S3 Ep. 200 Exploring the Hidden Economics of John Wick's Universe: Trust, Reputation, and Real-World Parallels

Speaker 1: Hello there, Welcome to the World Cafe podcast. This podcast has been designed with created content that centers on the power of words. Can we really do anything without speaking? Can we really do anything without the agency of words? Yes, that is what this podcast is all about, and I am your host , Amakri Isubie, your neighborhood word trader. I believe in the power of words , for it is the unit of creation . I trade in words to profit my world. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good everything. Wherever you are on the surface of the earth listening to me to the word cafe live show. You know this is where we come in to lean on one another's experience to do what? Forge a positive path. I'm here again to share such exciting moment with you. It's always fun whenever I come into this space knowing that you're there listening to me. One way I learn I learn a lot from movies. Yeah, I watch good movies, that is, I watch good movies. I read books, but there's something I come to see about movies, books, but there's something I come to see about movies. Movies carry a lot of stories, salient stories, and somehow these stories influences our reasoning, our patterning, subconsciously. There's this sublime messaging that we conform to. I want to share something with you. Yeah, a movie. A good number of us have seen it. We are looking forward to the fifth chapter. Which movie is that? John Wick, as I live and breathe. Why are you talking about John Wick on your show? Well, you will know, I wrote some things and I did a little research, so that's what I want to share with you the story, John Wick, the movie. So much to learn from it. Are you ready? I'm going to do some reading, then interject here and there. Movies are amazing Entertainment. I know I wrote something about it in my first book, A Cocktail of Words. I called it Entertainment vs Containment, Entertainment vs Containment entertainment versus containment is very huge, you know, amongst us all. Right, then I'm going to read, then stop here and there to follow me. Like you know, the world cafe podcast is where we come in to learn. We come in to lean on one another's experience to forge a positive path. John Wick is an American action thriller film series. We all know that. For those of us who have seen the movie excuse me, I'm reading , so I need to be comfortable with my text it's a movie series that began with the 2014 movie that's John Wick, like we know, directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Kenny Reeves, so he played the key role. The plot centers around John Wick, himself a retired assassin , seeking vengeance after a gang stole his car and killed his beloved dog. It's all about dog, and that's a gift he got from his deceased wife. So this event pulls him back into that violent underworld he had left behind. So the character John Wick is known for his relentless fighting skills. You know strict moral codes, you know, particularly in the world of professional assassins, bound by unique rules and underground economy yes, an underground economy. The action I'm just giving you, you know the framework, I'm laying it down, so we'll take it step by step, like that. The film is known for its highly stylized and choreographed action sequences, focusing on a blend of gunplay, referred to as gung fu, yes, bringing a little bit of the Asian thing, and all of that those of you who know John, if you know John Woo, I think this director stole something from John Woo's style gun and fight and martial arts. Reef that's Kenny Reef here was performing most of the stunts by himself, and when I did one or two things he did a lot of training to get that. So a major appeal of the story, you know it's rich and mysterious, world building, including the Continental Hotel, a safe haven for assassins who get there and the hierarchy of crime lords and assassins that abide by strict codes. So the theme, you know revenge, loyalty, grief and honor. These are the center themes, with John Wick's character balancing between his violent past and attempts to live a more peaceful life after the loss of his wife. So the movie has a commercial success and led to several sequels and spin-offs, establishing John Wick as a prominent action franchise. So the story the movie why? Primarily an action thriller softly introduces a unique economic system that's where I'm going, rooted in the criminal underworld that can be analyzed in terms of cultural nuances and market behaviors. So I'm going to give you a breakdown of the economic dimensions and cultural underpinning in this movie. So follow me. Where is the camera? