Blog Entry #4

Movie: A Bug’s Life

Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHKMElR32Tw

Fanonian Perspectives

(1) (2) (3) (7) (14) (15) (16)

Summary and Relation to Fanonian Perspectives:

Flik, an individualist and would-be inventor, lives in a colony of ants in the middle of a dry creek. They are led by Princess Atta and her mother, the Queen. The colony is oppressed by a gang of marauding grasshoppers, led by Hopper, that arrive every season demanding food from the ants (14) This instance directly illustrates the Fanonian perspective that only through exploitation (of the ants) the capitalists (grasshoppers) gain their wealth and it is all owed to the exploited without them they would be nothing. One day, when the annual offering is inadvertently knocked into a stream by Flik's latest invention, a grain harvesting device, the grasshoppers demand twice as much food as compensation (16) reflective of the colonizer’s greed and instinct to punish the colonized and the colonized having to obey due to the superior power the colonizer possesses. When Flik suggests in earnest that they seek help from other stronger bugs (3) this is reflective of perspective where Fanon states that the bourgeoisie idea of nonviolence is inefficient and that only counter violence can remove the marks of violence the colonized have because of the colonizer: these “marks” being the ants have to suffer and have less food and overwork themselves due to the greed of the grasshoppers, the other ants see it as an opportunity to be rid of him, and send him off.

Making his way to the "bug city" (a heap of trash under a trailer), the naive Flik mistakes a troupe of circus bugs that have recently been dismissed by their money-hungry ringmaster, P.T. Flea, for the warrior bugs he seeks. The bugs, in turn, mistake Flik for a talent agent and accept his offer to travel with him back to Ant Island. During a welcome ceremony upon their arrival, the circus bugs and Flik both discover their mutual misunderstandings. The circus bugs attempt to leave but are forced back when a bird attacks the group. They save Dot, Atta's younger sister, from the bird as they flee, gaining the ants' respect in the process. At Flik's insistence, they continue the ruse of being "warriors" so the troupe can continue to enjoy the attention and hospitality of the ants. The bird encounter inspires Flik into creating a false bird to scare away the grasshoppers (15) reflective of the colonized dreams of overthrowing the colonizer. Meanwhile, Hopper reminds his gang how greatly the ants outnumber them and worries that they will eventually turn on them (15) reflective of how “the settler knows very well “they want to take our place” the perspective that it is understood by the colonizer that the colonized are full of contempt and desire to over throw them.

The ants finish constructing the fake bird, but during a celebration, P.T. Flea arrives searching for his troupe and accidentally exposes their ruse. Furious at Flik's deception, the ants exile him and desperately gather food for a new offering to the grasshoppers. When the grasshoppers arrive to discover the mediocre offering, they take over the colony, demanding the ants' winter store of food (14). After overhearing Hopper's intention to kill the Queen, Dot decides to try Flik's plan, and goes after Flik and the circus bugs for help.

The bird initially fools the grasshoppers, but P.T. Flea, also mistaking it for a real bird, lights it on fire, exposing it as a decoy. Hopper beats Flik in retaliation and proclaims that the ants are lowly life forms who live to serve the grasshoppers (13) (16) this is reflective of the assertion of dominance by the capitalist due to their superior physical power. However, Flik responds defiantly, realizing that Hopper actually fears the colony, and inspiring the ants and the circus bugs to fight back against the grasshoppers (1) (2) (7) reflective of how the colonize realise through unity they have a chance at over throwing the oppressor with violence. The ants attempt to force Hopper out of the colony, but it suddenly begins to rain. In the ensuing chaos, Hopper kidnaps Flik and flees. After the circus bugs fail to catch them, Atta rescues Flik. As Hopper viciously pursues them, Flik corners him in the nest of the bird he encountered earlier. Assuming that the actual bird is just another fake one, Hopper taunts it but is caught and fed to one of her chicks. The ants then win the battle driving the grasshoppers away (7) reflective of the last becoming first.

Sometime later, Flik has improved his inventions and the quality of life for the colony, and Atta professes her love for him. The ants congratulate Flik as a hero and bid a fond farewell to the circus troupe, hoping that they will return for the following year. Atta is crowned the new queen and Dot is crowned the new heir to the throne.

Reference Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bug%27s_Life