THE ANTAGONISM OF CAPITALIST CRITIQUE AND HUMAN NATURE: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE PLATFORM (2019)

Authors : Murtaza Talha Altınkaya

Pages : 315-329

Doi:10.47107/inifedergi.1608852

View : 58 | Download : 120

Publication Date : 2025-06-05

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The primary aim of this research is to analyze The Platform (2019) as an allegorical critique of capitalism and human nature, using critical discourse analysis (CDA) as the methodological framework. This study employs Van Dijk\\\'s framework of macro and microstructures to analyze how the film portrays systemic inequalities rooted in capitalist societies. Additionally, it investigates the moral dilemmas individuals navigate within these systems. At the macro level, the film\\\'s critique centers on class inequalities, symbolized by the vertical prison structure, where food distribution mirrors capitalist hierarchies. At the micro level, the characters\\\' behavior, which ranges from selfishness to solidarity, highlights the complexity of human nature when confronted with scarcity and competition. In this context, the article argues that The Platform critiques both the capitalist system, which sustains inequality, and human nature, which aggravates these inequalities through individualistic tendencies. However, the film fails to address capitalism\\\'s role in fostering these behaviors. The findings indicate that while the film emphasizes human nature as the root cause of scarcity and inequality, it overlooks how the platform (as an allegorical representation of capitalism) shapes and amplifies these behaviors. The article engages with contemporary debates on capitalism, drawing on the work of scholars such as Piketty and Fraser. It assesses The Platform as a production that reflects ongoing ideological discussions about social justice, inequality, and human behavior in capitalist societies. However, it argues that the film overlooks a critical analysis of capitalism as the root cause of conflict within its narrative and in the broader capitalist system. In this framework, the tension between capitalism\\\'s impact on human nature and individual responsibility is essential to understanding the ideological aspects of the film.
Keywords : The Platform, kapitalizm, insan doğası, sosyal eşitsizlik, sınıf mücadelesi, eleştirel söylem analizi

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