I care a lot: A political economic approach to aging

Abstract

In this scholarly investigation, the discourse revolves around the phenomenon of aging, a salient concern within the realm of social policy and social services, as elucidated through the portrayal of older individuals in the films I Care a Lot, I, Daniel Blake, Lun Lok Yan, and Bizi Hatırla. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study's research design was structured as a case study, with the thematic content analysis method being employed for data examination. The underpinning theoretical framework of this research hinged upon Carroll Estes' political economy model. This comprehensive model scrutinizes the overarching concept of aging on a macroscopic scale, delving into its ideological, state-related, gender-based, post-industrial capitalist, and globalized dimensions, while concurrently delving into the interwoven systems of subjugation at a micro level, which encompass class, race/ethnicity, gender, and citizenship. Primarily, the study delves into aging and its multifaceted dimensions, encompassing demographic, societal, and historical facets. Subsequently, it elucidates the challenges that manifest during the aging process and elucidates prominent social theories pertaining to older people. The political economy theory, coupled with Estes' model, is elaborated upon expansively. The concluding segment, centered on film analysis, subjects the selected film to a detailed examination, aligning with five research inquiries fashioned in consonance with the aforementioned theoretical framework. The findings thus gleaned evinced a congruence between the cinematic portrayal of aging experiences and the precepts of the political economy theory, thus lending support to Estes' perspectives.