Political Theory Capstone Paper

1 Mackenzie Graham Dr. Andrew Lotz PS1681: Pop Culture and Political Theory 25 April 2019 The Purge Movie Series: Depiction of Human Nature Under “Anarchy” Dr. Updale: “I know what you’re doing. You’re sending soldiers into the island disguised as gangs, as citizens – hunting people down using the tracking implants. You’re making it look like people are participating because there wasn’t enough purging.” The First Purge I. Introduction The Purge movie series presents an interesting take on what a future would look like where a government allows people full freedom for one night a year to commit any crime they desire without consequences. Additionally, this series comments on what different groups of people would do, along with their motivations, under this lawlessness. The Purge series shows what actions people take on this night, deemed “Purge night”, which makes a larger claim about what human nature is like when there are no laws or consequences. Specifically, this series intentionally comments on and brings to light the fact that even though the government is not meant to interfere during Purge night (making this night seem like anarchism), the government is still heavily involved – such as through the prominent theme of the government being responsible for murders throughout the movies. The government sanctions this night of “lawlessness” (in other words, a type of fake anarchy) in order to keep their power and control. The Purge is a trick the government uses to maintain its rule. 2 A. Thesis The Purge series builds on some anarchists’ claims that human nature is influenced heavily by outside factors by showing that on Purge night (a night of lawlessness), there is still a large influence by the wealthy and powerful. This is proven through the series’ intentional presentation of the low-income population being targeted and killed by the government as well as the government encouraging purging through propaganda. The Purge series shows that the majority of those who are killed in the annual Purge are those who are poor, whether this be done at the behest of the government or not. The poor are not able to defend themselves on Purge night, which highlights the class inequality seen in these movies. This inequality between the rich and poor creates a dynamic on Purge night where the wealthy are at a great advantage and are therefore able to keep their regime in power. In order to back up my claim that the wealthy and powerful influence a night of “anarchy”, I will look at the main takeaways and messages in each movie in the series. In each movie, the main message drawn is that the wealthy and powerful have control over what occurs on Purge night. In all these films, there is a prominent theme of the low-income population being killed, more specifically, the low-income population being killed through government involvement. Moreover, it is necessary to review the messages of government propaganda that are seen in the films. This is essential because the slogans and messages put out about the Purge are a factor that contributes to how the movies suggest public support of it and therefore allow the government to twist the results of the night in their favor and prop up the regime. Both the low-income population deaths and the propaganda is important to look at because it proves how there is interference on a night of “anarchy” by the rich and powerful (including the government). 3 It is important to investigate why The Purge series chooses to comment on anarchy and human nature, and more specifically, the influence of the government during this event. The Purge series has a message that can be applied to the United States currently. The United States government does not adequately care for its low-income population and ignoring the problem by letting people suffer or die is not a moral solution. Why do we accept this? Furthermore, these movies highlight the important theme of propaganda keeping a regime in power; this translates to any country today that uses this to promote their current system. People who view these movies are more likely to be aware and accept that human nature is heavily influenced by external factors. Moreover, viewers will take away the messages that anarchism does not seem like a good idea and that the government does not care for and, in fact, negatively impacts its low- income population in order to maintain power and control. II. Reach of The Purge Series The Purge movies are widely consumed. The four movies in the series were released in the years 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018, respectively (“‘The Purge’ Franchise”). I believe that most people, even if they have not seen the movies, know what the premise of them is – all crime is legal for 12 hours during Purge night once a year. I think the unique premise of these movies is what drew many people to theatres in the first place – people want to watch what others would do during a night like this. The Purge movie series has grossed a total of about $456.8 million, with each movie in the series grossing more than the last (“‘The Purge’ Franchise”). These movies were a huge box office success especially considering the low-budgets for each movie which ranged from $3-13 million (“‘The Purge’ Franchise”). Another interesting facet of these movies is that they are not only widely consumed in the United States, but also worldwide, where the gross amount made outside the United States can account for 28-49% depending on 4 the movie (“‘The Purge’ Franchise”). This means that not only are those in America are interested in this premise, but it seems that many people worldwide are too. Therefore, this is a message about human nature that everyone is interested in learning about. Moreover, as with any movie series, viewers of one movie can be drawn into the films and watch the entire series. Overall, this means that people who view one or all movies in The Purge series are likely to see the prominent political themes of anarchy and human nature. This is not the first time a piece of media about anarchy and human nature has been released. First, in 1967, the Star Trek episode “The Return of the Archons” touches on similar themes. In this episode, the characters land in a town that has a “Festival” where people are allowed to do anything they desire without being under control of their computer-leader, Landru; after this period of time ends, the townspeople are back under the mind control of Landru (“The Return of the Archons”). Additionally, there is a statement from Landru about how the Festival creates “a world without hate, without fear, without conflict, no war, no disease, no crime” (“The Return of the Archons”). This propaganda enables the Festival to continue. The episode resolves by the characters working with an anti-Landru resistance group to ultimately take down Landru and the Festival (“The Return of the Archons”). Next, the Rick and Morty episode “Look Who’s Purging Now” is a parody episode about the Purge that was released in 2015. This episode details Rick and Morty landing on a planet where there is a “Festival” that allows crime for a night. There is the mention that the Festival creates a society “free of crime and war, living in perfect peace” and even mentions that this is the premise of The Purge movie explicitly (“Look Who's Purging Now.”). This episode ends with a character, Arthrisha, wanting to end the Festival: “I am trying to end the Festival … I was going to use your ship to destroy the rich [people] that run our society and save my people from 5 the horrors of this yearly Festival” (“Look Who's Purging Now.”). This parody episode made sure to match the message of The Purge series and show that the rich control Purge night. In order to stop the Festival, Rick, Morty, and Arthrisha go to the house where the rich people who run the Festival are; there is a toast said by the rich: “To another successful year of the Festival, pitting poor people against each other for thousands of years” (“Look Who's Purging Now.”). This line picks up on The Purge series’ message that the low-income population is the majority of those killed on Purge night. Rick, Morty, and Arthrisha kill the rich and therefore end the Festival. Both of these episodes are relevant to my thesis. “The Return of the Archons” details how government propaganda is able to sway a population into committing crime, much like what happens in The Purge series. Also, “Look Who’s Purging Now” picked up on The Purge series’ message that the rich control the night and have more safety than the poor. This makes The Purge series have an explicit message; the writers and directors of The Purge series chose to make the theme of inequality at the behest of the government prominent throughout all the movies. III. Theory Literature Review: Mapping Ideas on Anarchism and Human Nature The best way to explore the concept of human nature is by looking at what various anarchists’ views are on the subject, especially because The Purge movies are meant to portray a night of anarchy where there is not meant to be government control or interference. Looking at human nature through an anarchists’ lens reveals information about what happens and why in The Purge series. The diagram below provides a summary followed by an in-depth review of each theorist researched.

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