Blog Assignment #7: Metaphors in Media/Creating Reality

Shaun Mayberry

TRANSFORMERS 1

 

                                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnwmUZuF5OY                                          

The movie “transformers” is about a boy who tries to balance a normal life, and his risky relationship with a newly discovered race of intelligent robots called 'Autobots.' The movie represents a sense of modern society not understanding new developments and the sensibility to change in our lives. We are so use to the every day aspect of normalcy, that as soon as a different race or object is inserted into our perfect lives we are either afraid of it or dismiss it.

The intelligent robots (Autobots) discover many enemies along their journey. These enemies are called ‘Decepticons’ (in the movie). The battles and confrontations between the 'Autobots' and the 'Decepticons' build a strong sense of epic conflict in today’s society. The battles, with the addition of change, contribute to a strong metaphor in today’s society problems where there are arguments and disagreements that we do not understand. The clash between the robots represents the misunderstanding of the collapse of the global economy, the problem of starvation around the world, and our thoughtless destruction of the environment leading to climate change. All of these are problems are ones that we don’t understand, and do not have the ability to put up a decent fight because of the inability to retaliate. We again see these conflicts as a change that we are afraid of. We consider the army and the upper-class to retaliate for us and solve our problems. The large robots can symbolized as our leaders in society, trying to solve our problems while we sit and hide. We are not taking care of things that we ourselves have contributed too. We are no longer taking blame for our own actions, and deciding to let other people take the blame. ‘

The movie the transformers is a terrific, action-packed movie, for the younger audience. but the symbolic messages is portrays should hit anyone who decides to watch it. Everyone is to blame about today’s changes and should take responsibility and in some way participate in its reconstruction.