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Yes, I know your eyes are on me . So the parallel underworld economy. Yes, I know your eyes are on me . So the parallel underworld economy. So John Wick, the John Wick universe, operates on a sophisticated underground economy that mirrors real world market system, but with its own rules, currencies, institutions. So in the parallel economy, gold coins. You know, John Wick always uses gold coins. So the economy of the assassin world is driven by a unique currency gold coins, which carry immense value and actions beyond mere monetary worth. These coins are used for everything from securing services like cleaning up after assassinations, to paying for sanctuary at the Continental Hotel. These demonstrate a bartering system that relies heavily on trust, reputation and exclusivity, where the value is symbolic and tied to the community's code of conduct. So you look at the cultural nuance. The coins reflect a medieval or aristocratic approach to currency, where value is derived not purely from market forces but from honor, loyalty and social standing within a closed society. This is a departure from the modern fiat currency. You know the fiat currency system, based on state authority and more in line with the closed guiles and all secret societies. The Continental Hotel is a centralized institution. I hope you're following All right. The Continental Hotel represents a centralized institution. I hope you're following All right. The Continental Hotel represents a centralized institution that plays the role of a regulatory body in the world. It provides services and a mutual grant for assassins, much like a cross between a banking institution and marketplace. Its economic functions include sanctuary and trade. The Continental offers a safe place where assassins can rest, network and conduct business without fear of violence. In return, they abide by strict rules no killing on Continental grounds, creating a balance between lawlessness and order. Cultural nuance the continental system of rules is reminiscent of traditional honor beast economies where deals and transactions rely heavily on reputation and loyalty rather than contracts. Like you know, if you go to the West in Tex-Ax and all that you know, those days you conduct contracts with a handshake. That's it. The hotel acts as an intermediary, similar to how medieval marketplaces would have , you know would have Overseas, ensuring fairness in trades and security. Supply chain services yes, John Wick exposed something there. The world of John Wick has a detailed and interconnected supply chain for various services that cater to assassins and criminals. These services include weapons and equipment. High-end weapons, bulletproof suits and medical care are part of the ecosystem, showing a sophisticated supply chain of luxury and highly specialized goods for a niche market. Cleanup services there are specialized personnel who clean up crime scenes, dispose, dispose of bodies and restore other after violent incidents. Payment for these services is done through the gold coins, creating an exclusive economy. Cultural nuance this system highlights a hidden market culture akin to black markets, organized crime, organized crime syndicates in the real world, where specialized off-the-record services are exchanged for non-traceable currency. The emphasis of expertise and efficiency suggests a highly segmented market where quality and secrecy command premium prizes. The high table Is it getting interesting? It's getting interesting, huh? All right then. The high table, a hierarchical governance structure. So the John Wick universe is governed by elite organization known as the high table, a council of crime lords who oversee the rules and enforcement within the criminal underworld. This body resembles a corporate or political oligarchy that exacts control over the economy by setting rules, levying punishment and maintaining a monopoly on violence. Cultural nuance the high table operates similarly to how feudal systems or powerful cartels regulate trade and behavior in their domains. They have a top-down approach to governance, making decisions that impact the entire underworld, enforcing compliance through agents like the adjudicator yes, that fierce woman. This reinforces a centralized, oligarchic economic structure that relies on maintaining power and status within a rigid hierarchy. Contracts and debt the high table enforces a system of blood oaths, you know, contracts and markers that bind individuals to certain obligations, acting as debt mechanisms. Failure to honor these debts can lead to severe consequences, including death. This resembles economies where social capital and honor debts play significant roles, often found in traditional societies, the open market for contracts. So in the John Wick world, contracts for assassinations are openly traded, often with a bounty placed on an individual's head. These bounties increase with demand, showing a fluid, almost stock market-like system where price is determined by the value of the market of the target and the urgency of the contract. The cultural nuance this reflects the market of the target and the urgency of the contract. The cultural nuance this reflects the dynamic nature of competitive markets where the value of goods in this case human lives fluctuates based on perceived worth and market conditions. It's akin to a mercenary or bounty