowerment dooms a woman that wants to be the apex predator?
So many questions and I am sure there are more to go.
In the end the majority of the people belong to the side of the villain, a loving father that wants more, a shy woman with low self esteem that would like to be accepted, and every person on earth that has a wish for a better future.
I am well aware that this is just a comic character but at the same time we will need to read between the lines and be mindful of some weird agendas.