The Lorax, a lesson in the acceptance of complexity?

Wheeler's Thoughts: Entry #1. 

    It never ceases to amaze me the poignancy of a message that can be delivered through a children's book or movie. This is gathered even when not looking at it through a highly critical lens. On the other hand, it does make sense that there is a deeper message rather than it just being purely simple entertainment, especially in a Dr. Seuss inspired story as it is trying to instill values with an audience that is primarily children through an easily palatable plot. These values, displayed in the movie The Lorax challenge societal norms that can lead to uniformity and not only introduce, but often celebrate concepts that encourage creativity and uniqueness. These traits need reinforcement as they can often be mischaracterized as problematic under the current approach of general systems theory. General systems theory has the tendency to over simplify the analysis of societal behaviors that ultimately stifles collective behaviors that are conducive to progress as it is unable to address or make sense of complexities when they arise (Montouri, 2011).  

    In The Lorax, the main themes of the movie originate between Once-ler, the Lorax, and Ted with a fluctuating nonlinear storyline. This storyline is initiated by Ted with his quest to find a real tree to impress his sweetheart Audrey which brings him into contact with Once-ler, an old hermit that lives far removed from Thneedville. Upon both Ted and Once-ler, Once-ler begins telling an intriguing yet cautionary tale about himself and what was the cause for the disappearance of all the Truffula trees. In these flashbacks through the eyes of Ted, the audience meets the character the Lorax, who is both wise and unorthodox.  The Lorax warned Once-ler of the danger of being blinded by singular ambition to achieve wealth and fame. The Lorax's ominous warnings come to fruition as the forest was leveled for the Once-ler to successfully produce his popular garment, the thneed. Upon the end of Once-ler's origin story does the audience see what ultimately contributed to the destruction of the Truffula forest and causing Thneedville to be so polluted but ignorant at the same time. The analysis will occur at the conclusion of the interactions that primarily occur between Ted and Once-ler as this is a pivotal moment in the plot. At this moment there is an abrupt shift in the collective thinking of Thneedville and it is where the deeper theme of the movie become the most evident. 

     The overall plot of The Lorax resonated with me as it was an overt critique on consumerism and the consequences of unbridled desires towards wealth and goods resulting in the loss of wilderness. Although perceived as a perfect society, Thneedville is heavily polluted and the people who live there show an initial contempt towards the thought of nature but simultaneously show a desire to experience it. Despite these conflicted views towards nature, there is an overall reluctance to from the people of Thneedsville to actively change to reintroduce actual trees. The plot of The Lorax is a real world problem issue that concerns me that as a society that is further removed from nature will ultimately value it increasingly less, causing it to be further destroyed. 

    

    Within The Lorax storyline, the character of the Once-ler personified traits that can be best characterized as the embodiment of chaos/complexity theory in contrast to society that largely embodies general systems theory point of view.  Through Once-lers interactions with his family and society, we see a depiction of order/chaos dichotomy that unfolds (Tietge, 2004). General systems theory is fixated on stability and constantly combats the occurrence of chaos. Although created out of the shortcomings of the scientific methods approach to help adequately make sense of unprecedented phenomena, it is often sympathetic to its predecessor's views as it was created to maintain an equilibrium. This is shown through strict adherence to formalized structure. In contrast, chaos and complexity theory embraces the existence of chaos through fluid concepts of interrelated systems that adapt to the occurrence of unfamiliar events. 

    When the origin story of Once-ler concludes and Ted is given the final remaining seed of the Truffula tree to plant it within Thneedville is when the dichotomy becomes apparent. Stability and maintaining the status quo through the general systems approach is represented by the overly manufactured ambiance with the absence of nature. Ultimately it is at the moment when Ted bulldozes the wall down and that there is an abrupt paradigmatic shift upon seeing the destruction caused by trying to maintain the status quo. Suddenly there is a both a refusal of the antiquated approach of general systems theory and the embrace of the presence of chaos and complexity. Through time in adapting to a new cultural concept, the Lorax returns ushering in new life back into the forest. This is illustrative of incorporating more inclusive systems that acknowledge interconnectedness of society rather than trying to keep systems, or society isolated.  

   Works Cited

Montouri, A. (2011). Systems Approach. In Encyclopedia of Creativity (pp. 414-421).                     Elsevier Inc..

Tietge, D. (2004). Complexity and Evolutionary Discourse. JAC, 973-989.