Why are those the shapes used in the Netflix series?
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
The colorful and mysterious aesthetic of Squid Game is certainly one of the factors that have had the greatest impact on the global success of the Netflix series, which is preparing to return in less than a month with the second season. In the popular K-drama, a series of contestants challenge each other in competitions that mirror traditional Korean children's games, with a macabre twist: the loser is immediately killed by guards wearing strange uniforms. Both the leader of the games, called Front Man and the guards who answer to his directives wear colored suits and masks that hide their identities.
While the Front Man's outfit is intended to instill fear and underline his role of power within the organization, the simple sentries are characterized by masks with symbols drawn on them: a circle, a triangle, or a square. But have you ever wondered what their meaning is?
At the bottom of the Squid Game ranking pyramid are the guards with the circle symbol, representing the lowest level and therefore the jailers with the most humble roles. There is little consideration towards these individuals, so much so that sometimes they are considered on a par with the players (as we see in the series, in fact, some of them even let themselves be bribed to earn something extra). The "circles" carry out the simplest tasks, such as cleaning the blood of dead players, serving them food, or transporting the corpses to the incinerator. Furthermore, they cannot speak unless they are asked to do so by their superior.
On the top step is the triangle symbol. The guards with this mask are responsible for supervising the players, accompanying them from one area to another, ensuring that the rules are respected and possibly shooting anyone who commits an incorrect act. They can speak and give orders both to their subordinates and to the participants of the games. Finally, the guards characterized by the square have the highest level of authority and responsibility. In addition to supervising the work of the “circles” and “triangles”, they can interact directly with the Front Man and ensure that his orders are respected.
But why did the authors of Squid Game choose these three shapes for the masks? The most immediate reference will certainly not have escaped you: they are the symbols of the controllers of classic consoles, and in particular of the PlayStation, thus recalling the idea of play and fun. But circle, triangle, and square are also a direct reference to the playing field of the Squid Game, the squid game that constitutes the last challenge of the competition. In fact, the ground is divided into three bases associated with the respective teams and called “houses”. The circle at the top is the “house” for the attacking team, the rectangle at the bottom belongs to the defending team and the triangle in the middle is the neutral zone. The name Squid Game comes from the fact that the track, composed of the three shapes, vaguely resembles the silhouette of a squid. The symbols in question also appear in the Korean title, namely 오징어게임, where they correspond to the letters “O”, “J” and “M”. Ojingeo Geim is, in fact, the original name of Squid Game.
Source: MovieWeb
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