Death, Controversy, and Capitalism: Empathy and Its Deficit in Netflix’s Squid Game

Open Research Online (The Open University) 2026 Book chapter

Authors: Bethan Michael-Fox
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This chapter analyses empathy and the representation of violent death in Squid Game (2021–2025). While navigating the series’ controversial depictions of violence on screen in response to discourses around empathy, the chapter’s primary consideration is Squid Game’s critique of a broader empathy deficit in contemporary culture. To what extent does the series’ controversial representations of violence highlight the potential challenges of experiencing and developing empathy within capitalist systems?

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ethics Aesthetics and Art Cinema History and Criticism Asian Culture and Media Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Open Research Online (The Open University)
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN
Document type
Book chapter