It is no secret that our planet is suffering. From insurmountable climate change, to holes in the ozone layer, the composition of Earth’s ecosystems is plummeting at a catastrophic rate. If we do not make drastic changes fast, we may as well prepare our swimsuits, such as in the film Waterworld, released in 1995, starring Kevin Costner. In this film, the polar ice cap has completely melted, and sea levels have overtaken all land, leaving the population scrambling to survive in water.
The concept of applied plant ecology promotes the idea of environmental conservation, a theme that is physically absent from the film, though metaphorically very much there. The inability of man to save the planet by diminishing carbon footprint, using green energy, forbidding mass production via factories, reversing the damage done to the ozone layer, protecting ecosystems, species, biomes, etc, led to a calamitous increase in global temperature, and thus the melting of ice, flooding the continents.
This film seems very preventative in nature, and exposes the fact that the concept of global warming/climate change is very much real and has been much present for the past 20 + years. The movie is set in the year 2500, but is based on a book written in 1986. If novelists from 40 years ago see a problem, then so should we as a collective.
Waterworld follows the main character who battles his way to escape thieves who want his “equipment” and boat. The characters are barbaric, dirty and lack moral integrity, emphasizing the possibility of regression imposed by the planet if we do not stop this ongoing assault. The pursuit of “nature” is not even implied throughout the film, as there hasn’t been sighting of anything remotely green for years. The newest generation did not know what greenery was, which is why the discovery of land in the film is very inspiring. The characters go as far as to unironically say they’d have to give it a few days to get their “land legs,” as they have spent their lives on boats and jet skis.
Thus, the film portrays multiple themes and preventative/warning concepts. We are urged to protect and reverse the damage we have imposed upon the planet, lest we desire to find ourselves forever swimming.
Go green!
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 