The Earth people dreaming of Elysium

Farid Farhangfar

25.04.2014 - Sydney 

Social inequality in terms of class and ethnicity has been constructed in the film Elysium as a hierarchical layer of two categories of people set apart based on their social status of the rich upper class and the poor lower class. This division is line with the theory of social stratification. Social inequality is challenged in the film Elysium through the uprising of the lower class against the upper class in order to, break the chain of unequal distribution of power and wealth as well as class status. The movie Elysium due to its entertaining and positive storyline may motivate lower class audiences to overcome social inequality as it encourages the theory of social mobility for individuals to be able to step up in the status hierarchy. The recent measures taken by the Australian government towards asylum seekers, particularly in respect of border control polices, is reflective of the social inequality and division that is shown in Elysium.

The storyline in the movie Elysium portrays Karl Marx theory of two classes of people that have been divided based on their class status and wealth.  The ‘Bourgeoisies Capitalist’, who control the means of production and the other ‘Proletariat Workers’ whose value is only their labour power that is also controlled by Bourgeoisies (Henslin et al 2014, p223). The upper class lives in a space station above Earth called Elysium, where the citizen’s are provided with high quality health care and standard of living. While, the lower class ‘‘Proletariat’ live on an over populated and polluted Earth and provide labour that benefits the upper class ‘Bourgeoisies’ who also control the lower class. There is also an ethnic division shown in the movie Elysium where the lower class people on Earth are manly from a Latino background.

Elysium also highlights the theory of social stratification. Social stratification is a specific kind of social inequality where the people of a nation live under different societal layers according to their social status (Henslin et al 2014). Social stratification is prominent in Elysium as you are either born as a citizen of Elysium or a citizen of Earth and you cannot change your citizenship, therefore your social status is predetermined and permanent.  

Social inequality is challenged in Elysium by the people of Earth, ‘Proletariats’ who are desperate to escape Earth as a result of negative factors like crime and poverty and are frustrated with the monopolising of both political power and laws by the upper class. The main character of Elysium ‘Max’ is from the lower class who is in desperate need of healthcare as well as carrying frustration towards the conditions on Earth in comparison to Elysium.  Max makes his way to the space station Elysium, with the support of other lower class Earth citizens, and reprograms the Elysium citizenship system by scarifying himself and paves the way of equality for the people on Earth by creating a classless society where everyone is now a citizen of Elysium. The rebellious nature of the lower class in Elysium who in the end overturns the upper class is representative of the Marxist theory that the oppressed will eventually turn against the upper class in a rebellion and ensure that the social status becomes equal between the classes (Henslin et al 2014, p223). 

The movement of individuals in social status, whether that be to climb or drop in the social class ladder is referred to as social mobility (Henslin et al 2014). It is a generally accepted notion that social inequality exists in every society at varying levels and this notion of inequality is also portrayed in different Hollywood movies over time (Sutherland et al 2013, p45). However, storylines in movies will also more than likely have an ambitious main character that challenges social inequality and will be successful in improving the social mobility of the lower class (Dowd JJ 2013, p37). Therefore movies play an important role in giving people hope that they would be able to improve their life by stepping up the social ladder. 

 Movies are a symbolic motivational vehicle for cultural learning in viewers which in turn encourages the theory of social mobility (Sutherland et al 2013, p37). The importance of critically engaging with popular culture such as movies has been expressed by Sean Carlton (Science Fiction as Social Criticism)  as being an important part of our strategy to encourage social mobility and in fact to change the view of the world towards equality.

Australia does not have a recognised class system nor does it have a social stratification as is described in the movie Elysium. However, the historical and contemporary treatment of Australian indigenous population indicates that there is some form of class system, but that this is not socially acknowledged (Henslin et al 2014, p234).

Looking to the current Australian landscape, we can see that the recent measures taken by the Australian government towards Asylum Seekers, particularly in respect of Border Control Polices, is reflective of the social inequality and division that is shown in Elysium. As it shown in the movie, great measures are taken by the government of Elysium to ensure that illegal aircrafts do not reach the space station. Andrew Smith of ‘The Drum’ ABC Opinion site refers to the action taken in Elysium and provides the opinion that:

“As the security services of the Elysium space station shoot down unauthorised ships flying toward the prosperous nation, Australian minds wander to the inevitable militarisation of our own borders: the three-star general in charge of towing, buying or perhaps even one day shooting boats trudging towards Christmas Island.

 There is no doubt that Asylum seekers or so called ‘Boat people’ is a controversial issue in today’s Australian political landscape, where on the one hand the Australian government stops the entrance of illegal immigrants by justifying that they might be linked to terrorist networks or they might bring diseases from third world countries to Australia, on the other hand the so called ‘Boat people’ entering Australia’s shore are seeking asylum due to the imminent threat of persecution or death related to religious-political problems and so on. The only hope of ‘Boat people’ is the United Nation Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and 1951 Refugee Convention to protect them.

The current Australian political landscape with asylum seekers is similar to Elysium, where the citizens of the Earth trying to escape polluted Earth and poverty to seek asylum in space station Elysium. We can also see that the government of Elysium have a strict border protection policy which is similar to Australia.  

The storyline of the movie Elysium addressed many sociological theories in respect of social inequality arising from class and ethnicity. Elysium mirrored the social theory of social stratification with the two distinct class layers, the lower class Earth citizen and the upper class Elysium citizens. The Karl Marx theory of lower class becoming frustrated with the inequality and fighting against the upper class for equal rights is played out in Elysium where social equality is achieved through rebelling against the upper class. Movies with their entertaining factor, interesting storyline and strong characters create a symbolic ambition and motivation for individuals who want to improve their social status by stepping up the social ladder to embrace social mobility. The movie Elysium reflects the current Australian policy towards asylum seekers and border protection, though not to the extent that is portrayed in Elysium, however some similarities can be drawn between Australian policy and the storyline of Elysium.

References:

Carlton, S 2013, ‘Science Fiction as Social Criticism: Evaluating Elysium’, Canadian Dimension, vol 46, no. 6, p42.

Dowd, J.J. (2010) ‘Understanding Social mobility through the movies’ in Sutherland, J. And Feltey, K. (eds.) (2012) Cinematic Sociology: Social Life in Film. Pine Forge Press, Thousand Oaks.

Eschholz, S., Bufkin, J., and J.Long (2002) ‘Symbolic Reality Bites: Women and Racial/Ethnic Minorities in Modern Film’ in Sociological Spectrum, Vol 22 (3): Pp 299­334.

Henslin, J., Possamai, A and A. Possamai­Inesedy (2013) Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach, Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest, NSW.

Smith, A 2013, ‘Can Matt Damon solve our refugee policy dilemma?’ ABC The Drum, 30 August 2013, viewed 5 April 2014, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-30/smith-elysium-and-asylum-policy/4922020>

Sutherland, J. A., & Feltey, K. (Eds.). (2012). Cinematic Sociology: Social Life in Film. Pine Forge Press, Thousand Oaks.