Power Slap Trend: Sorry to Bother You
Slapping people for sport is so late-stage capitalism
When I first heard about the power slap trend, I thought it was a joke. Not that America is above such a thing (clearly), but the mere description of this new sport sounds like something straight out of the pages of Sorry to Bother You.
This post contains affiliate links. ^^ Meaning I receive a small fee at no additional cost to you. Sorry to bother you. Back to the topic at hand…
If you've never watched this film, I'd strongly urge you to view it a few times. I admit, when I first watched it, I was taken aback. The previews could never prepare you for the contents of the actual film. I don't want to totally spoil it for those who haven't seen it but suffice it to say, it shows how far gone societies become in late-stage capitalism, and sadly, it also shows that we are not far from such dystopian experiences. But, back to the matter at back hand…
Real-Life Hunger Games
Listen, I'm not trying to shame anyone for making an honest living, but slap boxing is one of those things I thought I'd never see outside of the confines of juvenile social circles. Nevertheless, here we are. And honestly, I rarely criticize those who are doing their best to earn money and survive, but I do have a few things to say to the audience in question.
First, is it really that entertaining? Yes, I understand that we have created a blood-thirsty culture that champions unnecessary violence at every turn, but slap-fighting?! Really?! We already have real boxing, football, MMA (brutal, brutal, MMA), and other martial arts. So, did we really need to add slap fighting? What's next, pinch fights? Noogie brawls? A baby boxing league?! Well, at least we'd have a new use for the popular initialism, BBL…
Edit: It just dawned on me that this also connects to shows such as Squid Game, which explores how inhumane society can become when debt and the lack of money become too astronomical to be ignored. Specifically, do you guys remember they played the slap game? It’s no coincidence that this was used as a way to gauge how desperate the future contestants were before inviting them to participate in the “game.”
My favorite part of this scene is that Seong Gi-hun had been slapped so many times that by the time he actually won, he forget all about the money and was ready to slap fire out of The Salesman. If you’ve never watched Squid Game, I sincerely urge you to watch that as well! However, be prepared for a dark and twisted ride, and bring your tissues for Episode 6! Slight digression…
What happened to the days of American Gladiator and other more competitive contact sports shows?! *Sigh*
Problems with Power Slap
Look, I'm not trying to be all self-righteous or anything, but I find the Power Slap League to be especially problematic for a few reasons:
- Almost anyone can do it: When it comes to other brutal contact sports, a rigorous training and screening process prevents anyone from just walking off the streets to meet their doom. However, from what I've seen from the PSL, almost anyone can compete. And in an age in which costs are on the rise while many industries are on the decline, presenting such opportunities is a danger to the collective. Either way, it doesn't seem to require much talent; being told you'd be perfect for the PSL is the epitome of a back-handed compliment.
- Brain damage: People may think slap boxing is a cute, funny sport. However, it's hazardous; unlike other contact sports, there is no protective gear, so the contestants are literally going skin to skin. And did I mention it can cost literal brain damage?
- Pushing the envelope: If we've devolved to the point where we are slapping the bejeezus out of each other for money and clout, what's next?! I highly doubt it will stop here, and it is highly troubling to think about the various ugly roads this may lead to.
Trouble ahead?
I don't mean to be a buzzkill, but it might be time to stop this train before it's too late. The trouble with late-stage capitalism is that it is marked by a lack of humanity and puts people in a desperate position where they will literally be willing to do anything for a buck. I mean, calling it a real-life Hunger Games seems like a stretch.
But can you say, with confidence, that if an advertisement popped up advertising a game show for kids with millions on the line and a "small chance of imminent death," we, as a collective, would stand up against it? I sure can't.
Also, as most of us are already aware, we are already contending with an AI revolution, which the oracle (yes, this is sarcasm), Bill Gates asserts, will soon do away with thousands or even millions of jobs in a very short period of time. Now, I'm not against technological advancements, but if you aren't getting The Matrix vibes from all of this, I'm going to assume you've either never seen (or understood) that epic trilogy.
Although these revolutions offer opportunities, this doesn't mean everyone will benefit from them. And those who don't will obviously be at the mercy of those who do. This certainly leaves room for the massive exploitation of the working class, which, unfortunately, is one sector that is wildly flourishing.
At any rate, even if AI doesn't end up using humanity as its unwitting battery pack, we have definitely entered a gray area that will get much darker before the sun re-emerges. So, I'm not here to tell you not to watch the PSL; I'm just here to point out that we need to pay closer attention to where this whole thing is headed before we're all SOL.
How do you feel about the Power Slap League? Better yet, would you slap yo' mama for a million dollars?
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