Sustainability
Examining representations of our impact upon the world
Definitions
In a society in which there
is increased focus on the
environment and our
impact upon it, it is not
uncommon to hear
reference to sustainable
practices, both in our
individual living choices
and the wider social
context of areas such as
agriculture and industry.
What is your
understanding of the term
‘sustainable’? Write a
short definition.
Our legacy
Observations about our negative impact upon the ecosystems of our host planet are becoming more
frequent and insistent – what might our future world be like if we do not heed these warnings?
Representing the future
• Based on what you have seen of Wall-E’s world, which is depicted as
a possible future development of our own society, write as many
descriptive words about that world as you can in 1 minute.
• In your own words (and complete sentences), write a brief
description of what has happened to Wall-E’s world.
The thing about an animated film particularly is …
The film makers have a lot of control over the way things look, which means that
EVERYTHING you see has been considered and included on purpose.
Thinking further
• What is the angle from
which we see the towers of
rubbish in the opening
sequence and is the camera
still or moving?
• Where is technology evident
in the film so far and how
has it been used by the
filmmakers?
• What are the predominant
colours we see in the
opening sequence and what
do you think they might
signify?
• In what ways is Wall-E
similar to and/or different
from traditional conceptions
of artificial life?
• What sorts of things does
the film show as being
valuable to Wall-E?
• What is difference between
the perspectives of Wall-E
and the people of the
society that has left the
Earth behind?