July
14Does WALL-E Spread Lefty Propaganda?
Yet another ‘conservative’, Charlotte Allen, actually liked “WALL-E.” Writing in the Opinion Section of the Los Angeles Times, Allen said the movie was “pro-life” (her explanation was too arcane to quote here) and that it also supported the basic conservative doctrine of “free will.” In her opinion, the central message of “WALL-E” was “anyone, whether robot or human, can transcend what we are supposedly programmed by our culture to be or do.”
OK, now I realize why I liked “WALL-E.” I was uplifted by all those robotic free-spirits.
Subscribe to Peter Bart's Blog Feed
>>>Does WALL-E Spread Lefty Propaganda?<br><br>Don't you mean "so-called" "Lefty" propaganda? You know, with the scare quotes?
Posted by: David123456 | 7/16/2008 8:36:49 AM
Oh, boing! I just got it. *Conserve*-ative. Get it? Conserve? Get it? Clever!
Posted by: Sarah | 7/15/2008 7:53:28 PM
No, dan, that's not how it works. The use of scare quotes connotes skepticism of the term in quotes. So what Mr. Bart is implying, deliberate or not, is that Harry and Jonah are faux conservatives, i.e. they aren't pro-corporate-at-all-costs ENEM(ies) of CONSERVATION.
Posted by: Sarah | 7/15/2008 7:52:06 PM
Everyone seems to be mentioning the film's lefty "subtext" when there was very little sub-textual about it. The Captain was not afraid to make his point by saying "We have to take care of the planet." (I'm paraphrasing, but you know the line.) <br><br>The film is very clear in blaming corporations for the downfall of society, even though these corporations consist of people like you and I. It's hard to be anti-corp. when I'm reading a paper from Reed Elsevier Inc. about a movie by The Walt Disney Company.
Posted by: Adriano from Canada | 7/15/2008 6:25:04 PM
I think people see political subtext when and where they want to. Years ago, many lefties were screaming about Forrest Gump as if it were a conservative manifesto. There is no specific reference to Dubya in Wall-E, unless you choose to interpret it that way. Hey, there''s that pesky "free will" at work again!
Posted by: Michael Mahl | 7/15/2008 5:32:00 PM
It's amazing to me how the idea of protecting the Earth's environment is somehow considered a "lefty" issue. To the several previous posters who clearly aren't nearly bright enough to figure it out, "conservative" is in scare quotes because it's a term that aligns with a political movement that is actually the pro-corporate-at-all-costs ENEMY of CONSERVATION.<br>
Posted by: dan jones | 7/15/2008 4:19:36 PM
Wall - E = $$$$$
Posted by: C | 7/15/2008 11:58:49 AM
Mr. Bart- what's your point, exactly? Are you saying that conservatives are imagining things, and seeing liberal propaganda where it doesn't exist?<br><br>I have to ask, because you seem to acknowledge that the movie DOES feature a parody of President Bush.<br><br>If that's the case, why is Dirty Harry wrong for noticing and pointing that out?<br><br>I think you should also have noted that Harry's review of "Wall-E" was, overall, quite positive. He's gone to see it twice, after all. He wasn't raging or foaming at the mouth about the film's political position- rather, he's a longtime Pixar fan who was disappointed at the needless political subtext in what he thought was otherwise a very sweet and enjoyable movie. <br><br><br>
Posted by: astorian | 7/15/2008 11:08:59 AM
What does "so-called 'conservative'" mean? If these folks aren't 'conservative,' what is it you think they are, Mr. Bart? I'm almost afraid to ask. <br><br>In any case, I quite liked Wall*E and am interested in this back-and-forth about the subtext, but this commentary just comes across as small and petty.
Posted by: Sarah | 7/15/2008 10:37:06 AM
Hey, Peter, if you''re going to take shots at specific people for specific writings, why not provide links? It''s common courtesy.<br><br>*Links Added, 7-16*
Posted by: Kensington | 7/15/2008 10:16:38 AM
Hey, Peter,<br><br>it's customary internet etiquette to LINK to the source you're quoting, that way we can check for ourselves just how badly you're taking someone's quote out of context.
Posted by: David | 7/15/2008 10:07:45 AM
Mr. Bart, I often watch 'Shootout,' and you seem to be an easy going even keel kinda guy. This is the 2nd blog of yours I have read (actually LINKED from Dirty Harry's blog) and your opinions here seem anything but even keel. Who is the REAL Peter Bart? You come off as a bitter partisan here.
Posted by: Spacebass | 7/15/2008 9:35:17 AM
I took to my blog to defend Wall-E today. I largely agree with Allen''s perspective. The film is a celebration of the individual. As a right-leaning libertarian, I recognize my position is contrary to some of my colleagues on the right. But diversity of opinion is a good thing.
Posted by: Joe @ Ennuipundit | 7/15/2008 9:32:47 AM
Why the scare quotes around "conservative?" Is being a conservative a disease, or something worse?<br><br>And why "so called" before 'conservative?' Dirty Harry is a conservative ... so is Jonah Goldberg (which you misspelled). They both cop to it.<br><br>Why not discuss the criticisms against "Wall*E" rather than resort to scare quotes and other distractions?<br><br>Maybe we can actually have a constructive dialogue.<br>*Noted Corrected*
Posted by: Christian Toto | 7/15/2008 8:50:43 AM