ZOOTOPIA

ZOOTOPIA
"From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal
metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin)
becomes the first rabbit to join the police force, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce
the law. Determined to prove herself, Judy jumps at the opportunity to solve a mysterious
case. Unfortunately, that means working with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a wily fox who
makes her job even harder."
Marxist lense/race lense

By looking past the facade of cartoon talking animals it is clear that Disney is attempting a marxist criticism of our
capitalist society, and the class system that we have as a result. Throughout the film, the animals in society are grouped
into two very distinct and separate categories: predator and prey. The predators in Zootopia are always in positions of
power, both literally and figuratively. To highlight this is it important to look at the workforce in this fictional society. The
mayor of Zootopia -the pinnacle of power- is a lion, the chief of police is a very large and muscular buffalo, and just
about any other desirable job is occupied by a predator. In contrast, the prey hold what would be considered menial jobs
in our society. For example Judy Hopps’ rabbit family are carrot farmers, and the mayor’s assistant Bellwether is a lamb; a
direct juxtaposition to the mayor himself, the lion. It is easy to see that this fictional society of predator and prey is
completely parallel to our own society comprised of the upper class and lower class, the rich and poor, and the haves and
the have nots. Disney challenges this notion of classes through the protagonist Judy Hopps, who wants to become a police
officer in Zootopia, a job no other “prey” has ever held.
Marxist lense/race
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The movied with being a woprotagonist Judy H police officer. Wh, must work twice USA. As a narrative depicting an
associateows an ambitious he workforce as a y, being a woman the workforce. attempt to alienate a minority
story foll o find a place in t e evident that Judequal treatment in countless other social group for political gain,
longing tes it becomes mor rparts to receive xist remarks from nd told Zootopia portrays a world of
progress s her male counte e stereotypical se underestimated a!” a phrase that is faltering ideals. Most centrally to
as hard abe seen through th Hopps was often here she belongs n of our own the narrative, such tensions extend
This can rs in the film. Judy the carrot farm whis direct reflectiothe surface you to the speciesism expressed in a
characte ly to “get back on in the kitchen!” T ore relevant. On er, when you look sign in an ice-cream parlour run
repeatedmilar to, “get back akes this movie md animals. Howev this becomes by an elephant, reserving ‘the
all too si problems is what m ith cute, animate aracter dynamics er skills were still right to refuse service to anyone’,
societal rrelate Zootopia w the unsettling ch at her university h unterparts were and emphasized when the
might co derlying motif and Judy placed top while her male co n in today’s parlour’s owner attempts to turn
at the un vant. Even thoughiven parking duty r bias can be see ortunities as men. Wilde away. Moments such as this,
more releimated, she was g . This direct gendeiven the same oppportant to note which tie Zootopian discrimination
underest issing cases ect.. women are not g en. In fact, it is imissive bunny into an American history captured
set with mc industry in whichrance, she was giv mall, docile subm ten seen as in films such as Giant (George
economi r physical appea aracter being a s tion of women, of portrayal of the Stevens, 1956), highlight the way
due to heportrayal of her ch otype and percep r character is the or patriarchal in which species in Zootopia
that the es a common stererect contrast to he tory animals, mirr n vs woman. serves as an allegory of race.
symboliz nt and weak. A di ry dominant predas subservience, ma
subserviecers, huge and ve tor, dominance v
male offi ives. Prey vs preda
perspect

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ZOOTOPIA

Marxist lense/race lense

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