WGA/SAG-AFTRA STRIKE and The Buddha
By Samuel Liang | He/Him/His | Buddhist Church of Stockton
July 14, 2023
We’re more than halfway into the year 2023, and so far, it has not been pleasant. Early May , after six whole weeks of failed negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the WGA went on strike. Now the union is asking for fair compensation and protections for writers, more reasonable deals and contracts, as well as provisions about artificial intelligence. Now Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joins the picket lines, asking for wage increases, residuals in streaming, provisions about artificial intelligence, etc. One of the most prominent CEOs, Disney CEO Bob Iger, said that the Writers and Actors aren’t being realistic with the strikes, saying quote, “It’s very disturbing to me.” Hmm, I think Iger just isn’t seeing the real problem. California is known to be one of the most expensive states to live in the country. In fact, cities such as Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura, which are a part of the greater Los Angeles area, are just a few of the most expensive cities to live in with an average rent ranging from $2,533 to $2,704.
Now, how do these ongoing strikes in the Hollywood industry compare to the Netflix series Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era and capitalism? Well, to start off, Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era is a Korean adaptation of the popular Spanish show "La Casa de Papel" or "Money Heist." The show centers around a group of individuals who plan and execute elaborate heists on various targets. And there are a few themes that can be explored in relation to today's society.
Economic Inequality: We know that capitalism is very unequal and in Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era, they shed light on the issue of economic inequality where the characters are driven by desperation and a sense of injustice to carry out a heist led by a criminal mastermind known as “The Professor,” ultimately to challenge the imbalance of wealth in society. This can be seen as a reflection of the ever-growing wealth gap and the frustration felt by those who are continuously being marginalized or disadvantaged in real life.
Corruption and Power Dynamics: The series also delves into the corrupt systems and power dynamics that exist in society. It portrays a world where individuals in positions of authority (Ex. former Disney CEO Bob Chapek) abuse their power for personal gain. Bob Chapek who was the former Disney CEO had a legal dispute with actress Scarlett Johansson whose contract was breached, by allowing her movie Marvel’s Black Widow to be released to stream on Disney+ while playing in movie cinemas. His personal motives on why he did this are unknown, however, I believe his intentions were to boost Disney’s revenue. This example mirrors the harsh realities of today's society, where corruption and an abuse of power are prevalent in various institutions.
Resistance and Rebellion: Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era highlights the idea of resistance and rebellion against oppressive systems. The main characters in the show fight against an establishment by challenging the status quo and seeking justice. This can serve as a metaphor for the need to question and challenge the injustices present in our own society, like how the writers and actors are on strike against their respective studios to fight for their cause. Since the Buddha’s teachings accentuate non-violence, peacefulness, compassion and mindfulness, Buddhism does contain some principles, in regard to social injustices. The Buddha asserted the importance of standing up against injustice, advocating for ethical behavior, and cultivating compassion for all beings. These teachings would encourage individuals to act with integrity, promote fairness, and work towards the well-being of others.
Human Connections and Solidarity: The series emphasizes the importance of human connections and solidarity in the face of adversity. The characters form deep bonds with each other, working together to achieve their goals. This can be seen as a commentary on the strength that collective action and unity can bring to society, particularly in times of hardship. The Buddha would call this “interconnectedness.” Buddhism also emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct, which would encourage individuals to act with honesty, integrity, and respect towards others promoting such harmonious human connections, and cultivate human qualities such as generosity, forgiveness, and non-harming in their interactions with others.
Greed: In 2022, Iger’s total pay package was $15 million USD. Now that Iger has returned as Disney’s CEO, it’s said that he has the possibility of earning up to $27 million in the year 2023 alone. In Buddhism, we are taught that there are 3 poisons: Greed, Anger, and Ignorance. Capitalism has its emphasis on the accumulation of wealth and material possessions, which can sometimes foster a toxic mindset of insatiable desire and greed. The relentless pursuit of profit and wealth, without mindful consideration of its consequences, can lead to unethical behaviors and corruption. In the series, the antagonists also abuse their power for their personal agenda, hence why Greed is a poison in Buddhism.
Since Buddhism doesn’t exactly provide a specific blueprint for addressing the potential corruption within capitalism, it does offer a moral framework that encourages individuals to a mindset of mindfulness, compassion, and ethical awareness in their daily economic activities. This can help lead to a more conscientious approach to society. Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era also highlights the power of collective action and the potential for ordinary individuals to challenge such oppressive systems by emphasizing the importance of unity, trust, and solidarity amongst diverse individuals who join together to fight for a common cause. This can also be seen as a call to viewers to recognize their own agency and consider how they can contribute to addressing societal injustices without violence.
Now as for the series, I personally haven’t watched the original Money Heist series. But Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era is a must watch, especially if you are into Korean dramas that have a crime/political thriller/suspense.
“What is money? It’s just paper. You can make as much of it as you want here. But if the ones who decide how much to print and where to use it are robbers, shouldn’t this be stopped? Because this house of paper has always belonged to the people. Now, who’s the thief, and who’s the real owner?”
— Berlin (Money Heist: Korea, Episode 9)
Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Era
https://www.netflix.com/us/title/80997343?s=i&trkid=0&vlang=en&clip=81650034
