How many friends do you have who obsess over their social media pages? I'm talking about spending hours a day on these platforms. It makes me wonder how their time is really being used. Are they using the site for social interaction with real-life associates and friends or are they just trying to get famous?
Jawline tells the story of a sixteen-year-old boy names Austyn Tester who has been consumed with this idea of fame. He comes from a poor family in rural Tennessee that mostly want to rise above their circumstance. Austyn is constantly talking about not giving up on dreams and continuing to be yourself. However, he is so consumed with social media that he never takes the time to really find himself. He substitutes fame for education, instant gratification for sustained growth.
Perhaps most detestable in the documentary is a manager who exploits starry-eyed, bushy-tailed optimists like Tester for profit. This imbecile is so infuriating I had to get up halfway through the movie and just workout to blow off some steam. This is a guy who is quick to call others psychopaths but refuses to introspect and face the truths about himself.
The whole situation is utterly unsettling. It is surely a sign of the times we live in, but it does not mean there is no hope. We can change the demand for these sorts of unethical businesses. The comparison that readily comes to mind is the modeling industry and its exploitation of women. Why should we continue to support something that we know uses real people and their dreams for money?
Review of Jawline
Jawline
(2019)
A Haunting Look at the Pitfalls in Our Web-Based Society
31 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers