Green Politics: Capitalism and Nature Exploitation in Bong Joon Hon’s Okja Film
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15408/bat.v31i2.30527Keywords:
Capitalism, Nature Exploitation, Social class, Animal abuse, GreenpoliticsAbstract
Purpose
This research discussed the exploitation of nature and the working class in Okja conducted by Mirando Coorporation. It aimed to reveal how capitalism works in nature and explored the relation between ecological appropriate and social inequality.
Method
This research applied qualitative method, using eco-marxism approach. Data taken in the film were in the form of scenes and dialogues.
Results/findings
The analysis discovered that there was metabolic interaction as the results of exploitation of the working-class and domination of nature. The Mirando Coorporation pursued profits by using green politics and building false consciousness as environmentalist company. Besides, the capitalists were exploiting nature, animal and the working-class as their source of values and commodities. The products produced by capitalists were the roots of exploitation and domination in nature and working-class and it led to ecological change and impoverishment of workers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, green politics was used as disguise profit-driven motives and created false environmental conciousness to legitimate nature and labour exploitation. By commodifying animal, natural sources and labor, the capitalist production distort metabolic relations..
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