Makeup and Motives

Make up and costumes played a large role in Star Trek Insurrection. I felt as if the motives of specific groups in the movie were determined by the amount of makeup they possessed. We see three main different groups: minimal makeup group, average makeup group, and extreme makeup group.

The minimal makeup group correlates to the Ba’ku. These are the people who live a technology free life. They live carefree with emphasis on taking the time to enjoy each day. This pure and gentle nature is paired with minimal makeup and costumes. Most of them appear very natural looking, only using makeup to even skin tones and provide color for the actual production. They look the most like humans, which is why we associate gentleness with them in this sci-fi world. The gentle and pure factor adds to the idea of making these people seem helpless; this is also why Captain Picard and his team see the need to help them when under attack. Their only motive was to live a peaceful and technologically-free life.

The average makeup group is Captain Picard and the members of his crew. Most of them resemble humans, but others have more futuristic-like features. They are the protectors of the Ba’ku. I feel that they need to seem mostly human-like because we identify with humanity as being helpers. Much of their makeup is simple, but more edgy for the futuristic feel. The men are clean shaven with short, kempt hair. Women of the crew have short, practical haircuts with makeup only to emphasize their faces for the camera.  The other members, who are more futuristic, such as Lt. Data, add to the sci-fi feel of the fil. If Data was not part of the team, only costumes and stylistic features would separate the Ba’ku from the crew. Their motive was to keep peace for the Ba’Ku since they could not fend for themselves.

The So’Na are the most heavily covered in makeup and effects. They undergo facial skin transplants and stretching sessions. We see many layers of makeup to give the effect of being old, yet undergoing futuristic plastic surgery. Many of them go to endless limits to try to look young. Based on their need for youth, they are the antagonists and try to have the youth the Ba’ku have. Their makeup is very rough and wrinkled. There is even use of fake blood to emphasize the deteriorating health and appearance of the So’Na. With their looks at stake, they disregard anyone else and solely focus on restoring their appearance. 

Technologic.

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. You name it. With growing emphasis on social media, we are beginning to lose touch with our natural human interactions and physical connections. We can hide behind a screen and say things we normally would not say. For some people, it may be the only human “contact” that they engage in. The movie, Wall-E, demonstrates the growing technological phenomenon. All the humans are tuned into their TV or computer monitor. They sit in hover chairs, never walking for themselves. Continuously, they communicate through video chat, even though their communication partner may be sitting right next to them. Their growing ignorance to the world around them keeps them from realizing the pool or other activities offered to them upon the cruise.

The irony of it all is that two robots, Wall-E and Eve, weres the spark to reinitiate contact between a few humans. The technology and the emotional connection they shared was the starting point to promote humans to physically interact. Wall-E chases Eve down throughout the ship. He runs into things and causes damage, but these mistakes cause the humans to “wake up” from their technological dream. For example, Wall-E wants to move past a woman on the train. She is tuned into her screen and does not even acknowledge Wall-E until he causes a scene. Her and another man are interrupted by Wall-E at different points in the movie, which bring them together. Their physical interactions are the first real human contact in (we assume) a very long time. We see a growing interest in engaging in human contact as these two humans connect. They splash around in the pool, which they previously had no idea existed.  Eventually, all of the humans get out of their hover chairs and finally contributes to the well-being of humanity and earth’s conservation.

While kids watch the movie, they see all the cool robots. When parents watch Wall-E, they have the opportunity to take a valuable message about the direction in which technology is headed. As mentioned before, social media sites take up hours of time that used to be for human contact and creating relationships. It is a real issue that our society faces. This technology could truly hurt us in the development of our social abilities. Wall-E tells a story that is a very possible direction that our future may be headed. There are many programs out there that want to promote getting off the internet and going outside. Nintendo Wii has hourly reminders to “get up and go outside!”  Nickelodeon has a day of no television shows which is meant to promote going outside to play. Wall-E is another movie that brings awareness to our growing attachment to technology. As helpful as technology can be in many cases, there cannot be a reliance on it. Our attention needs to shift back to the natural world and physical connections.