NATURAL EXPLOITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS DEPICTED IN IO

Abstract

This research investigates the depiction of natural exploitation and environmental crisis in IO, a science-fiction film directed by Jonathan Helpert. This study uses Greg Garrard’s theory of ecocriticism. This study engaged with a qualitative descriptive method, which centers the analysis on the writer’s perspectives. This study identifies two major forms of natural exploitation in the film: the use of chemicals and the dependency on artificial systems, which culminate in ecological collapse. These exploitations manifest in environmental crises such as air crises and food scarcity, and climate instability. The environmental crisis in environment is the impact of the exploitative practices done by humans. The findings demonstrate that IO reflects Garrard’s ecocritical tropes: pollution, apocalypse, wilderness, and the earth. Therefore, this study concludes that the film not only critiques anthropocentric practices but also underscores the urgency of fostering environmental awareness and sustainable human–nature relationships.