Sweet Resistance: Chocolate, Monopoly, and Social Power in Wonka (2023)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61276/loqula.v4i2.88Abstract
Although Wonka (2023), by Paul King, appears as a colorful family musical, the film presents socio-political issues related to power, monopoly, and resistance. Previous studies on food in film have predominantly focused on aesthetic and representational aspects. This study examines (1) the symbolism of chocolate in Wonka (2023), and (2) how chocolate functions as a medium of social resistance against monopolistic power. Using a qualitative approach and cinematic text analysis, the study applies cinematic gastronomy as the main analytical framework, supported by food semiotics, resistance theory, and cultural capital. Eight purposively selected scenes were analyzed through content, formal, and contextual dimensions. The findings show that chocolate functions as an ambivalent sign: it represents monopoly and institutional control while simultaneously enabling resistance against dominant power. The film also depicts public space as an arena where everyday gastronomic practices challenge established social and economic hierarchies. This study demonstrates the potential of cinematic gastronomy to interpret mainstream popular films as socio-political texts, revealing how food functions not merely as visual ornamentation but as a cultural and political practice of resistance.
Keywords:
Cinematic gastronomy , Cultural capital , Food semiotics , Social Resistance , Wonka (2023)References
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