Film Analysis 1 – The Social Network Movie
In one of the most famous scenes of the Godfather was when Michael looks up at Sonny from his chair and says, “It’s not Personal Sonny, it’s Strictly Business”. This one saying from the Godfather became the most chanted slogan for the dynamics of aggressive business men everywhere; But I’m one of the ones and maybe even one of the few who thinks that Business — is Personal!”
When I think of this famous Godfather quote, I can’t help but to think about the Social Networks Movie about Mark Zuckerberg. Okay, okay unlike the Godfather; Mark Zuckerberg didn’t kill anyone in the movie. But Zuckerberg was extremely obsessed with being accepted by the secret societies called Final clubs. Zuckerberg statement that he had to do something Substantial to get a final clubs attention was the motivation and drive that Zuckerberg needed to create Facebook. I really believe that Zuckerberg quickly agreeing right away to help the Winklevoss Twins was the vehicle, to gain his acceptance that he was so hoping for. The twins however, to me they just simply handed over their idea to someone they felt was brilliant in an area that they themselves had no expertise. Zuckerberg comes off in the movie as this socially awkward student at Harvard needing social acceptance. One thing that stood out to me was where Zuckerberg felt the most comfortable, and it was in front of his computer, talking binary codes with his fingers, hammering away even to the point of staying up and missing sleep.
The movie opens showing a very outspoken and dominating conversationalist Zuckerberg on a date, the girl name Erica was trying exhaustedly to keep up with the high power-distance cultural conversational rant of Zuckerberg, this secret society and in group that Zuckerberg so desperately needed and wanted to be a part of, was his obsession to the point of repetitively talking nonstop on his date. Self-absorbed Zuckerberg ended up telling her how she should be more supportive of his rantings of secret clubs due to the benefits she as his girlfriend will gain by being with him. The conversation turned insulting; due to the fact Erica felt belittled with feelings over Zuckerberg's rather Masculine cultural assumptions of her. Erica rebelled and broke up with him and left him at the table. Then later we find Zuckerberg again, in his comfort zone, at his computer going into a tantrum over Erica & began to verbally insult and trash her on his online blog for everyone to see. This action, to me shows no control of emotions, and a drive for revenge; as well as a lack of decorum.
This movie goes on to show Zuckerberg, with this drive of being a step ahead; from him saying yes to the Twins business venture; to much later in the film making this rather harsh decision in secret, regarding his best friend and business partner Eduardo Saverin. Personally, I believe that Zuckerberg may have stolen the idea from the naive Twins; who had no legal binding agreement in writing with Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg went on to evade the twins as to helping them; while they waited impatiently to hear from him. Zuckerberg then cleverly went on to create his own website instead of theirs. Ultimately, its Zuckerberg betrayal of his best friend Eduardo Saverin; who had fronted him the money in the beginning stages of their Facebook business. In this betrayal, Zuckerberg pretty much diluting Saverin’s stakes, and all but ousting Saverin from the Facebook business. Therefore, I say Business, is personal. Because it can hurt, and effects many people.
Mark Zuckerberg could be considered an Oxymoron. Why do I say this? Well, basically due to Him being the person who inspired to build this communications conglomerate of social media and Networking monster; but then Zuckerberg Himself lacked ethics, morals, and empathy, and was not a very Competent communicator himself. So, what is a Competent Communicator and what five things do you look for? Well the First thing is this a Competent Communicators are Self Aware; which means they are aware of their own behavior and how it effects other people. The second thing is that Competent Communicators are Adaptable; which means they can assess what will be appropriate and effective in a given context and modify their behavior accordingly. The third is a Competent Communicators are Empathetic; which is the ability to be other-oriented and to be able to understand other people’s thoughts and feelings. The fourth thing is a Competent Communicators are Cognitively Complex; which is the ability to consider a variety of explanations and to understand a given situation in multiply ways. And the fifth thing is a Competent Communicators are Ethical; which are having principles that guide judgements about whether something is morally right or wrong. Zuckerberg to me lacked in a lot of these areas. Zuckerberg always came across as dominated even to proving his point of views. He was not Empathic towards other people. He didn’t come off as Adaptable, and was intentionally unaware of His behavior, and how it affects others. He showed very little of having a cognitive complex and his Competent communications Ethic wasn’t in existence! I feel he was blinded by proving over and over that he was the best. Okay, FB wise maybe he was the best. But Competent Communication wise, to me he didn’t care what was morally right or wrong. These continued actions existed throughout this movie.
I feel that these communications issues are in effect even today, and yes especially on Facebook. Long gone are the days of the famous only having a platform. Since FB came along it has given us all a platform, whether you are sitting on the train or in your bathtub. But having a platform I believe comes with a Responsibility. We are now finding these platforms with a dark side; just like any other Communications vehicle. Facebook with its great networking abilities comes with a cost, whether it’s giving up your privacy; only for it to be sold to the highest financial bidder, or innocently posting pictures; only for it to be stolen and used for other fake sites. Hence, A platform does not mean - everyone will play nicely. From a disgruntle employee ranting about your company on FB to an ex-fiancée or ex-girlfriend airing your dirty laundry out for the public to see. I have personally myself lost count of the number of fight video’s from in school and outside of school all taped, to then be posted as world star on FB. I’m not even going to get started on the many platforms of nudity to the x rated FB after dark. Whether you want to view it or not we have all witness murder or animal attack, from the baby momma drama’s and the barrage of grocery line/bank line arguments. To the bullying, face smacking, hair pulling, school teacher punching’s and the many views of police arresting gone wild! I have grown tired of it all and had to take some Facebook breaks. But I must remember; that there are lots of people who long for a platform, and for the much-awaited attention; its needed to live off and many people need it to feel accepted and to feel of value. FB is a place to show the “hey, look at me” or “hey, look at my life” or “look at my ideas/or my business” …we long for and need validation. We as human species need to belong: much like Zuckerberg. Why? because it shows that we are loved; or close to it, it shows that we are liked.
Zuckerberg has a brilliant mind, but on the other hand I found him wanting so much to leave the out-group to be in the in-group and was willing to do whatever possible to prove himself just to be noticed and validated. Very much like what FB is today, wanting to be noticed and be out of the out-group and becoming a part of the in-group. Lastly my thought is that, having a lot of Money only amplifies what you already are, so like Mark Zuckerberg was so confident in his self-importance and more egotistical mixed with presumptuous boastfulness and very self-assertive with no empathy or no care as to how his decision making effected other people. When the business took off and gave him status and attention and more money than he could have dreamed of, I’m not surprised that he remained the same person in character and communication.
I stated in the beginning; and maybe even a few may believe in this or not but, I still say that “business, is personal” and especially if you are one of the ones; who got Suckered by Zuckerberg.