Monday, November 7, 2016

Zootopia Analysis


                The movie Zootopia highlighted multiple problems in today’s world. Looking at the movie through the lens of a college student, instead of that of a child, I noticed several commentaries on discrimination, cultural appropriation, and politically correct language.


                When the movie started, the setting was in a theatre, literally and figuratively setting the stage for the movie, as the protagonist was expressing views that seemed unheard of in the small town in which she lived. Then, the setting shifted to a rural town, and I immediately noticed how the Gideon the fox, who had a narrow minded view on the world, had a strong southern accent and was alluded to be illiterate. I considered this to be a nod to how people equate the south and other rural areas with being socially backwards.



When the protagonist Judy leaves for the city, however, everything seems better on the surface. Things appeared as if they were accessible to all; the apple juice vendor had a machine that raised the cups up to the giraffes as a commentary how food is supposed to be plentiful in a eutopia. As Judy settles into the city she finds herself facing discrimination at work and living in a small apartment with noisy neighbors; the film is pointing out how we generalize these areas as being a certain way, but it is really in the hands of the individual. The movie displays the government as corrupt and pretentious in helping its people; the night howler problem is similar to the theory that drugs were introduced to the inner city by the government.



                We were exposed to cultural appropriation and politically correct language throughout the movie. The scene in which the cat calls Judy “cute,” she tells him that it’s okay for bunnies to call each other cute, but other animals cannot call them “cute.” That kind of sounded like black people can say the n-word, but other people cannot say it because it seems racist, or, if we equate the predators with masculinity and the prey with femininity, then the Cat was cat-calling her. Later in the film, the Fox touches the sheep’s wooly hair because he is curious - it benefits him - and Judy tells him that he cannot touch the sheep’s wooly hair.



                Despite these commentaries, it seemed as if the movie pointed out how it’s easy to slip, in regards to how we address each other. For example, at one point in the movie, the Fox calls the Judy “cute,” but, as we established earlier, only bunnies could call each other cute. In addition to that, I found it ironic that the film was progressive in its views, but it included the Italian mobster stereotype as well as the jersey shore Italian stereotype. Perhaps, these insertions were meant to point out that some things are the way they are.




                Overall, Zootopia was more than just a message of “never judge a book by its cover” or “be nice and fair to each other,” as its target audience, little children, may perceive it. Some may even call it too radical too even be a children’s movie because it was more blatant than other children movies in regards to its innuendoes. With the way things are going, my guess is that the purpose for that was to introduce these themes to kids very early so that they know that it is not okay to mistreat people based on their gender, for example.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Zootopia

I was thinking about writing an analysis about Zootopia being a movie that shows that you can do anything you put your mind to. How there can be one place for everyone. But it’s not true and Zootopia shows just that. Every species of animal needs a different need met. A polar bear cannot live in the desert, on the opposite end a camel can’t live in the artic. When the main character Judy jumps into Little Rodenta it shows the absurdity behind “a place for everyone”.  Zootopia shows one great place where every animal can be together but there are still restrictions between each animal. I do understand that the movie is making huge cultural references and showing the hypocrisy and ultimately stupid things that are happening in the U.S. Very blatantly the movie shows the issues with race that the nation is facing. The fox Nick is stereotyped as a convict by Judy before she ever got to meet him because of past experiences she had. Although Nick turns out to be deceitful it is later shown that others expect him to be that way so he just goes into his role set by society. There is a simultaneously two lessons taught at the same time between too opposite characters. Perseverance is shown by Judy with her expectations of being a cop and then being pushed aside because she is a rabbit. Most people would have given up but she believed in herself even when the peoples closest to her didn’t. If my sister didn’t push me to do better or even, try harder I wouldn’t have made it to college but that just because I didn’t have the perseverance to push myself. The movie makes me want to not only be a better person but try something new. But out of all the life lesson the movie teaches I still think it shows not everyone is going to be completely equal and at the same time not everyone is going to like everyone. In the end we all have to live on one planet and tolerate each other.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Zoo(U)topia