hunting culture which historically existed in times of war or among lawless frontiers, where skilled individuals could profit by offering violent services, trust and reputation as currencies. So in this assassin's world, trust, loyalty, reputation hold such reputation, hold such high value as gold coins. John Wick's ability to navigate the underworld relies on his impeccable reputation for completing contracts and his adherence to rules of the continental and the high table. The cultural nuance here the concept of reputation-based economy, ties back to honor-based societies or gift economies where the reciprocal obligations and social standing dictates transactions. So in the John Wick's universe, one's ability to thrive depends heavily on personal relationships, similar to low. Traditional economies often operated on trust, patronage, long-standing agreements rather than formal contracts. So exclusivity and market barriers. The John Wick universe operates with high barriers to entry. Only those deeply embedded in the criminal underworld can participate in this economy. Access to services, weapons and even currency is restricted to members of the assassins, the assassin's guide or those who operate within its network. This creates an exclusive economy with its own internal checks and balances. So the cultural nuance. Own internal checks and balances. So the cultural nuance. These mirrors real world closed markets like the high-end luxury markets, or even mafia-controlled regions where participation is restricted by familial ties, loyalty or wealth . It also echoes caste-like system where the mobility within the market is controlled by adherence to the established rules of the elite. Ah, so an interplay of market and cultural nuances. So John Wick series creates a unique microcosm that combines elements of traditional and modern economies, all within the framework of a culturally rich and rule-bound underworld. The economies of this universe reflect cultural nuances from different eras and systems Feudal, honor-based black market and corporate governance woven into an intricate market of violence, trust, loyalty and exclusivity. The balance of power between the individuals and institutions and the currency of reputation and skill further enhances the movie's exploration of how markets and societies interact in covert high-stakes environments. Yes, several rewards, yes, Several reward yes, we have. Let's see if these things I'm talking about applies today are reflected in a John Wick universe Styled, exaggerated for cinematic purposes. Yeah, here are some parallels to actual. Now I'm going to draw some parallels. The feudal Japan and samurai code called Bushido so parallel. The honor-based system in John Wick, particularly the use of markers and strict codes of conduct, mirrors the samurai culture of feudal Japan. Of feudal Japan, the samurai add heads to Ushido, a code of honor loyalty duty that bound warriors to their lords. Makka system, the blood oath and Makkas in John Wick reflect feudal loyalty bonds where failure to repay a debt or fulfill a duty could lead to shame or death. The continental hotel, the hotel's rule of no violence on its premises can be compared to the notion of temple sanctuaries in ancient Japan, where violence was forbidden. This will interest you. The Italian Mafia and Code of Omata To the parallel. The structure of the criminal underworld in John Wick, especially at the high table, resembles the Italian Mafia. The Mafia operates with a hierarchy of families and bosses similar to the crime lords under the high table. The Code of Omata, the assassins. Strict adherence to rules, including the prohibition of revealing secrets and internal betrayals, is similar to the Mafia's Code of Silence, Omata, where secrecy and loyalty are paramount markers as a debt. In mafia culture, debts, especially favors, are binding, with serious consequences for failure to honor them. Much like the markers in the John Wick world, Medieval European guides and merchant culture so parallel, the John Wick economy, particularly its use of gold coins, can be likened to medieval guides or merchant economies in Europe, where the trade was tightly controlled by exclusive group that valued skill and reputation over monetary wealth. Gold coins, the gold coins used in John Wick, are reminiscent of medieval coinage. The coinage system where a coin's value was linked to not just its material worth, controlled the supply of luxury goods and services within an exclusive community like a black market or organized crime syndicate, where secrecy and loyalty are critical and illegal services are provided in exchange for valuable commodities. Gold coins market for violence. The open contracts for assassination are similar to mercenary economies or modern cartels where services such as hits are openly traded among those in the know, Heating marketplaces. The underground nature of the assassin economy parallels a dark web or other illegal market spaces where goods and services are available only to those with access, Caste systems and social hierarchy. We'll