The animation's first half depicts "Man's" step-by-step conquest of nature, from crushing an insect to erecting metallic forests, from hunting wildlife to casually obliterating entire woodlands. However, the scene that most impressed me was the depiction of "Man" on his throne being conquered by aliens. "Man" conquers nature but then commits the ultimate error: he stops progressing. He sits on a throne of garbage, admiring his rule over a ruined planet, and fails to look up at the stars. It evokes my anguish over "Man's" failure, regret that he ceased to "look up" at the sky, and frustration that the gains of his earlier development were lost.
Although often simplistically interpreted as a critique of environmental destruction, I believes the core message of the animation is more profound and essential. It warns against the complacency that follows conquest.
In a universe where even our sun has a finite lifespan, no achievement is permanent. The lesson is not to cease using resources, but to apply our intellect to ensure our progress with necessary consumption. The animation clarifies that if we do not continuously strive to advance and broaden our horizons, we will inevitably be surpassed or eradicated by a greater force, whether ecological or cosmic. Consider why the author used aliens to end humanity rather than nature itself. This reveals the error or fatal flaw committed by "Man": stagnation, not exploitation. The aliens' arrival is not punishment for ecological damage; it is the inevitable consequence of stagnation.
Some might argue, "What if the aliens never came? Would 'Man' have been defeated by nature itself, lost their chance for interstellar expansion?" This question warrants our discussion. However, from a cosmic perspective, even our sun will eventually die. Protecting Earth as our permanent home only delays the inevitable end. Even if we achieved perfect ecological balance, dedicating the vast majority of resources and research to managing a single planet is a profound strategic error. Furthermore, ceasing expansion severely hinders human progress, curbs the development of productive forces, and limits humanity's innate curiosity and will to dominate, potentially leading to technological and cultural stagnation. It mistakenly portrays a managed decline as a victory.
We must aggressively develop technologies not for a "green Earth," but for an interstellar hunt for resources. Master nuclear fusion not for clean electricity, but for the engines of generation spacecrafts. Research hydroponics and closed-loop systems not for organic farming, but to feed colonies on Mars. And never grudge the natualral resources we invest. Reframe environmentalism, as our first practical step in engineering our deep space survival.
Man is not an environmentalist's plea. Our choice is not between a green or grey Earth. The universe belongs not to the ecologic righteousness, but to the technologically superior and the strategically expansive. And the next step in human evolution must be openly debated.
Now that Mr. Shang gives readers such a surprise, claiming we should focus on interstellar expanding instead of protecting the Earth. Come on, as long as our humans remain bodies of flesh and blood, we need to engage with ecological conservation. Even we're aboard a spacecraft. Captain, what organic do we eat tonight? You see, life in cities often makes us forget what the ecosystem serves us. We may find an unlimited energy in the future, but that doesn't mean we have unlimited resources. Actually under any circumstances, we have only a few resources which are greatly dependent on the ecosystem. And to use these resources sustainably, that's the environmental protection.
I've been thinking in a less hard-sci-fi way. I always hear people saying, "Prices of essential goods have gone up." I believe this is a real "Man" slice of life instead of that badass in the animation. Therefore, it is wrong not to value resource conservation.
But here comes the question. Who's the big villain we just saw on screen? "Maybe this man is an anthropomorphization, of villainy that all humanity have done," I answered, "No one is innocent, but no one should bear full responsibility either."
Then how do all of us commit this? In my opinion, the public primarily wastes inexpensive natural resources such as paper and water. At the same time, we also use pollutants such as plastic bags, which also cost nothing. Their insignificance in value always makes us neglect the consequences of overusing them.
Dr. Shang's ideas are always so innovative. He expressed his view that the scene where the man gets beaten up by two aliens in the ending resembles a deus ex machina and is utterly uninteresting. Up to this point, I wholeheartedly agree. A more reasonable ending would be for the man to suddenly transform into a Cronenbergian monster, or at least die from illness.
We've dumped billions of tons of trash into the oceans, which form a Eighth Continent. Microplastics are almost everywhere, in the ocean, mountains and the air. These potentially hazardous substances will ultimately be ingested by us humans through the food chain. Not to mention air pollution, which we've grown accustomed to, while causing asthma, lung cancer and heart failure.
Humans polluting the environment is like shooting themselves in the foot.
I'd like to discuss more of the misdeeds mentioned in Man. As for poaching (or illegally felling trees), I believe such acts will be treated merely as criminal offenses. Let the law take its course.
But the animation also features animal testing... From my standpoint, it's hard to say it's immoral...
Other "misdeeds" are alike. At present, we cannot give up meat consumption, nor can we reverse urbanization. We certainly cannot treat animals as equals to humans. Perhaps humanity's destruction of the Earth is already irreversible. The only things we can do are not fundamental. That's why most works depicting the future express pessimism about environmental issues.
As Chinese youth, protecting the environment is never just a slogan, but a commitment to action integrated into daily life: we should actively refuse disposable plastic bags when shopping and use canvas bags instead, prioritize public transport like buses, subways, or shared bikes for travel to reduce car exhaust emissions, turn off unused lights and electrical appliances to practice low-carbon electricity use, sort and place waste paper and plastic bottles into trash bins to support resource recycling, pick up litter by the roadside and throw it into the corresponding recycling bin when we see it, and also participate in tree-planting activities organized by the community to add a touch of green to the city. Every small action contributes to safeguarding our shared home.
