Besides providing immense entertainment for both kids and adults alike, certain children’s movies, such as Disney Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, explore deep sociological concepts and structures found in our society. The movie successfully and simultaneously shows both structural functionalism and conflict theory - despite their stark differences - in the interactions between the ants and grasshoppers. Throughout the film, there are also instances that show the theories of false consciousness, collective conscious and symbolic interactionism. A Bugs Life is about a colony of ants that is separated by most other insects through geographical isolation. These ants not only have to gather food for themselves but also for a group of grasshoppers who in
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This theory, developed in part by Emile Durkeim, sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. The ants, one part of the system, work to get the food for themselves and the grasshoppers. The grasshoppers, the other part of the system, provide protection to the ants in return for the food. These two components work together so that each group gets what they need and keeps the society in which they live …show more content…
There are also many instances in the film that show the ideas of false conscious and collective conscious. If the interactions between the ants and grasshoppers are viewed from one perspective, then the grasshoppers can be seen as exploiting and suppressing the ants in order to gain what they want. This is an example of conflict theory. If the interactions are looked at from a different angle, then the ants and grasshoppers can be seen as working together and providing each other services in order to keep society functioning. This type of structure would be structural functionalism. Symbolic interactionism is seen in the movie when the ants see the bird as a symbol of freedom. A Bug’s Life and many other movies add to culture and provide entertainment while also giving people an analytical perspective of
This theory, developed in part by Emile Durkeim, sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. The ants, one part of the system, work to get the food for themselves and the grasshoppers. The grasshoppers, the other part of the system, provide protection to the ants in return for the food. These two components work together so that each group gets what they need and keeps the society in which they live …show more content…
There are also many instances in the film that show the ideas of false conscious and collective conscious. If the interactions between the ants and grasshoppers are viewed from one perspective, then the grasshoppers can be seen as exploiting and suppressing the ants in order to gain what they want. This is an example of conflict theory. If the interactions are looked at from a different angle, then the ants and grasshoppers can be seen as working together and providing each other services in order to keep society functioning. This type of structure would be structural functionalism. Symbolic interactionism is seen in the movie when the ants see the bird as a symbol of freedom. A Bug’s Life and many other movies add to culture and provide entertainment while also giving people an analytical perspective of