"SpongeBob SquarePants": The Second Force of Late Capitalism

Cecile 2021-12-28 08:01:26

The symptom of postmodern late capitalist culture described by Jameson is almost fully confirmed in "SpongeBob SquarePants". That kind of wild imagination and nonsensical humor can be counted as James's so-called "magicism in movies." ", and the whole story is set in a typical late-capitalist consumer society.

"Beach Castle" literally translates to "bikini under the sea", or a pun meaning "to wear a bikini under the body", here can be regarded as an undersea animated version of the American town/community, Daniel Bell said, "Little "Town" is a symbol of the United States, and the story that happened in a small town is a miniature version of the United States—sometimes a trivial version.

The central area of ​​Beechburg is not a square, a city hall, a movie theater, or a grand theater, but a burger restaurant, the "Crab Fort" burger restaurant. In our opinion, the place that produces junk food has become all Beechcraft. The holy place in the minds of the citizens of the fort, it is their most important life goal to be able to eat the crab yellow fort prepared with the secret recipe. Therefore, in the 2015 version of the big movie "SpongeBob SquarePants: Sponge Out of the Water", the crab yellow fort was out of stock due to the loss of the secret recipe. It really ruined Fort Beach.

In the consumer society of late capitalism, there is no vigorous grand narrative in life, and eating hamburgers has become a top priority. The leading actor of "SpongeBob SquarePants", "Sponge Bob with Square Pants", is obsessed with making burgers and is willing to devote himself to the Crab boss's burger shop; his colleague, Brother Octopus, is passively slowing down all day, passing the time and indulging in his own literary white. Daydream and can't extricate himself; the simple-minded big star is a second force, stupid, but also simple.

As a result, ordinary youth SpongeBob SquarePants, literary youth octopus brother, the second force youth school big star, on the surface constitutes a stable "Wen Pu II" combination-connected through exaggerated and alienated stories. It is worth noting that in the capitalist employment relationship of the burger restaurant, SpongeBob is willing to be exploited with a fetish mentality; Brother Octopus becomes insensitive; Pai Daxing does not have the ability to act at all—this is exactly what The typical mental symptoms of the late capitalist consumer society.

SpongeBob’s view of Crab Wong Fort is like an artist’s madness in his own artwork, "not going crazy, not alive", so this "ordinary undersea youth" is actually a "literary and artistic criminal" in his bones, and it can even be said to be like SpongeBob, Crab Wong Fort. Compared with the artistic madman, Brother Octopus has become a pseudo-literary youth. In this way, the aforementioned trio has become a de facto "(true/false) literary (true) two force" combination.

The villain boss looks three-dimensional. This big gray wolf villain is full of passion for life. His computer wife has a strong sense of Internet + artificial intelligence. In the 2015 movie version, it was the boss stealing crab roe. The Fort Secret Formula has lifted the curtain on the main story, otherwise, the entire Beechburg will be in the calm and stable state of TV cartoons, which is choking enough to make it to the big screen.

The second half of the film combines live action and animation. The bearded pirate played by Banderas follows the bottom of the sea to the ground and walks from the second element to the real world of Beechburg. The irony of the comic superhero has once again appeared on the screen. The "Art Two Forces" of Beechburg after the transformation are enough to remind us of (Sea) Superman, Iron Man and other images. Friends who are familiar with cartoons will definitely find N from the movie version. What a familiar old man.

Beechburg without Crab Fort has entered a doomsday state. The religious term Apocalypse is used here to reflect the prophecy of the end of the world in the "Bible·Revelation". The rapid spread of cult thoughts in Beechburg, so that the emergence of living sacrifices, and pungent acne piercing the American gods of the world (can be compared with the first season of the American drama "True Detective").

In terms of painting style, "SpongeBob SquarePants" reminds me of "Flying Out of the Future" (a sea bottom and a sky, but it happens to be a mirror image), and sometimes has the sharpness of "South Park", the kind of black humor to the reality. His laughter and laughter have the magical nature of "Robot Broiler".

Half of the viewers of "SpongeBob SquarePants" are adults, because in this tacky real world, we can't hide the octopus-like hypocrisy. We want to have a sincere partner like Pai Daxing, and we all want to be like SpongeBob SquarePants. Go to work with passion every day and never feel tired.

I remembered that when I came back from Paris at the beginning of this year and went through the security check at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the French girl who was in charge of the inspection pointed to a dozen "SpongeBob SquarePants" character stickers on my suitcase and called out their names one by one.

The little fortune of the second force of literature and art is obviously not only in Beechburg.

View more about The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water reviews

Extended Reading
  • Dessie 2021-12-28 08:01:26

    Sponge water mobilization

  • Antonette 2022-04-23 07:03:09

    SpongeBob is a good sponge.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water quotes

  • Plankton: Eww, it's so sweet in here. I think my eyeball is getting a toothache.

  • [Squidward is magically transported back to his cash register, without his Sour Note form]

    Squidward Tentacles: Well, it was fun while it lasted.

    SpongeBob SquarePants: I left you a little surprise under your shirt!

    [Squidward lifts his shirt to find to his delight...]

    Squidward Tentacles: Rock-hard abs! Aw, SpongeBob, you're okay in my book.

    SpongeBob SquarePants: [flattered] Aw, shucks.