< Aboard the ‘Titanic’>
Academic film review of ‘The
Age of Stupid’
131106 JongMyong Rhee (이 종 명) - Jason Rhee
‘The Age of Stupid’ (2009) is a
documentary film directed by Franny Armstrong. In the year of 2055, an old
archivist (Pete Postlethwaite) shows several videos about the last few decades
that were catastrophic for mankind. In each video, there are different people
with different perspectives of the environment. The old man keeps questioning,
"Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?" I believe
that we knew we had a fair chance of recovery. But we enjoyed the
wine parties with beautiful women on the deck and consciously ignored the
icebergs in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Now, we are aboard the sinking Titanicwith
nowhere to escape.
Accordingly, Americans consume
more than 50 times than Africans per year. Obviously, people enjoy
polluting the environment. Of course, the Third-World is not happy with
this since companies like Shell are destroying them. But there’s more. These
companies lobby to Third-World government officials and acquire the right to
destroy the environment. For instance, Shell busted natives out of their
homelands in Nigeria. Ironically, these people admirethe invaders. “I
will live like an American. Their life is gorgeous," says Layefa Malemi,
who lost her loved ones because of Shell. Although she abhors private firms,
she wants to enjoy herself with that bloody money. Using an ethos appeal, the film shows the
dirty want: “process, process, process”. But as Pier Guy says, did it make us
happier? Whereas it did provide convenience, the results are truly disastrous.
(A passenger aboard the
Titanic) Worldwide oil company Shell was selected as the 'Worst Company' in
the 'Public Eye Awards' last January.
Shell is planning to move on
to the Arctic, trying to get its hands on more oil. As seen in 'The Age of
Stupid', Shell caused many problems on environment and natives. Again, it is
threatening the ecosystem of the Arctic and the lives of four million people. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/business/energy-environment/arctic-drilling-by-shell-expected-to-begin-this-year.html?_r=0
Then are we doing anything to
stop this madness? Or are we merely a spectator who “ignorantly
watches the tsunami coming through a binocular”? The film uses pathos at
this point. Fernand Pareau, a tour guide at the Mont Blanc, struck me really
hard. “I just don’t know what to do.” We acknowledge that we can change the
world, but only with unbearable pain. Undoubtedly, the world is highly
dependant on resources. For instance, all products in Korea increased by nearly
15% (Bank of Korea) when oil supply decreased by 6,500,000 barrels (Oil Shock,
1980). Obviously, people will not undergo change.
Interestingly, surveys show
that people do recognize the seriousness of climate change. Check out : http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/poll-reveals-more-americans-believe-in-climate-change Then are they contradicting
themselves? Actually, most people choose not to care about
overwhelmingly big issues to feel comfortable, and this is natural (according
to KMLA psychology teacher, Mrs. Yeoram Kim). Then should we simply live with
it? "No," says Franny Armstrong. Although the archivist's opinion is
not directly stated, it can be inferred from the overall atmosphere. I
interpreted it as "people should get into action before it is too
late".
We are stupid.
We must become smarter.
Perhaps it is the same kind
that could have saved the Titanic, too. Check this out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/quora/how-could-the-sinking-of_b_1510275.html I believe that the fourth one
definitely makes sense with this film. We should respond to the signs that
explicitly tell us to slam on the brakes. For instance, let me answer one
question that appears in the film. Why are renewable energies abandoned? It's a
matter of money. Firms and governments regard it as uneconomical.
Similarly, Captain Smith drove the Titanic at its full speed despite of
icebergs because many passengers demanded him to arrive at New York as
scheduled. In fact, this was no problem back then since big ships like the Titanic
were expected to withstand such damages. But it could not. Neither could
the Mont Blanc. Neither can Mother Nature, if we keep contaminating the
environment with that expectation.
-The All-Mighty Falls-
In response to this, a normal
earthling would say, "So I have to ride a bicycle instead of my yellow
Chevy? No!" I'm not saying that we should suddenly ride bicycles. It is
about the way people think and behave. Can things be what they once used to be
with firms like 'GoAir' aboard the ship? Never. We must become smarter
if we don't want to sink into the deep, cold, dark Atlantic Ocean.
Symbol of American consumerism
"I want my yellow Chevy
back!"
: "Earthling, Earthling,
KIA" - 2055
KIA : Killed in Action
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