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Dr. Terry Lindvall Turns His Class Inside Out
Unpacking Pixar: exploring emotion, virtue, and humanity through film
University News | January 8, 2025
Dr. Terry Lindvall likens himself to Sully and Mike in Monsters' Inc. While he can terrify students at the beginning of the semester with his rigorous requirements, by the end he is incorporating standup comedy, delighting in their laughter as they discover the sheer enjoyment of learning. 
As VWU’s C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought, he brings a wide range of expertise in film, but maintains a particularly keen interest in Pixar. So much so, that he’s preparing to teach an entire course dedicated to the topic.
While COMM 422: The Films of Pixar examines the technical aspects and storytelling of the animation giant, it also focuses heavily on the ways audiences consume and reflect upon their films. How do they enchant audiences and come to dominate society’s consciousness and conversations?
Many of these films carry lessons within them, aimed at such weighty topics as race, moral development, virtues, and emotion. Such is the case of Inside Out, a story about a young girl uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco. Her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – begin to conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
Films such as Inside Out, says Dr. Lindvall, possess messages that reach both children and adults. “This film teaches us that all the emotions are important, that they fulfill a need we have. Anger, for example, makes us aware of a need for justice and fair play. Fear and disgust keep us from danger. However, one wonders what the role of Sadness might be? Today, depression covers many students like an unwanted hair shirt. Many people feel lonely, depressed, anxious about life, even when they may seem to be socially engaged.”
And how are these emotions channeled? For many, it manifests in anger – in children and adults alike – as often evidenced in the nation’s civic affairs. The pace of life and nonstop digital stimuli only exacerbate the situation, leaving less time to process emotions, resulting in a more reactionary society. Dr. Lindvall says humans need to better come to terms with their emotions, channeling them in more constructive ways.
To further help children deal with strong emotions, the Virginia Aquarium is hosting a traveling exhibit, Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out, which opens later this month. It’s filled with interactive experiences to help guests understand the important role emotions, memory, and imagination play in their everyday lives. In preparation for the exhibit, Dr. Lindvall will be delivering a presentation to the aquarium’s staff.
Later in the spring, he’ll participate in a panel discussion for VWU’s Robert Nusbaum Center. Joined by Dr. Steven Emmanuel, Chair of Virginia Wesleyan’s Philosophy Department and Dr. Gabriela Martorell, professor of psychology, they will examine the film’s message and its effect on child development.
And while emotions are tricky, and can sneak up when one least suspects, Dr. Lindvall says there is one emotion that reigns supreme, and it has marvelous curative effect. “I love to teach about the transformative power of laughter in relationships, business, and life. So many of these Pixar films really underscore the enduring value of storytelling not just as entertainment, but also as a guide to navigating the human experience.”