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Insights:
Pixar's
latest animated film brings to the screen the message of the
power of love overcoming the power of fear. Monster's,
Inc. takes a loving and humorous look at what's inside a
child's greatest fear (the dark closet) and comes up with a
story that blesses people of all ages. Just like the
adult movies, The Last Castle and K-Pax it
tells a timeless tale of the heart.
Turning
the System Upside Down
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There
exists a "closed system" which is
hierarchical in nature. |
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There
is a proud taskmaster over the system. |
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The
system creates an atmosphere of fear which breeds
anger, strife, competition, corruption, disunity,
hatred, and chaos. |
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Someone
comes from the outside (another world/dimension) into
the closed system and takes on the appearance of those
at the bottom. |
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Even
though they are in the system, their heart remains
free. They are fearless and do not operate by
the rules of the closed system. |
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They
possess clear insight into the heart of those in the
system. |
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The
presence of this "outsider" effects the
entire system turning it literally upside down. |
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The
power of fear is broken by the power of love released
through the outsider. |
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The
outsider leaves, but lives on in the hearts of those
who have been transformed rather than conformed. |
The
Closed System
The
metaphor for the closed system in Pixar's film is found in
its title, Monster's, Inc.
"Monster's" is for the monster world in general;
while "Inc." represents the corporation that
provides energy. In the opening scene of a
"fright simulation", we learn that the greatest
danger to this closed system is leaving a door open!
Mr. Waternoose, the head of the corporation, makes it
perfectly clear that if a door is left open, the unthinkable
could happen.....a child from another world might enter in.
The Taskmaster
There
are several taskmasters in this film. The obvious one
is Mr. Waternoose who embodies all that is Monster's Inc.1
Seeming to be
everywhere (multiple eyes and legs), he drives the lowly
workers to obtain more "scream'", for
without it there is no power. He is proud, greedy, and
capable of wicked deeds in order to achieve his purposes.
Another
taskmaster is the CDA (Child Detection Agency). It
operates like a powerful government agency with secret
agents (Roz). The faceless monsters in yellow suits
have one mission and that is to seek out and destroy any
contact with the world of children.
Lastly,
we have Randall, who although he works at the bottom of the
hierarchical system, personifies the evil corrupt heart that
seeks to rise to the top and be the ruler.
The
Atmosphere
Fear
is the atmosphere of Monster's Inc. Frightening
children and collecting their screams create the power that
energizes and lights this whole world. Ironically,
those that create fear in others are also the most
fearful. Not only are the monsters afraid of the
children they scare, they live with the fear of the CDA,
which is merciless in its decontamination procedures.
This power hungry system creates competition and fear from
the Corporate Head, Waternoose, to the lowly workers at the
bottom.
The
Outsider
The
door is the symbol of this movie, and it is not
surprising that there is a special door lit by a
spotlight and decorated with pink flowers. The
one who will change Monster World comes through this
door. Her name is Boo. She is as unique as her
door is unique. Unlike the other children, she is not
afraid to enter the Monster World. She does so in
grand style, clinging to the back of the scariest monster of
all, James P. Sullivan.
Rules
Boo
walks to the beat of a different drummer. She is
unaffected by the atmosphere of Monster World. Having
the freedom of a child's heart, she bounces and giggles her
way right into the hearts of Sully and Mike, and in so
doing, breaks all the rules of the closed system.
Vision
This
freedom of heart also results in a purity of vision; she can
clearly see into the hearts of others. She recognizes
Randall for what he is -- evil. She sees Sully for the big
pussycat that he is; her nickname for him is
"Kitty".
Upside
Down
After
Boo's entrance, Monster World will never be the same.
She wins the humble heart of Mike and the tender heart of
Sully. In their romp to get Boo safely back in her
door, they uncover the ugly schemes of Monster's Inc.
In other words, truth is revealed (Randoll, Roz, and
Waternoose are all unmasked), and hearts are set free.
Power
of Love
There
is a powerful message in Monster's Inc..
It is that perfect love casts out fear. Love is
the key that unlocks all the doors. It opens the
door to Sully's heart and allows Boo to come in.
She displaces his fear of children, Waternoose,
the CDA, and of being cast out into exile. She
so fills his life that when he hurts her, it is beyond
what he can bear. She has loved him perfectly
and unconditionally.
"Greater
love has no one than this, that one lay down his life
for his friends."2 This is the
love Mike demonstrates for Sully made evident by his
wounded hands. The law of Monster World required
Boo's door to be shredded. With his heart set free,
Mike has chosen to operate under a higher law of
love. He has gathered all the pieces to her door
and put them together for Sully. Only one piece
remains missing.
"It only works if you have all the pieces,"
he humbly tells Sully. Sully has and is the
missing piece. As he inserts the missing piece
into the door, the light comes on, the door opens to
another world, and he hears his pet name,
"Kitty".
Transformation
Mike
and Sully have made a greater discovery than "children
are not lethal" through their adventure with Boo.
They have discovered that joy creates ten times the power of
scream. This joy, which is so much greater than fear,
now permeates and energizes all of Monster's Inc.
Everyone's life is transformed. Mike, the humble
sidekick, is released to go into the children's rooms and be
the comedian he has always wanted to be. James P.
Sullivan, the scariest monster of all, becomes the gentle
giant CEO. The joy that Boo brought into Monster's
Inc. has "infected" all the workers. It was not
lethal; on the contrary, it brought life.
Scripture:
I
John 4:18-19
John
15:13
Matthew
18:1-14
Notes:
1. Corporation: (5) Informal. A paunch,
potbelly. Webster's Dictionary
2.
John
15:13
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