The beginning of the movie, “Antz” portrayed a Functionalist integration’s form of society very well. The functionalist view is that the highest priority is to meet basic needs so that society survives. Those in power create the ways those needs are met and the rules associated with keeping the system in order. Values important to this view include: replacing members, socializing new members, producing and distributing goods and services, preserving order, and providing a sense of purpose.
The colony in the film is very systematic with everyone in their role and everything in order. Resources are harvested, the colony is maintained, and everyone has food and shelter. Reproduction is very important. In the movie, it is the queen’s job 24/7 to lay offspring and hand them off to be taken care of. From the beginning, each ant is chosen to be a certain part of the social system. Some are chosen to be workers, some as soldiers, and some are born into royalty. The ants learn about who they are and gain a sense of purpose through being with others within the same group. When everyone falls into place, an order is preserved quite easily. Chaos is avoided by mass obedience to the rules.
But not every ant liked being obedient to the rules. Conflict integrations also would not agree with the system that was so successful at the start of the film. The Conflict view is that social institutions were made to provide the must-needed basic needs but don’t really work for the common good. It says powerful groups control and manipulates social institutions to keep a privileged position of wealth and power for a certain few. The conflict view is that everything is done to maintain social order, even if that social order is discriminating of sex and status.
The powerful few hold most of the nation’s wealth, infiltrate levels of politics and education, persuade lawmakers, and therefore are part of making the nation’s major decision. The princess, while seemingly understanding why this type of order was important, also felt something was not right and enjoyed the freedom found in defying her responsibility in preserving the order. The ant General abused his power and authority to enforce his own political and personal agenda while deceiving the masses into believing that he was working for the common good of all equally.
The symbolic integration’s view is a little harder to recognize within the movie because it is such an innate aspect of life for us. This view is about the way we make assumptions about others and judge them according to their physical characteristics and use that to define their character in our eyes. This is basically about how strong first impressions can guide actions and how we treat others. Stereotypes in everyday life are constant. We pre-judge others based on age, race, weight, body type, eye contact, body language, etc.
The main character is overlooked many times because his physical features did not appear strong or powerful yet he was a strong moving force within the society. The term: Dramatically is quite evident in the film. Once a sense of purpose was
Once a sense of purpose was installed in an ant, he/she wanted to be regarded as the best in that purpose and fulfill the “role” provided to them. It was very important to be who and what you were chosen to be and not to question or defy that role within the colony. Everyone had his or her place.
Once a sense of purpose was installed in an ant, he/she wanted to be regarded as the best in that purpose and fulfill the “role” provided to them. It was very important to be who and what you were chosen to be and not to question or defy that role within the colony. Everyone had his or her place.
