The Search for Meaning in the Films of Wes Anderson By Brent Gibson , University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Near the end of director Wes Anderson ’ s only animated film , Fantastic Mr . Fox , the audience is shown a shot of Mr . Fox ’ s latest newspaper column in The Gazette ; it ’ s a regular feature entitled “ Fox on the Prowl .” It takes up the screen for a mere two seconds , only enough for the viewer to see Fox ’ s picture and the title of his column . Narratively , it is intended to show that Fox has gone back to his former profession and put his dangerous days of henhouse thieving behind him . However , in true Wes Anderson fashion , when he could have easily gotten away with a series of fuzzy lines to merely suggest the content of the paper , Anderson has actually written an entire column . A special treat is in store for those who take the time to hit the pause button here ; one will find nothing less than a rendering of Anderson ’ s own existential philosophy . Several critics have noted Anderson ’ s existential concerns . But this philosophy that has been played out visually in narrative form throughout Anderson ’ s entire body of work is here written down in words for us to read . Near the end of the column , Fox / Anderson says , “ They say things happen for a reason , but they don ’ t . They happen for a lark and from the well-spring of limitless , infinite chaos .” The reason I say that this is Anderson ’ s philosophy and not just Fox ’ s is because this is precisely the philosophy that is narratively embodied in all of Anderson ’ s films . Anna
70