So, I loved Wall-E, of course - personal responsibility, obligations of environmental stewardship, and a protagonist evolved wholly out of the awwww-inspiring intersection of Cute or Sad, what's not to adore?
I thought Daniel Engber's critique in Slate, was thought-provoking, though; I'm paraphrasing, but his argument is basically that Wall-E perpetuates some awfully nasty stereotypes about the obese as lazy, helpless, and stupid. He points out that many of the myths about obesity (some of which I was guilty of believing) are not only unkind but untrue, and not only untrue but actually kind of classist:
"The desire to link obesity and environmental collapse seems to have more to do with politics than science. Eco-liberals put down their Nalgene bottles and wring their hands over the fat slobs in Middle America. It's these red-staters who are screwing things up with their shopping malls and their fast food."Food for thought, if you'll forgive the pun, but I think my friend Lindsey has it right that the satire was so extreme that it seemed less a condemnation of the obese and more just plain hyperbole. But I'm also kind of with her on that "I might have been embarrassed to walk out of the theater had I been an obese adult or (really sad) kid. "
On a more or less unrelated Wall-E point, Ad Age has a piece this morning suggesting that the Apple-esque Eve "might well be the [product placement] model of the future," in that the seamless, gleaming-white object of Wall-E's affection represents a "product homage" to the sleek ubiquitous Apple designs. Quoting a technology marketing analyst, Ad Age suggests:
"Subliminal might be the key here. Some people will pick up on some of it, but most of it works as subliminal in the way that says this is the coolest and latest stuff. It reinforces the look and feel of Apple."Fascinating, and far more sophisticated (and less obtrusive) than standard product placement.
Bottom line, if you haven't already, go cheer the little guy on in theaters.
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