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CHAPTER IV RESULT OF THE STUDY
4.1 The American Capitalism Concept as described in Friends with Money Movie
The movie entitled Friends with Money is a movie that describes capitalism or capitalist society that occurs nowadays. Capitalism itself is an ideology relates to
the economical developments. It is stated that the character of capitalism is that classes having their own production ways
─ the capitalist─ doing operation based on capital accumulation logic continuously; capital is property money and other
assets that can be used for producing material infrastructure from economic production see chapter II page 10. Capitalists try to change the goods for
collecting properties to get more. This term also involves the condition of economy that is assigned from social classes or levels in society. In addition, the
writer uses cultural studies theory to help the writer in analyzing the movie. The American Capitalism described in the movie is selected based on the
nature of Capitalism there; they are the commodities of capitalism and classes division. First, the result of study relates to the commodities of capitalism.
The nature of capitalism is actually system production that occupies land, labor, technology, money, raw materials, and goods and services as commodities in the
market activities for certain profit. Those influence the development of economics of capitalism and based on the movie, the writer found that some of those
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commodities that will be analyzed and relate each other consist of money and labor power.
4.1.1 Money The writer found interaction relates to money, how Capitalist societies
utilize money and how the description of money that also influenced by some types of elements capitalism works such as individuals and income.
First, it is individuals. The writer found concept of capitalism which is analyzed more refers to the way the circulation of money they have
― the way of capitalist society in conducting their wealth or money. In other words, it tends to
how capitalism works which is influenced by individual and their income. Individuals engage in the economy as consumers and investors only in this case.
For example, as consumers, individuals influence production patterns through their purchase decisions. As investors they decide how much of their income to
save and how to invest their savings. These savings, which become investments, provide much of the money that businesses need to grow see chapter II page 12.
These circumstances are adapted from the movie based on the quotations:
Franny: “This shoe is 95?”
“I don’t know why she should use this shoe?” Matt :
”Don’t worry, her feet grow up” Franny :
“That’s right. Therefore, we should buy the cheap one coz her feet will grow in two weeks”
Matt : “No. Since it grows up, we need the best shoes”
Datum no 1 The first quotation above took place when Franny and Matt as a couple
have a daughter who is growing up. Matt has bought expensive shoes for her
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daughter, but Franny, as a mother disagree since the shoes only will be used in two weeks. The other dialogue is:
Matt : “Hei…Franny and I have just bought billiard table in an investment”
“Will you come there?” Datum no.2
The quotation above shows Matt statements which reveal that he and his wife has bought new table and he showed it up when he met his friends in a party
and he asked his friends in case they would come to his house and saw his new stuff.
From those explanations taken from data no 1 and no 2, it can be seen that an individual takes a role as a consumer to buy something through some
considerations. Individuals influence production patterns through their purchase decisions. It means that a consumer as an individual will consider some decisions
they take in gaining something for their life. This pattern influences production pattern for certain products. This phenomenon leads to the level of quality certain
products will influence the desire of consumer in buying it. The consumer more prefers the best quality for their daily life, in particular, Capitalist society since
they have more money in gaining everything they like. Another quotation that reveals individuals is the investor as the following:
Richard: “Where else they will put their money?” Datum no 6
The statement above was taken from the conversation between Richard and Jane in a car. They had just attended a party with Matt and Franny when Matt
told where else he had invested his money. Richard asks Jane about Matt’s
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investment in some places. This leads to Richard curiosity where else Matt would invest to get much more money.
From quotations above, it can be interpreted that Capitalist Society when they are individuals who take a role in economic system in their life, they will
manage the circulation of their money, both expenditure and investment. It can be seen that a man thinks as the investor, where those people
― Capitalist people put their money.
Then, the other is income. Income in a capitalist economy depends primarily on what skills are in demand and what skills are currently being
supplied. The following quotation reveals the income: Olivia: “Can you have 65 dollar an hour?”
Datum no. 16
The quotation above took place when Olivia met her friend, who was personal trainer. As a personal trainer, he had certain skill that led him in getting
money. Olivia tried to know how much money he could achieve from his skill. Based on the explanation above, it shows the questions how to get such
salary in an hour. The salary is usually achieved depends on the ability of people in utilizing their skill to earn more money for living. Having more good skill and
good management in contributing the skill may influence better salary. In addition, besides the explanation above, Capitalist societies also have
some considerations in giving their money with some reasons. The quotations are: Franny: “I will be better giving my money for you to go to the
therapist and think what you will do” Olivia : “So, you will not lend me for the exercise?”
Franny: “No. I mean, I should talk it over with Matt”
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Olivia : “Will you discuss with Matt about money to lend me to go to the therapist?”
“You bought your daughter 80 shoes from France. But, you make me in difficulty”
Franny: “That’s Matt, not me” Olivia : “I have to go”
Franny: “Will you?” Olivia : “You don’t know the feeling. Before there is Matt, you
will always lend me. That’s your money, not Matt’s” Franny: “Of course, it is his. We are in married”
The conversation happened when Olivia and Franny discussed about the decision of Olivia who wanted to borrow some money to have training, so she
could get the other job with better salary. However, Franny disagreed with some reasons and she should discuss with Matt, her husband.
From the dialogue above, the capitalist society will be cautious in giving money for other people than for them selves. For the family or their desire they
will spend much money is not a problem. However, they have some reason and background in giving the money for somebody who has no advantage or getting
honor from giving for poor people to avoid the expenditure useless. 4.1.2
Labor Power Labor includes all mental and physical human resources, including
entrepreneurial capacity and management skills, which are needed to transform one type of commodity into another. The writer found labor power commodities,
how labor power works, how Capitalist societies utilize labor power and how the description of combination from labor power that is along with some types of
elements capitalism works ― individuals and income.