Zootopia is a great animated film which seems geared towards an audience of young children, but truthfully this film has so much meaning and depth that only an older person could understand, but it can hopefully shape the minds of its young viewers. Zootopia is clearly meant to represent a utopia due to its name, but it has much more than the name in common; Zootopia has the main parts of a utopian narrative that allow it to be understood and interpreted as one.  Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! TURN BACK IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THIS MOVIE YET!!!! If Zootopia is to be watched as a utiopian-esque narrative the clear social change that is intended to make the titular city so utopic is the equality between the majority and minority, which can be directly related to the United States’ inequalities and stereotypes. In the film, there is initially a clear thought of how predators – the minority – tend to be the criminals in this city. This seems to fall in line with the sad truth that there are many people who believe that the minority in the United States are the only causes of crime. Then as the movie progresses people begin to fear predators more and more as the cases of predators “going savage” rises. Zootopia’s citizens are fear stricken by the minority and are seen avoiding them as much as possible. In a scene on a train a mother rabbit is seen scooting her child away from a lion who appears very friendly and has a smile on his face. This overall division between predator and prey even goes as far as to drive a wedge between the stories two main characters. This underlying fear of the minority is seen in many places around the U.S. and is a true problem in society that is clearly addressed in the movie. As the plot further develops it is revealed that a prey, Assistant Mayor Bellwether, was behind the predators “going savage” and the racism between predator and prey subsides. The utopian idea behind this movie is that racism and prejudices will not exist in a utopia. This strange new land which Judy Hopps arrives in is meant to be her utopia in which the differences between predator and prey, as seen in the relationship between foxes and rabbits in her home town, no longer exist. Upon her initial return home after her split from Nick Wilde, the male lead, her parents, who were avidly filled with distrust towards foxes, have begun trying to be more open minded and started working with the fox who bullied Judy in her youth. This shows the main character bringing the social change back when she leaves the utopia. Zootopia has a main character who finds herself in a new place where there is a clear social difference from where she came, it shows the structure of the government and explains how it came to be, and it has the character go back to her home and witness the social change there. Clearly Zootopia has more than just the name in common with a utopia, and hopefully this utopic idea is realized as the children this film was targeted for come to age and recognize the split between majority and minority in our own society. 

Zootopia

Zootopia

The movie Zootopia uses the relationship of animals in nature and borrows elements of real life to show the trials and successes that minorities might face in adjusting or integrating in society. The movie addresses the societal issues of discrimination by introducing audiences to a new world divided between preys and predators. The movie highlights the inferiority of minorities as the Mayor is a lion, a predator, and the assistant mayor is a sheep. A racial allegory is produced when Judy Hopps, becomes the first bunny to ever be part of the Zootopia police force. Her induction was made possible by the Mammal Inclusion Initiative which appears to symbolize affirmative action. But surprisingly, the predators are a minority in Zootopia and are largely outnumbered by their prey counterparts. When predators that escape turn to savages, returning to the ways things have ben in the past, this symbolizes the belief that minorities will never be superior and shall always fall victim to those with privilege and power. The acceptance of Judy to the police force may also symbolize women working in roles the are primarily seen for men.
Image result for zootopia

Anyone can be anything


"Zootopia: A place where anyone can be anything" to start off, is by itself a very powerful quote - targetted towards the real world, where there are multitudes of constraints and restriction for a person to be whatever they want to be. It is thought of as a Utopia in various lights - it envisions a place where predators and prey live in harmony - a place where there are virtually a huge number of opportunities available to anyone regardless of who they are - it is a place that is welcoming to any species of animals; and has eco-systems to account for the 'home-like' feel that it can provide - thus symbolising unity in diversity. To what is thought of as such a Utopia, however, there is a dystopic side.  This dystopia stems from the fact that, Utopias are extremely subjective. What for one may be a Utopia, needn't necessarily be so for another. This is what we see, scattered throughout the movie. Say for example, even though the Utopia is a place where predators and prey live in harmony, and that there is an opportunity everywhere for everyone - it did not stop the predators from stereotyping the prey in certain aspects - attributing their mockery towards the DNA of the prey. The same works the other way too. Some instances from the movie would be 
"The bunny is going to get eaten alive" (Calwhauser, when Judy goes to work for her first day) "Didn't forget. Just don't care" (Chief Bogo, on Judy's first day of work)
and so much more. We could see the same sterio-typing happening the other way around too
"We reserve the right to reserve service to anyone" (The elephant at the ice cream store denying the request of a fox, just because he is, a fox.) 
(paraphrased) "It is a trait in their DNA, to go savage.." (Judy Hopps at the press conference).
It is this Stereotypical issues that arose from Subjectivity - that then led the Utopia to crumble into a dystopia that went against everything that Zootopia once stood for. (Asst.) Mayor Bellweather was not ready to accept the existing definition of the Utopia - she wanted her own version of the Utopia to be practiced - Zootopia as a place where the prey rose over the predators, and then ruled them (in contrast to the world before Zootopia, where the prey lived in constant fear of the predator) Even though this is indeed a Utopia for all the prey, it became a dystopia for the predators - a place where they can no longer act freely, or even move around in public freely - living in the constant fear of going savage. It also became a dystopia to Judy Hopps (a meek prey), because it went against everything she has ever thought of about Zootopia as a kid - the dreams that actually made her come to Zootopia in the first place. 
Thus, in essence, we can, in some sense establish that there are good and bad versions of Utopia, but only in a comparative sense. In our case as compared to a Utopia where prey ruled over the predators,  the Utopia where predators and prey live together in harmony (which by extension can encapsulate a huge variety of species, living together without dispute - Where there is no one to rule others. Every species is treated as equal) seems really better. All of this, However, allude to the fact that good and bad utopias are only comparative in nature, because to a lamb, born seven generations later, if Bellweather had had her way, a place where the prey ruled over the predators would seem like a really good Utopia because they did not have to live in constant fear of the predators anymore (Like their ancestors once did). 

