How Does “Jupiter Ascending” Critique Modern Market Culture and Income Disparity Among Classes?
One of the clearest social messages in Jupiter Ascending (2015) is its presentation of income disparity. In this film, the Abrasax family represents the pinnacle of wealth and power, as it literally owns the world. No greater image of ultimate wealth exists than ownership of the entire Earth and its population. The Abrasax family see the humans on earth as nothing more than inventory which they will eventually use to turn a profit. Mankind is a crop, and the Abrasax family aims to harvest. The family is overwhelmingly despicable and only concerned about the betterment of their own existence, an easy jab at big-money corporations at work in the world today.
Jupiter Ascending critiques the market culture of today’s society, and the characteristic profit-oriented mentality behind its actions. Making Jupiter (Mila Kunis) kick off her role as a low-class, toilet-scrubbing maid is the film’s idea of showing the bottom of the wealth pyramid. She’s the definitive opposite of what she becomes. By the film’s completion, Jupiter is given the world, literally, and denies the power and wealth she could be afforded. She finds more power and purpose in her family and her life, knowing that the rest of the Earth’s populus can live on as they were. In direct opposition to the Abrasax’ ideals, value is found in people and existence, in togetherness and experience.