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First, labor power relates to individual. Individuals engage in the economy as the producers, consumers, and as labors itself. As producers will change
production to produce what is most profitable most often what consumers want to buy. As laborers, individuals may decide which jobs to prepare for and in which
markets to look for work. However, labors and producers in this case is similar since labors do the services or as the producers of services. In other words, the
writer explained the use of labor power by Capitalist society in terms of how Capitalist societies act as the consumer of labor power and how labors do the
productivity as the provider of services. The following quotation reveals individual as consumer in considering the labor power.
Franny: “Should we employ her in our house?” Matt : “For our home? No”
The conversation above happened in Franny’s house. When Franny knew Olivia worked as a maid, she asked in case they could employ Olivia in their
home to help Olivia getting more money easily and it was not too exhausted for Olivia since Franny also had another maid in the home. However, Matt disagreed
since it would waste their money if they have two maids. The quotation above shows an individual that takes a role as consumer for
service from the labor power. Society who act as the consumers they have certain reason to reject what goods or service they get. An individual who is consumer,
she or he also may choose or consider should they use labor power or not. The considerations usually depend on their own reason it will be either profitable or
not when they use labor power, especially labor power from their friends.
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In addition, the following quotation also shows labor power who takes a role in a production as service supplier.
Olivia : “My name is Olivia”
“I am a lady that cleans your house”
The quotation above happened when Olivia called the owner of the house she cleaned. She called the owner to talk and discuss that she wanted to meet with
the landlord to talk about the last time she would finish and quit her job as a maid. It shows Olivia as the labor power may do the production activity not as
the goods supplier but as service supplier, it is service from a maid. Occupying labor power as the service supplier is usually harder than labor power as a worker
in certain company.
Second, labor power relates to the income. Income that will be explained relates to how labor determines salary they should get based on the services they
gave. Jane :
“Are you worried in maintaining your salary?” The quotation above took place when Jane and Olivia went for a walk and
Olivia told her that she got a landlord who seems poor but he wanted to pay a maid for cleaning his messy home. Olivia told Jane that she agreed if she was paid
in lower salary since she felt that the landlord has the worst condition than her. However, Jane disagreed with the reason that whether Olivia was worried in
maintaining her salary to get the standard salary. From description of conversation above, it can be seen that the worker herself,
she gave the service as a maid with certain price to get income. As the workers, in particular, private worker who stands as independent worker for certain job, have
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standard income they would like to get depending on how hard they do the job by her or him self.
4.1.3 Production
Production is the act of making goods or services through the combination of labor power and means of production. The writer found production in terms of
the use of labor power only, how labor power works to do the production in the form of services and how it relates to the capitalism.
When Olivia came to a house and apply for a job as maid The landlord : “So, all the cleaning suppliers are in the kitchen”
“Because, I’m very messy” Olivia
: “No, its’ ok. That’s why I’m here for” The landlord : “This is the kitchen”
“And I don’t have dish washer” “So, can you come on Monday?”
Olivia : “Yeah…Monday is ok”
The landlord : “And how much it’s charged?” Olivia
: “ohm…65 dollars” The landlord : “I just can for50”
Olivia : “I don’t usually be charged that little”
“Uhm…Ok” The landlord : “Really?”
Olivia : “Yeah...”
The landlord : “All right. Thank You” It shows that in doing the production, it is service, the worker tries to get
the appropriate charge or salary since the condition of the room is very messy and dirty. It takes a long time to clean the whole part of the house. However, the
consumer, in this case is the landlord or the owner of the house tries to bargain the
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cheap price for the worker. Capitalist society will try to occupy the labor power more with the lower price, but not the worker or labor power. As laborers, they
will more consider how much service they have given to produce in order to gain higher salary. This may appear in the condition of Capitalist society.
4.1.4 Classes division
For American society, in particular, the upper class, wealth is the measure of human’s worth. In different setting from the movie, the thought about the
influence of money also often discussed for them. The quotations are: Richard : “I will have more sex if I have much money”
“They never quarrel since they have much money” The conversations took place when Christine had quarreled with her
husband because some different opinions. Richard, Jane’s husband knew about it and he told that Matt and Franny never quarreled. It shows that a couple who’s
more money than the other will be happy and they will have less compromise in occupying money for their needs. It may also be defined that money affects
people in getting happiness in their life. Some people believe a certain couple seems happy because they have much money and very rich. From the
phenomenon, it can be interpreted that money is the measurement of prosperity of people life. Having much more money, getting much more happiness in their life.
On the other hand, for lower class level in the capitalism, they have their own thought in the way of money. The quotations are:
Olivia: “I don’t understand about such party. They all waste all their money for a party”
“Why don’t just give the money to the scientists or to sick people?”
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Olivia told the statements when she argued with Franny about the way of rich people in contributing their money. This happened when Franny proudly
showed how she invested her money through the party and she did not give to people who need it directly. From the quotations above, it shows that the way
Capitalist society in contributing money through the party seems unreasonable for other people since they believe that that circumstance is similar to wasting money
than contributing to people who need it. Olivia who describes as a lower class people believes that the contribution of the money should be given directly for
people who really need the aid. They will think that such events just waste money and it is in vain for them.
From the writer’s findings and analysis it can be stated that Capitalism can work through individuals and income which may go along with elements, such as:
money, labor power, and production. Individuals take a different role, as producer, consumer, and investors will play different role since it depends on the welfare
they have. Capitalism society will have many considerations in circulating their money and they have their own way in distributing the money.
4.2 The Women Career Concept as described in Friends with Money movie
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