find that in India. So the parallel, the rigid hierarchy of the John Wick world , where members of the high table hold immense power and rank dictates access to resources. Mirror caste system, like in India where one's birth or social position determines opportunities and social mobility. The high tables control. The high table acts like the upper echelon of a caste society where only a select few at the top control the rules of engagement and others are bound to follow them. Medieval European oaths and bonds. The parallel to follow them. Medieval European Oats and Bonds. The Parallel. The John Wick system of markers, contracts and debts closely resembles medieval European Oats , especially among knights and lords. These Oats were binding and often sealed with blood or other symbolic acts, just like the markers in the John Wick world. Oats of fealty. These oaths are forms of fealty where vassals pledge loyalty to their lords in return for protection or favor. Failing to uphold an oath was a severe dishonor, often leading to death, Similar to what John Wick faces when he breaks the rules of the high table. Am I boring you? I'm giving you too much information, am I All right? We're almost there. So nomadic and tribal economies , Middle East and Africa. So you see, we're trying to bring all of this out. The parallel, the loyalty and personal bonds between characters in John Wick can also be seen in nomadic and tribal societies, particularly in parts of the Middle East and Africa where oral contract and personal loyalty are critical Blood oaths. These societies often operate with blood pacts or other forms of binding agreement that are enforced through personal honor rather than legal systems, much like the markers in John Wick Uh-huh Corporate governance and oligarchic systems. We have to bring it in. So the parallel here the high table, with its council of crime lords who control the entire underworld, mirrors corporate oligarchs or cartels where a few powerful individuals or groups dictate the rules of engagement and control the flow of resources. Centralized control. Like in real world oligarchs, the high table ensures compliance through strict enforcement and loyalty, ensuring that the wealth and power remain centered at the top . I'm beginning to land the plane now Read Time. Cultural Reflections. The John Wick series is a great way is a melting pot of various real-world cultural and economic systems, blending ancient and modern practices. The samurai code, Bushido and Italian mafias Omata shape the honor-driven, loyalty-bound aspects. Medieval guides and caste-like systems highlight the exclusivity and hierarchy within the underworld, Black market economies and tribal oaths reflect the clandestine and personal nature of trade and agreement. So, finally, the corporate oligarchic structure of the high table shows how power control are centralized in this world. Ah, the cultural reflections create a rich, believable universe where ancient traditions, underground economies and modern crime networks converge. So you see a lot more. We watch movies, and sometimes we think we're just watching movies to entertain us and laugh , but actually revealing a lot of things around us. Why am I bringing this to you? So I'll tell you why I'm bringing this to you. So recently the oil business around the world has been having this, you know, up and down, up and down like a seesaw movement . And from where I stand, I'm a Nigerian and we are part of the OPEC, the oil producing countries. Russia is not, America is not, but they are part of the market also. But do you know what is happening? Nigeria just produced one refinery, Mexico also produced another refinery and these two refineries are creating this, upsetting the market. Opec released a report the other day how Dangote Refinery and the other one in Mexico will really change the face of the business. So you see, we're part of the system, we're part of the economic system, but it's for us to understand how it works and take our place. So that's what I came to do today. I hope I'm not giving you too much information, as it were, but I've only pointed you to what you see every day is just before you. All right, then, guys. I wish I could spend some more time, but I think I need to run now and I will come back again. Do you like our new space? I know you do. We're growing, we're forming, we're expanding, we are dreaming and we're stepping into the future. Gradually, but I'm so happy that you're there. It gives me so much joy whenever I come into this space. Knowing that you're there, listening to me gives me so much joy. So much is coming your way, yes , so stick around. We're going to have amazing conversations and we're going to have a lot of people come on the show to come share. You know one or two things. I don't do this all the time, but my producers always tell me to do it, so I let me do it now to make my producers happy. Yeah, Do you follow us on all the various social media outlets Instagram, YouTube, where, again, we're all there. 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