How Anxieties around Ecological Emergency Are Directly Related to Science and/or Technology - Coursework Example

Insert Wall-E Film Analysis I. Introduction A. Production B. Storyline II. Pollution A. Environment B. Space III. Literary styles A. Visual effects B. Soundtrack and ambience IV. Conclusion A. Summary of key points Wall-E is a 2008 film based on science-fiction stories, which seeks to enlighten the audience about the negative impacts of technology on the environment. Taking a far future plot, Andrew Stanton seeks to show how a machine named Wall-E, configured to clear the wastes on the earth’s desert surface founds a new rapport in Eve, and fails in its mission. Their encounter results in Wall-E’s journey to the outer space in a way that will alter the human destiny for better and worse. Stanton enables the audience to get to know everything in the story through the rich use of imagery in the film. With very minimal discussions, the audience still gets absorbed in the scenes as they roll, in a manner that serves to strengthen one’s emotions and concerns for the ecology throughout the movie. This paper examines how anxieties around ecological emergency are directly related to science and technology. Pollution in the Future As Kunstler has noted, the increasing use of science and technology is evidently responsible for the anxieties around the ecological problem of pollution, as they have transformed the face of earth and humanity to an extent that proper waste disposal has become unbearable if not impossible (110). The future holds two aspects of the transformation in history as evident in Wall-E. In the initial scenes of Wall-E, the audience is treated to stars, constellations, galaxies and the attractive nature of space, which enables everybody to float around in awe. These breathtaking scenes are immediately replaced by the trash-covered, contaminated green Earth, with countless numbers of man-made satellites rolling around it. Unfortunately, no traces of life can be seen on the ground. And, even when the protagonist robot makes its first appearance on screen, the anxieties around the dire state of the environment crosses the minds of the average audiences. Corliss says the main ecological issue is that human beings have left the earth for the outer space and the remaining fauna and have died due to the inability of the scientific robots programmed to do the cleaning to execute the task (121). Despite, of Wall-Es interesting plot, the audience cannot fend off negative emotions that human’s penchant for science and technological discoveries are the source of the contaminated, inhabitable earth (Kunstler 112). In the initial scenes, the first portrayal of the prospective world send the chilling message that the audience should prepare themselves for worse ecological pollution; that human traces may be forced to flee it in order to pave way for its cleaning by robots. This eventuality is largely remote in real life, however. But, in spite of the fact that it is relatively normal for a science fiction film to bring out a subjective future, in Wall-E, the emotional obsession of severe environmental pollution caused by science seems real. The realist aspect of the science-fiction movie may be its use of the real, dominant environmentally indifferent companies to elaborate the source of modern-day pollution (Corliss 122). Such companies have absolute control over the most important economic sectors such as gas, transport, and financial assets. With these massive economic assets at their disposal, the science and technology-inclined parties are keen to wield their superior influence for their own selfish ends without showing any concern for the earth’s ecology. These economic sectors known as “Buy N Large” in the film, are depicted as capable of making the earth inhabitable under the stench of pollution released by their production processes or economic influences (Kunstler 117). The possibility of being forced to flee the earth generates a sense of anxiety among the audience with regard to the impending threats to human survival in future. Visual Effects As a modern animated film, Wall-E is actually worth watching, in the sense that the producer and director’s choice of visual effects stimulates the emotions of the Wall-E with regard to the relatively pessimistic portrayal of ecological pollution of earth. The quality of the imagery and the real effects of various scenes of the movie clearly stun and evoke emotional reactions of the audience as far as the threat of environmental pollution is concerned (Kunstler 119). The textures and fine details of the ecological impacts have been particularly handled with the help of technology tools. Wall-Es moving eye goggles, attempting to focus on the gist of scientific invention and possibly influence the creation of other neo-modern tools are stunning visual riches in the movie that serve to underscore the high level of science and technology innovation whose users are either oblivious or ignorant of their environmental impacts in the long-term. The effects of illumination are also truly authentic as the audience is treated to the imagery depicted under the lighters rays of light cast on Eves body. As Corliss (122) has noted, the value of the Wall-E’s animations throughout the scenes and the artificial light effects provide the movie with a sense of conflict between conserving nature and pursuing science. Either way, the natural look of the robots, which resembles humanity inject a sense of life in the technology tools and serves to point out how far humanity is willing to go with new discoveries while the ecology is neglected or just depicted in imagery. Soundtrack and Ambiance Apart from the visuals which paint a clear picture of the negative impacts of science and technology on the environment through pollution, music compliments the storyline and the visuals in a relatively benign manner, but remains as important to the film as ever (Corliss 121). The soundtrack plays a pivotal role by creating an auditory plot that takes the audience deeper into the film. It helps to make the emotional impacts of ecological pollution real and in line with the storyline. Wall-Es use of classical music as soundtrack reflects the beauty of the natural world, which draws the Captains interest in seeking to unearth the secret behind the beauty with open disregard for the consequences of his investigations of nature. According to Corliss, Stanton’s incorporation of the classical soundtrack in Wall-E adds to the anxiety of a viewer who is concerned with the threats of pollution (122). It also contrasts with the future and serves as reminder to those who are preoccupied with the futuristic scientific innovations and discoveries that they should exercise due control in their endeavors in order to preserve the ecology as well. Wall-Es entry into the Axiom, for example, followed by the activation of the robotic tools plays out in an environment where a complex soundtrack underscores the anxiety in the audience, which stems from the uncertainty of what the new tools hold for the natural ecology. In addition, the bleak future of the environment which is under the threat of scientific innovations is well captured in the blend of modern-day visuals and soundtrack. On the one hand, the scene in which the robots are aloft in the stars is an interesting portrayal of the fruits of science and technology innovation in reality and for entertainment purposes (Corliss 123). The impressive dancing scene of the Wall-E and Eve accompanied by an excellent romantic soundtrack adds to the importance of connection that science has brought to the world. Conversely, Stanton portrays science and technology innovations as more prone to disastrous consequences than the perfect nature (Corliss 121). The weaknesses are evident in Wall-E’s loss of power to recall its human traces, which severely impacts its relationship with Eve. The scene tacitly treats the audience to the ensuing negative ecological impacts of a derailed robot on the earth, which are depicted as more serious than science can correct. Conclusion Wall-E is a significant current-day movie that integrates science fiction stories with romance. Based on the legendary adage of blindness between love-birds, the relationship between Wall-E and Eve, which forms the general plot, adds to the blindness of scientists who are too obsessed with innovation and technology use to notice or show concern for the negative impacts of their activities on the environment. With Wall-E’s loss of traces in the space, Stanton seeks to bring out the weaknesses of science and technology and the catastrophic impacts of such programs on nature. In light of this, Stanton is concerned more with the balancing of science and environmental conservation efforts in order to maintain the world in its habitable status for many future generations. Works Cited Corliss, Richard. “Pixars Biggest Gamble.” Time, 171.25 (2008): 121-123. Kunstler, Howard James. The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press. Read More