Vasquez 1

Ashley Vasquez

ENG 170

Professor Ouderkirk

15th April 2021

                               

                                            The Lorax and Life on Land 

  The movie and movie trailer that will be discussed and analyzed is The Lorax directed by Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda In the movie and trailer, the argument that is conveyed is that we humans need to place more value on the environment in order to enable individuals to experience the beauty of nature. The goal that is mainly demonstrated in The Lorax is Life on Land. This is because in the trailer demonstrates how as a result of human’s selfish desires they tend to not focus on their impact on the environment and those around them. The Lorax’s unique perspective of Life on Land is demonstrated by using ethos, logos, and pathos and formulates the movie’s message that those that impact the environment should focus on the significance of their actions on the environment to allow those to see the beauties of nature. 

`  To demonstrate, Life on Land could be found in the beginning of the trailer when the main character meets up with a friend, and views a painting of trees. He is intrigued by the painting, and when he asks what they are she says, “ those are trees, they used to grow all around here. What I would want more than anything is to see a growing, and living tree”(The Lorax Trailer 0:35–0:46). This overall builds up that the issue of life on land is apparent, and this is because the girl said that these trees used to grow there. Additionally, this scene makes children and adults feel great sadness toward the fact that the main character and girl have never seen trees.

 

  Then, it is conveyed in the trailer when the man in the hat is shown cutting down a tree. The man tries to keep the Lorax’s attention off of him when he cuts down a tree. The Lorax though, is unimpressed and doesn’t appear to look happy. He has a disappointed facial expression and a tone in his voice when he says “ did you chop down this tree? (The Lorax Trailer 01:31-01:33):” The trailer does this to make the audience feel worried because it demonstrates that cutting down trees isn’t good for the environment.The Lorax is then shown to still demonstrate that facial expression, but this time appears more disappointed when the man blames a bear for cutting down the tree” (The Lorax Trailer 01:30 – 1:39). Furthermore, the trailer makes children and parents feel gloomy because the man isn’t taking responsibility for him cutting down the tree and instead blaming an innocent bear.

  Then, there is a scene shown where the bears as well as the other animals of the forest area look unhappy, and are walking in a manner, hunched, and walking straight toward the man with the hat, and the Lorax. The man and the Lorax are holding one another, and have a terrified look on their face (The Lorax Trailer 01:45-0:146). The trailer exhibits to the children and parents watching it in order to make them feel worried for the animals, the lorax, and the man. To explain, it does this by displaying the animals in the movie live on that land, and this man with the hat is ruining their land, and the Lorax keeps warning him, but the man simply ignores the Lorax. 

  As displayed in The Lorax, the overall argument is shown through the rhetorical devices of ethos, logos, and pathos in numerous ways. For instance, when the girl tells the main protagonist “what I would want more than anything is to see a real living tree (The Lorax Trailer 0:43-0:47).” To clarify, this demonstrates the rhetorical element of pathos as it is able to make children and parents feel sorrowful towards the girl since she has never seen a “living tree”. Also, pathos can be conveyed through the trailer when the main character goes on their  motorcycle through the bad and foggy area and warning signs are shown as well (The Lorax Trailer 1:04-1:06).” Moreover, in the beginning of the movie trailer we are able to see a beautiful area with flowers and clear skies, but in this area it is dark, purple, foggy, and there are many warning signs.To enumerate further, this uses pathos since it makes children and parents feel flabbergasted by the gloomy and dark environment.

  The idea of Ethos is shown through the trailer when the production companies of the movie are illustrated at the beginning of the trailer (The Lorax Trailer 0:07-0.08).” The production companies of The Lorax are Universal and Illumination Entertainment. This example signifies that it uses ethos because it uses the credibility of the production companies to persuade the children and parents that the film is used by companies that are well known and popular. Furthermore, another usage of ethos in the film is when at the end of the film the names of the celebrities that are in the film appear one by one. For example, celebrities such as Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Ed Helms, and Danny Devito were mentioned at the end of the trailer. The trailer uses ethos by doing this because it persuades the audience that because these celebrities are in the movie that they morph into their roles for The Lorax, and this may pique the interest of the children and adults that may see the movie. 

  It can be said that The Lorax conveys an exceptional view on Life on Land. This can be displayed through the use of  rhetorical devices (ethos, logos, and pathos). It is also able to value the significance of the main idea that those that impact the environment shouldn’t take away the  beauties of nature that people want to see. The overall rhetorical effectiveness of The Lorax was well structured, and enabled children and adults to take notice of the idea of Life on Land, and as well as supporting the idea of not making decisions that drastically affect the environment negatively for those that want to experience nature.