Topic > Corruption and Government Violence: Erik Matti's Ideological Analysis of The Job

Philippine films have made progress over the years, jumping from one specific genre to the next. It all began in 1897, with the appearance of the so-called "silent films". These films, shown in black and white, were able to present and influence the culture and beliefs of the people of that period. Over time, several changes in the films, such as color and themes, became evident. They were able to shed light on some of the country's issues, such as the colonization of Spain and Japan, the World War, and the controversial martial law. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Early Philippine films were initially introduced by foreign industrialists, as well as Western colonizers such as America and Europe. Documentary films were introduced in Manila in 1897, along with the influx of silent films. In 1912, films about Jose Rizal emerged, with the rise of artists such as Edward M. Gross and Albert Yearsley. This motivated local artists to enter the film industry in the Philippines so that they could express their stories as these artists did. This had intensified during the "artistic turn" of films in the golden age of Philippine cinema in the 1950s, where directors' cinematic techniques had developed. However, this turn had deteriorated with the arrival of foreign films with "violence and softness". core sex” as main themes. These films were produced on a large budget and were mainly aimed at a higher profit. This has resulted in a decline in local film production, not only due to shifting market preferences, but also due to directors' lack of artistic motivation to create films that meet audience demand. At present, Philippine films, mainly focused on mainstream films, are mostly profit-oriented and commercialized. Also described as the “Third Golden Age of Philippine Cinema,” this era promotes diversity in style and genre of cinema. Independent films, which have a relatively low budget and are mostly sponsored by private institutions or organizations, are starting to gain recognition at several film festivals and other film institutions. Several directors are taking this opportunity to create contemporary films with genres and themes that meet the demand of the new generation. Ideological Film Theory Ideological film theory is rooted in ideology, a “body of ideas that reflects the social needs of an individual, group, class and culture”. In 1796, this term was coined by Antoine Destutt de Tracy. This it also focuses on our social understanding of the world, as well as the beliefs present in our society and how these shape our culture. Through the formation of ideologies, we are able to recognize the explicit and implicit meanings manifested in films and how. were able to present these meanings. By exposing them to different perspectives regarding a certain culture or political belief, people would be able to easily interpret symbols and meanings associated with certain ideologies in the films , with the main goal of expressing himself and the stories he wanted to share. Through the ideologies present in the film, we can form some "hypotheses" that explain the veracity of a film. certain value or belief. Considering that these assumptions are universal, we tend to associate them with the values ​​and beliefs existing in our society, thus being able to compare the ideologies of the film with thereality of our culture. This can also help us evaluate the things we should value, as well as our motivations in establishing our beliefs. Therefore, using different "narrative techniques and rhetorical devices", films would be able to fully describe the true meaning of ideology. On the Job by Erik Matti On the Job is a thriller film directed by Erik Matti, which illustrates various social issues faced by the country. This included, among others, issues related to government corruption, violence and abuse of power. With a simple plot and a bit of suspense, this film managed to highlight the various political crimes and atrocities present in the Philippines. Its central theme centered on government corruption and violence, represented by the conflict between politicians and policemen. Daniel and Mario, the main characters of the film, are paid to carry out various crimes outside of prison due to certain orders from their boss Thelma. Because their lives depended on it, they had to voluntarily follow their commands in order to provide for themselves and their families while in prison. One of the ideologies featured in the film is the abuse of power and government corruption, presented by politicians who strive to protect their image and hide their crimes from the general public through manipulation of the police force. This was made possible by paying prisoners to kill those who attempted to reveal their secrets. It can be seen how this ideology explains how powerful politicians can be when it comes to controlling different institutions in the country and manipulating people into committing heinous crimes and covering up their acts of corruption. Furthermore, politicians have control over lower class people because they have the power to manipulate them through the use of money, which is a necessity for these people. For example, General Pacheco's desire to gain a higher position in the government pushed him to take such actions in order to gain more support from the general public. This can also demonstrate how unfair society is in its treatment of the lower classes. , where they always find themselves on the wrong side of the justice system. The parallelism between Daniel and the lawyer. Coronel's actions explain how "dirty" and unfair the political system is and the reality that those who prefer to do what is, end up in tragedy. This can also be explained by the deaths of the two characters. It can also be seen how Joaquin Acosta remained in his post and was not promoted despite all his efforts in solving several cases and maintaining a fair attitude among the police force. Therefore, it is evident how government corruption and abuse of power affects different social classes and manipulates people's beliefs and perceptions about the justice system and government in general. Furthermore, the film showed how violence has remained rampant in society, not only due to the influence of drugs but also due to several motivating factors that lead people to harm others. This ideology had formed the idea that violence was “normal” and that it was inevitable. Different forms of violence were shown in the film, mainly represented by the heinous crimes committed by Mario and Daniel. Furthermore, we can see how Daniel was trained to become a killer, sacrificing innocent people in order to manage his uncertainties and be “ready” to take part in a bigger crime outside of prison. Because of this he would be able to pass the work on to the next generation of prisoners. This simply shows how violence is an innate characteristic especially for those who were born in slums or.