After evaluating the movie Wall Street made in 1987, the film's climactic scenes show both men learning lessons about the power of money. For Gekko, it is the realization that money does not bring true happiness. After pleading with Bud to help him steal back some of the wealth that he lost, Gekko sees how his disregard for the law and selfish behavior has caused pain and destruction to those he loves most. For Bud, it is the recognition that money is not a path to true success, but that it should instead be used in a responsible fashion in order to benefit others.
The 1987 Wall Street scene was dynamic and entrepreneurial. The economy was beginning to recover from the stock market crash of 1987, and investors were eager to take advantage of the post-crash market. This post-crash period saw the emergence of a new breed of entrepreneurs who were looking to capitalize on the emerging opportunities. In the wake of the stock market crash, many Wall Street brokers, and fund managers offered new services and strategies. These services and strategies included investments in foreign markets, ETFs, and other modern investment options. Additionally, many brokers and fund managers offered enhanced financial advice and research services to clients. This increased the variety of options available to investors, making them more informed and knowledgeable about their investments. Warren Buffet, Carl Icahn, and Michael Milken are just a few of the mavericks who made waves in the financial world. These individuals embraced risk and brought a new level of creativity and innovation to the investment world. They also brought a new level of competition, and an enthusiasm for taking calculated risks.
This was interesting to me because it serves as a warning of the dangers and pitfalls associated with an obsession with wealth and power, while also celebrating the drive and determination of those that dare to take risks. The primary way Wall Street's entrepreneurial spirit affects society is by inspiring individuals to embrace the concept of risk-taking as a success strategy. Gekko encourages his followers to be fearless in the pursuit of what they want, viewing it as a necessary part of achieving success. Similarly, many of today’s successful entrepreneurs espouse a similar philosophy, believing that taking risks and out-thinking their competition is key to achieving success. The message of Wall Street is simple: don’t take no for an answer and never back down.
Wall Street also has a strong influence on the way society values money. The movie glorifies wealth and aligns it with power, amorality, and corruption. This message is not lost on today’s entrepreneurs and businessmen, who have embraced the concept of heightened materialism and the notion that success is measured in dollar signs. Finally, it is worth mentioning that Wall Street has had a tremendous influence on how business is conducted. The movie depicts a world where the good, the bad and the ugly coexist, and business is carried out with little regard for morality or social responsibility. This depiction is familiar to many of today’s successful entrepreneurs who place profits above all else and are often willing to bend the rules a bit.
Wall Street showcased an aspect of entrepreneurship rarely seen in mainstream media – the greed and ambition that investment banking can encourage. Initially, society supported and lauded the ambition, hard work and savvy of the lead character, Gordon Gekko, and the persona quickly became a symbol of the capitalist spirit, infusing a certain glamor and strength to the culture of financial success. The interaction between entrepreneurship and society in 1987 Wall Street was one of great complexity. While economic entrepreneurial activity was increasingly prevalent during this time, there was a great deal of public skepticism and pushback to the renegade capitalists who achieved their success during the period. This friction between entrepreneurship and society existed in a state of contradictory harmony, with entrepreneurs serving to innovate the economy and maximize potential returns while the public steered the discourse around the ethicality of their actions. This was a defining time of trial and error, where some entrepreneurs flourished while others were held accountable for their actions.
