Commodification of Swear Words in Films: How The Wolf of Wall Street Casually Employs Expletives

Abstract

This essay examines the commodification of swear words in contemporary cinema, with specific emphasis on Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), a film renowned for its prolific use of profanity. The ubiquity of expletives in modern storytelling raises critical questions about their function, value, and impact. What does it signify when profanity becomes a marketable feature of a blockbuster? How does casual profanity contribute to character development, realism, and audience reception? Through close analysis of key scenes and dialogues, this essay interrogates the cultural and economic dimensions of profanity as both an artistic tool and a commodified element that fuels cinematic spectacle. The essay ultimately contends that The Wolf of Wall Street does not merely depict profanity as realistic dialogue but transforms it into a consumable aesthetic—one that shapes narrative rhythm, character identities, and the commercial identity of the film itself.