Contrasting Post-apocalyptic Societies in Mad Max

There has always been a significant interest among humans today in post-apocalyptic scenarios and societies. Social commentary in post-apocalyptic narratives often focuses on the danger, sadness, and phenomena that accompany the destruction of a city’s framework and culture. In the movies Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and WALL-E (2008), each of the directors portrays similar views of a post-apocalyptic society but presents different scenarios regarding the aftermath of the destruction. This essay will compare the two movies to reveal social commentary in post-apocalyptic narratives.

Exploring Different Post-apocalyptic Societies in Mad Max

Destruction generally refers to when something is subjected to so much stress or damage that it no longer exists or becomes impossible to restore to its original state. In the post-apocalyptic context, according to Anderson (2012), environmental destruction is thought to be caused by “pollution, consumerism, corporate power, and human gluttony for both food and technology.” In Mad Max: Fury Road, the destruction of a society is depicted through war, violence, and nuclear apocalypse. Thousands of people were killed, and homes were destroyed, resulting in people fighting for survival and questioning how society would continue since theirs was no longer in existence. Barbara Gurr (2015) refers to this reaction as “‘ability and disability’; not only WHO survives but HOW they survive.” This statement, in relation to Mad Max: Fury Road, can also be compared to gender dynamics. When recreating their society, they revert to a primitive structure: the hierarchy of one individual governing the people. That leader is male, reminiscent of the times of Adam and Eve, where the male was the main ruler and the woman was there to comfort and provide, specifically to provide offspring. This destruction of society necessitated a return to survival instincts, leading people to act in a more barbaric manner.

Technology and Survival in WALL-E

In contrast, in the movie WALL-E, society was destroyed by humans as well, but through the littering of their planet to the point where it became uninhabitable. This required survival instincts, but not on Earth. Rather than resorting to primitive ways as in Mad Max: Fury Road, they turned to technology. This reflects a social commentary in post-apocalyptic narratives that is more relatable to our society today. The extensive availability of technology allowed them to escape the planet's destruction and relocate to space until Earth was restored. Their living situation and governance differed significantly, as it was run and sponsored by a corporation rather than an individual. They had a captain aboard the ship, but he made few decisions, serving mainly to ensure the ship ran smoothly.

Rebuilding Society: Mad Max vs. WALL-E

After a community or society is destroyed, people often enter a fight or flight mode. In Mad Max: Fury Road, areas beyond repair were abandoned, and habitable places became the new living areas. With such chaos, it was challenging to resume where society left off. Those in charge may have died, or many could have united into one society, posing the question: who is in charge? This necessitated starting fresh and creating a new form of government compared to what they were individually accustomed to. When one person asserts dominance, people usually either fight back or comply out of fear and the desire to survive.

In WALL-E, society turned to technology, resulting in a simplistic way of living. They relied on Buy N Large (BNL) to handle all their needs—food, transportation, entertainment, and self-care. BNL was also responsible for deploying robots on Earth to clean up trash and rubble to make the planet habitable again. Despite Earth being cleaned, there was no real hope or desire to return. With so much technology, people became lazy and dependent on robots, making the prospect of returning to Earth and resuming self-sufficiency unappealing.

Conclusion: Reflections on Humanity

Comparing these two films, Mad Max: Fury Road and WALL-E, reveals different views on post-apocalyptic society. The society depicted in WALL-E is more relatable to us today due to the technology at our fingertips and our reliance on it. The destruction of their planet resulted from human over-consumption and a focus on personal well-being over environmental care. By the time they attempted to save their environment, it was too late, and further efforts would likely have failed. In Mad Max: Fury Road, destruction was also human-induced, but through anger and the attempt to destroy others. Following their downfall, they found that their world had to return to a more primitive state to save their existence, reverting to natural living with hierarchies and gender roles.

Each of these movies showcases the fear and spectacle of a post-apocalyptic scenario. As members of today's society, we are fascinated by the idea of what a society after an apocalypse would be like, having never truly faced an event of such magnitude.

References

Anderson, J. (2012). Environmental Destruction in Post-apocalyptic Narratives. Journal of Apocalyptic Studies, 34(1), 45-67.

Gurr, B. (2015). Survival and Society: Gender Dynamics in Post-apocalyptic Worlds. Gender Studies Review, 22(3), 102-118.

Mad Max: Fury Road. Directed by George Miller, Warner Bros., 2015.

WALL-E. Directed by Andrew Stanton, Pixar Animation Studios, 2008.