The Purge: Election Year and a Reflection of Society

The Purge film dynasty has created a huge following of watchers and viewers because of its presentation of a society where all manner of sin, debauchery, and impulse is disregarded for one government-sanctioned night of lawlessness. How easy would it be to get caught in a situation where all crime and heinousness is never considered as a crime?

The third installment in The Purge series entangles modern politics within the already interesting universe that The Purge films have created. The objective of The Purge, as detailed in the films, is to create a period where everyone wanting to act on their instincts can do so without legal and social ramification, retribution, and backlash. Apparently, familiar governmental bodies still work in the world of The Purge, and certain philosophic themes are ripe for review.

The first two Purge movies focus on the whims of everyday individuals who are provided with an opportunity to act on their primal instincts without recourse. Plenty of mayhem and devastating violence was the outcome. The third Purge movie focuses on the political ramifications of elections held in a society where an annual social outburst of violence reigns as the most important event of the year. Somehow, the Purge vision of the annual day of “no consequence” reflects the modern real world notion of election. This angle helps illustrate that an election of a leader is not far removed from the selection of a figurehead who will end-up overseeing a society that will continue to spread violence and oppression regardless of any political outcome.

Election Year presents an awkward and romantic situation that threatens to dismantle the expectations of a modern world fully engulfed in Purge activity. Apparently, even in a society where Purge activities are respected, a representative form of government still exists. The third Purge movie presents a situation where a person of prominence promises to end the Purge if elected to national office. Some people think this is a positive, while others believe it signals an end to their favorite annual opportunity of violent self-expression.

An interesting facet of The Purge movies is the presence of strong individual choice. In all three movies, there is a stark divide between people who look forward to completely letting their impulses reign, and those who prepare all year to protect themselves and their families. So, a subtle irony exists in the films. Is a formal Purge any different than the normal condition and violent potential of society?

Even without a sanctioned Purge, people are intent on self-preservation and protection. After all, spontaneous Purge-like eruptions can happen at any time, anywhere on the planet. The Purge: Election Year proves that when it comes to protection of the self and the family, it must not be the privy of a government to decide the degree and manner of that protection. When chaos and death is allowed to reign supreme, it remains the job of individuals to perform their due diligence with things like home protection.

In the first Purge movie, it is made abundantly clear that without home security measures, anarchy would seep into every household. In fact, some of the Purge participants plan to pillage and destroy people in their own homes. Advanced and highly sophisticated home security systems become the most lucrative industry in a Purge society. This condition is true in the real world as well. Without home security, horrible danger can invade any home and getting an affordable system catered to your needs is easier now than ever, according to Columbus Security Systems. Since there is a facet of human nature and social behavior that could make anarchy and chaos emerge spontaneously, it follows that anyone who values a safe refuge at home should invest in an advanced home security system of some kind. Whether it’s an intimidating guard dog, or a system that puts Fort Knox to shame, having home security won’t prevent a Purge-type situation, but it can eliminate major elements of fear.

The Purge: Election Year does a great job at highlighting, if not hyperbolizing, the condition of present day society. It is no mystery that a collision of cultures and political persuasions are nearing a head. This year marks an important and volatile election in the United States and other countries. The candidates represent ideas and personal concerns that are intimately tied with the themes explored in the Purge movies. Social groups want to express their concerns. Opposition groups also are searching for ways to be heard, and political candidates thinly disguised as leaders are touting their ideas for forming the ideal social situation.

This year’s election certainly seems to carry all of the attributes that would contribute to the creation of a society that reflects the social conditions present in Purge movies. In short, no one is happy with the present leadership, and the only viable way to reign-in the acts of people is with a day of unbridled personal expression devoid of consequence.

The Purge: Election Year attempts to put the extent of present-day societal concerns to the forefront. As the The Daily Beast recently wrote, the fantasy of choosing a leader reminds everyone who chooses to participate in the Purge, that order and law will reign when the Purge is not permitted. Electing a leader who wants to institute extreme reforms means trading-in the Purge for a set of laws that require severe adjustment when it comes to self-control and behavior. The Purge: Election Year allows audiences to entertain the choice of free expression and the possibility of universal understanding.