The vestige of Monaco as a kingdom of old world decadence is not lost in today’s modern F1 culture. The ultra rich and the highly privileged gathered in this tiny two-kilometre square waterfront celebrating their excessive lifestyle and the mechanical gladiators that share in their wealth. It is no wonder that many of the F1’s greatest call Monaco home as they can train and live amongst their economic equals. Not to mention it’s no secret that citizens of this principality pay no personal income tax or capital gains tax, thus, the rich grow richer. The entrance fee to be part of this exclusive kingdom is certainly dependent on your ability to comfortably afford the cost of living which include a titanic $5,821/sq. foot home and or a cozy connection with the Prince. Monaco is an abnormality in the majority world, and Formula One is the travelling circus that reflects this mythical utopia to its global audience.
In many aspects, F1 represents the culture of the wealthy utopians and vice versa. It is exclusive, hedonistic, autocratic, self-perpetuating, and most of all, a spectacle. It is the epiphany of a gentleman’s game, with the emphasis on man, not people. This year, the Monaco GP organizer’s decision to bring back the grid girls against the ban by F1 parent, Liberty Media, has gone without much major backlash or protest, and it’s certainly a sign that fans and organizers alike are willing to overlook the common good for the sake of being entertained. Columnist and author Chris Hedges write, “Mass culture is a Peter Pan culture.” If we think it’s all good, if we close our eyes and focus on our own happiness, then all is well, the world is well, the future is sublime, even if all other human beings perished; it is well. Our worship of the spectacles undermines our reality and creates the duality that sports and entertainment does not and should not affect humanity, society, morality, or our future. It is purely about my senses in the present tense. It is an illusion of decadence, our make-believe Neverland filled with high octane machines and idolized drivers. We watch from the clouds as we fantasize: one day we will be down there among the gods, on their yacht, in their casinos, and driving that RB14 unicorn around the block.
I am not suggesting that the drivers, teams, and organizers are not deserving of accolades in their hard work and investment into the sport, but I do question the ratio of accountability F1 as a whole needs to exemplified to its global audience. The amount of wealth and exposure F1 have and intend to grow on, needs to match its responsibility as a global influencer in more areas than just technical innovations. Just because F1 facilitate new technologies does not necessarily make the world a better place. The late French philosopher Jacque Ellul would be flipping over tables today if he can only see how the culture of F1 has turned a blind eye to social responsibility at the altar of efficiency and technique. We, fans and observer alike, are tickled by the extreme innovations made in every fine detail of an F1 team, but at what cost? Does a new hybrid system worth the price of ignoring human right violations in many of the countries Grand Prix are held? Is it ok for the sport to pay for the objectification of women with an ingenious low emissions technology? When technologies are glorified as part of the spectacle, we undermine our humanity and reduce ourselves to quantifiable bits. We become vulnerable numbers reducible by risk and profits. I think this is also why we have so many paid drivers in the sport as well, but that’s for another post.
The Monaco GP leaves an uneasy taste in my mouth. On the one hand, it is an iconic event with a rich history, but on the other hand, it personifies the gap between the reclusive haves and the global nones. Should F1 remain a sport of the haves as it elevates itself with layers of decadence and exclusivity? Or should the sport aspire to be a formula for a greater holistic change and influence? Changes not just in technological innovations but also in its stance for global equality, justice, and wealth distribution. Can a sport accomplish such breadth of ideal? Maybe not twenty years ago, but today in this juncture of globalization and media culture, I believe leagues and sports like F1 are primed for greater good, more than just a spectacle.
- Hedges, Chris. Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle. New York: Nation Books, 2010. Print.
- Ellul, Jacques, and John Wilkinson. The Technological Society: [a Penetrating Analysis of Our Technical Civilization and of the Effect of an Increasingly Standardized Culture on the Future of Man]. New York, NY: Vintage books, 2011. Print.