[Slate] Throwing Filth on Your Hypocrisy

Director Ruben ?stlund's Film 'Triangle of Sadness'
Capitalizing on Capitalism's Flaws as a Hwaibu-sil Influencer
A Society Compared by Seconds... Deepening Inequality
Harsh Satire on Suddenly Reversed Classes
Only After Losing a Smartphone Does One Gain Freedom from Others' Gaze

In the movie Triangle of Sadness, the model Yaya (Charlbi Dean Kriek) constantly posts photos on Instagram. There is no expectation of authenticity. It’s enough that the pasta wrapped around the fork and her admiring expression blend well visually. A guest watching with interest from across the table asks, "Aren't you going to eat the pasta?" Yaya replies, "No, I have gluten intolerance." Her boyfriend Carl (Harris Dickinson) chimes in, "It's just for the photo. She's an influencer." "Does that make money?" "It depends. To be honest, there are many free sponsorships. This cruise is sponsored too." "Getting tickets with looks, not bad. Quite a business."

“Likes” and follower counts are essentially currency today. Interest on social media platforms significantly influences others’ purchasing decisions. For influencers, their digital sphere of activity is a measure of popularity. The wider it is compared to others, the more support they can expect from companies, hotels, restaurants, and so on. However, most of the driving force behind attracting attention is virtual staging. They exaggerate and beautify themselves to the point where their original appearance is unrecognizable. They suffer from the pressure to package themselves as well as possible not only in the virtual world but also in everyday life. In extreme cases, they become confused about their own emotions and even lose their humanity.

Director Ruben ?stlund probes the flaws of capitalism centered on the flashy but hollow Yaya. The luxurious yacht setting is a microcosm of our society. The hierarchy of status is physically separated. For example, crew members live apart from the cleaners who do menial tasks. They can roam relatively freely inside the ship but cannot use the swimming pool and other facilities. These are spaces reserved only for wealthy guests. They watch their leisure enviously, hoping to gain a higher status. "I know, service jobs are tough. I know what kind of hardships you go through. But even then, don’t lose courage. Stay strong. And remember, what comes in on the last day if the work goes well?" "Money, money, money!"

Social status is a moving target. It is determined by constant comparison with others. Yaya’s act of sharing interesting slices of her life online also becomes a point of comparison. It provokes jealousy in viewers. However, since the images or videos are staged, they themselves can feel alienated. Sociologist Laura Visbøck wrote in her book The Racist Inside Me that "with the advent of social media, we can compare ourselves to others every second." "With smartphones, we can watch friends in virtual spaces and their successes 24/7. Even though we know it’s not reality, we cannot help but be influenced by such virtual self-presentation."

?stlund thus examines the causes of deepening inequality from multiple angles. Economists have proposed two main solutions so far. The first focuses on individual behavior, advocated by conservatives. They emphasize the need for incentives that encourage the lower class to carve out their own destiny. However, the poor respond more quickly to immediate and practical incentives. Since every day is a crisis, short-term solutions work best. Rather than responding rationally to incentives as experts suggest, they aim just to survive. Lectures telling them to stand on their own feet ring hollow.

The second view, held by progressives, calls for changing systemic factors such as income inequality or the inheritance of poverty. This underestimates the impact of individual decisions on fate. While the awareness that environment or social structure is at fault is not wrong, abstract explanations gain persuasive power only when acknowledging that systemic influences are reflected in the concrete daily decisions individuals make.

The vicious cycle of stagnation ironically creates a virtuous cycle for the wealthy. Psychologist Keith Payne argued in his book The Broken Ladder that "people who think it’s better to sacrifice today for a bigger reward in the future likely grew up in environments where such diligent investment pays off," stating the following:

"People who believe most others can be trusted probably came of age in a world where most people are trustworthy. And if stress responses subside immediately after stressful events, they are accustomed to essentially safe environments. Fortunately, those born and raised in such environments are more likely to succeed and have bright futures. In modern economies, it is productive to aim for long-term success rather than struggling to escape immediate crises."

The character who exhibits this attitude in Triangle of Sadness is none other than Yaya. When the yacht capsizes and they are stranded on a deserted island, she acts most proactively. She is likely chosen as the right person because both downward and upward comparisons are possible. Downward comparison carries the risk of complacency. When one starts feeling better than others, it’s easy to think they don’t need to work as hard. Conversely, upward comparison sparks the desire to work harder and achieve more. But the story changes if the comparison target is a tree that cannot be climbed.

Yaya reached a mental state where her desire to increase Instagram views obscured reality. Only after losing her smartphone in the accident does she become free from others’ gazes. She recovers the will to find her own life and directly tackles survival issues. She knows exactly what is important to her. This is a crucial matter for all of us. When asked about the most important values and motivations, most people recall personal values related to loved ones or a greater cause. Very few answer that they want higher status.

Even if one is frustrated by an unequal reality, life can change dramatically by placing what truly matters at the center. It doesn’t cost millions of dollars; just a few minutes of focus is enough. We only need to shift from the general economic model, which assumes people always respond rationally to incentives, to a more realistic and psychological model. Payne affirmed, "If you consciously strive to identify what truly matters, you can break the unconscious pattern of comparing yourself to others and evaluating your worth." "For us humans to thrive amid inequality, we must remodel the ladder."