Something I was thinking about in the car today, shuffling through songs that glorify The Hustle, talk about how money is all that matters…It got me wondering if there’s too much media that tells us that working ourselves to death is the only way to live.
Yes, I am of course aware that there’s plenty of media about living a life of leisure, rebelling against the grind, and so on. I’m am of course also aware that a solid work ethic is a generally positive trait.
So the question I guess comes down to balance. What do you see as the prevailing message in the media you see/hear/read? Is it, “Work as hard and amass as much money as you possibly can and nothing else matters?” Or do you see something different/better?
I think it just depends on what music you’re listening to. I wasn’t able to think of any songs I’ve been listening to in the last year or two that glorified the hustle, if anything they do the opposite. Here’s an example that came to mind when I saw this post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bW2MBdyLw
I see the message that anyone who is not rich is a loser. That’s what the problem is. All media characters are aspiring to be rich or they are totally miserable.
There is no respect for the middle class or working class people who are just happy.
Even characters that are presented as poor or middle class have homes, cars, and clothing that would well exceed their means in the real world.
You’ll have a show with a 20 something couple that are “just staring out”, he’s a mechanic at a small independent garage and she’s a struggling singer-songwriter. Without support from their parents they somehow have a 1200 square foot loft in a major city, brand new MacBooks, a top of the line TV, coordinated decor with no flatpack furniture, brand name clothing, and a late model crossover with all the options.
I know product placement is part of it, but it’s still bullshit and unrealistic.
the NU-MOVIES are pretty much that.
I was happy even when apparently far below the poverty line. Had everything I thought I needed.
It’s a peculiar thing
Very American
I want to work as little as I possibly can. I have plenty to do with my life and making money for someone else isn’t important to me
Not really anymore. I think it was definitely the dominant messaging in the 2010s when people were fighting to be rewarded for their hustle (e.g., lean-in feminism, LGBTQ consumerism, Asian Americans as tech entrepreneurs, rise of the [insert minority here] owned business labeling, etc.), but I find the pendulum has been swinging back the other way towards nihilist external-locus-of-control counterculture. I think we are slowly realizing as a society that we can’t, in fact, work our asses out of systemic oppression by the elites.
The prevailing message in media I see is that the workers should unionise
yes, the billionaires own the “popular media” and want to continue the “Don’t worry that your life sucks NOW, work hard, eek out an existence, MAYBE MAYBE you too could be wealthy, but if not, don’t worry, AFTER DEATH you get to be wealthy for sure, trust me brah…”
people watching and supporting Ellisons paramounts and htier show are just as responsible as he is what hes doing with it. aka nutrek.
and other news, HP and jk rowlings.
Work will set you free silly goose… fun is for children
Gates over Auschwitz:
Arbeit macht frei, dumme Gans.
Oh snap you got me… ughhhh
and nazis got thier “ethics, segregation” from america, its comes back full circle.
The media is owned by capitalists. Anything that threatens capital needs to be snuffed out.
This is Tupac who was murdered.
This is Kanye West who is a professed Nazi and still alive.
These songs were within a decade of each other. I know that’s not enough data, but I think the differences in tone can be accounted for which was was more acceptable to power.
I doubt Tupac was murdered by capitalists because he didn’t like them
Maybe. This is all conjecture, but it seems convenient that Tupac who advocated for helping the poor in his music was murdered and all the black artists who popped up after him (Beyonce,JayZ, Kanye for example) are all about “get my money” music.
Of course, I have no evidence, but if you’ve read about all the various CIA psyops over the past 80 years, it doesn’t sound that far fetched.
it also leans heavily into pro-govt propaganda for most mvoies and show.
That kind of media doesn’t really appeal to me so I don’t consume it. A lot of rap and country is about that (in different ways; hustling vs working hard at your job). The only recent show or movie I watched that I can think of that emphasizes overworking is The Pitt, but I’m not sure it glorifies it.
I do think working hard (or smart or whatever) is important and admirable, but only if the work is exceptionally important and beneficial to society (not most work), and not if you’re being exploited by your employer (most work). The most important work is probably the labor people don’t typically get paid to do (or get paid little).
I’m also of the opinion that trying to work too much is usually counterproductive and people get less work done. I’m pretty sure there are plenty of studies that confirm this.
Dolla dolla bill, yo
There’s an interesting video on this topic: “Hollywood’s obsession with ambition”
You might find it interesting, also gives examples of the opposite portrayed in media.
That was a great watch. If anyone else has any other movie/series recommendations like Perfect Days (2023), let me know
I think only in US which has tons of really weird propaganda (glorifying police violence, military, nationalism, capitalism and so on). In Europe I think this is mostly promoted in some corporate circles which are very “Americanized”.
That’s why I routinely listen to this to fight back against The Hustle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxW789jHXII Link for those who can’t access the other due to country restrictions.
“Popular media” shouldn’t determine how you want to live.
However, you should objectively look at what it would take to achieve your goals. And reassess at regular intervals.
Whats funny is I used to be more motivated to be that way but its because my motivation is more intrinsict and I worked in research and such. Its hard to feel excited to contribute if society is not moving net positive for people in general.
Who the hell is writing songs glorifying working too much?
songs are usually about struggles, he might meant MOVIES/shows, which are full of glorifying work.