Friday, November 4, 2016

Anyone can be Anything

     Zootopia, the place where “Anyone can be Anything!”  Or, so it is thought by the rambunctious, “cute” bunny, Judy Hopps who is an optimistic animal determined on being the first bunny police officer in Zootopia history.  The story starts with a young Judy setting the scene for the audience, describing how the once wild predators and prey overcame their biology, to create the highly diverse city of Zootopia.  In Judy’s hometown of Bunnyborough, her parents try to convince her that being a police officer in Zootopia is unpractical for a small countryside bunny, however Judy sees Zootopia as this utopic world where she can break the carrot farming stereotype. 
     Zootopia, in my opinion, is one of the most utopic worlds Disney has produced.  Disney created this setting where prey and predator coincide in their specific habitats that are interconnected with the slogan “Anyone can be Anything.”  Judy believes that she can move to this city of opportunity and be treated equally among ever other animal, big or small.  On her journey to Zootopia, Judy listens to the hit single “Try Everything” by Gazelle, which inspires her that this wondrous city will provide her the equality that she has always wanted.  However, her utopic view of Zootopia is nearly destroyed as her first assignment as a police officer, is writing tickets for cars, despite her success at the police academy.  Throughout Zootopia the audience follows Judy on her journey which unveils the true nature of this utopic world.

    Much like Judy, Assistant Mayor Bellweather feels unappreciated, and thus decides to shatter the utopian world, by turning the prey on the “savage” predators.  This goes to show that utopias are not necessarily actual places, they are just views and perspectives of the world by a specific person.  For example, Judy saw Zootopia as a place where all the animals happily coexist, and Assistant Mayor Bellweather decides that it is a place where the bigger predators step on the smaller prey to stay in power.  However, this is contradictory as one of the biggest crime bosses in Zootopia, Mr. Big, is a tiny shrew.  Along with that contradiction there are several other contradictions, that are present throughout Zootopia.  For example, Judy was encouraged by her parents to fear foxes, and even when she moves to Zootopia, this place where all are equal, she continues to carry fox repellent.  This goes to show that even though Zootopia was created for prey and predator to coexist, there is still an inner instinct to fear, and generally be racist against the predators.  Near the end of the film, newly inaugurated Mayor Bellweather states how the prey can create their own utopia free of predators, but Judy nobly declines realizing that Zootopia should be a city free of prejudice.  This reflects in our society now, where if us humans discontinue to stereotype certain groups of people, we could create a world where anyone can be anything. 

Zootopia

The film Zootopia had several controversial themes that reflected on our society today. One of the themes that was highlighted was stereotyping. All of the animals in their world were automatically assumed to have a certain character or work a certain job depending on what animal they were. For example, the fox, Nick, was assumed to be sneaky and untrustworthy because of the stereotypical idea that foxes are conniving. Although it turned out that he was, in fact, a con artist, we saw that it wasn't because he was a fox that he ended up that way, it was due to society telling him that that was who he was. Also, the main character, Judy, is stereotyped by society as a weak bunny who will always just be a carrot farmer. A part of the plot in the movie is her overcoming that stereotype and becoming the first "prey" police officer. By the end of the movie, we see that there are prey animals as well as predators in the police force which shows us that anyone can become anything they want, no matter what stereotype is placed upon them. Another large theme in Zootopia is corruption. We see the corruption at several points throughout the movie, for example when Chief Bogo would not allow Judy to do any real police work and attempted to get her fired simply because she was a prey. Also, when the mayor was covering up for the predators "going savage" due to his personal conflictions in it. And perhaps the biggest corruption in the film; the assistant mayor turning the prey against the predator by causing them to "go savage". The film is filled with governmental corruption and manipulation of the people which you can't help but notice is relflecting on the world today.