Zootopia: Technology, Race, and You

As I have said (multiple times in class), I saw Zootopia during spring break and personal feelings aside, I think the film did a very good job of a portraying technology and race relations in the United States. The main character, a rabbit named Judy Hopps, wants to be a police officer, a career that has mostly involved predators and not prey. The struggle Judy has with being taken seriously by others and being recognized as a "real" cop are a focal point in the film, and her species and sex can easily translate over into modern politics. Judy is a female, and if you were to make her human she more than likely would have been a person of color. Women of color in the police force are very rare and many who are in the police force feel that the "boys in blue" mentality that officers have would prevent them from ever advancing their position in the force. Judy Hopps then acts as a representative of the minorities in the United States and the stereotypes that people unconsciously support in their day-to-day lives. Disney does a very good job in Zootopia of subtly translating these real world political issues and stereotypes into a children's film.

In addition, Zootopia also does a fantastic job of portraying techology and social media in a positive light. During the film Judy uses her cellphone to Facetime her parents while she's living away from home in order to keep in contact with them and keep her relationship with her parents strong. In addition, at multiple points during the investigation Judy uses her phone (in what looks like a Snapchat app) to record conversations and to take pictures for evidence. For the sake of not giving away spoilers to those who have seen it, even two polar opposite members of the police force bond over the use of a game/video application. Overall, Zootopia just manages to subtly send progressive political and social messages to audiences of all ages, and I would 10/10 recommend that you guys go and see it this weekend if you can.