Celine Song critiques the portrayal of wealth in narrative media, highlighting misconceptions about billionaires, particularly regarding a character in her film, Materialists. She states that a person with a $12m apartment cannot logically be considered a billionaire when half of Americans earn less than $35,000. Wealth disparities are emphasized in the film, contrasting extravagance with financial realities. In a genre known for escapism, Materialists addresses the moral implications of wealth, challenging norms and providing depth to the story of a matchmaker navigating financial and romantic challenges.
Celine Song expresses frustration over misconceptions about wealth, specifically that a private equity manager with a $12m apartment should not be labeled a billionaire. She emphasizes the disparity between the average American income and the true nature of billionaires, stating, 'If you're a billionaire, your big apartment is not $12m!' This highlights her disappointment that such characters can be likable in narratives despite their wealth, contrasting with the reality of financial inequality. The film Materialists portrays financial realities within a romantic comedy framework, challenging typical genre tropes.
In addressing the income disparity, Celine Song states, 'The average income of an American adult is $35,000. What that means is half of America makes less than $35,000.' This statistic lays the groundwork for understanding the context of wealth in her film. She explains how far removed a billionaire is from the average American's life, emphasizing that 'a billion dollars is not a hundred of that. No, it's a thousand of that.' This perspective aims to demystify wealth and encourage a critical view of financial representations in media.
Celine Song believes the visibility of billionaires leads to a distorted view of wealth, stating, 'I think because of how visible billionaires are, we think that's what wealth is. And I'm like: no, that's just crime.' This quote underscores her perspective that the romanticization of extreme wealth ignores the moral complexities and criminal implications of such disparities in society. By incorporating these themes into Materialists, she aims to provoke thought and critique of financial norms within the romantic comedy genre.
Collection
[
|
...
]