HeilmannCraigAnnotation6

Craig Heilmann, Film Annotations

1. Title, director, and release year? // Blind Spot //, Adolfo Doring (2008) 2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film? This film points out our obsession and incredible link to fossil fuels. It is a part of every aspect of our life and with peak oil coming in the near future this fact creates a major reason for concern. We as a society refuse to believe that we are running out of oil, but the numbers do not lie. This movie is all about our ties to these resources that are diminishing at an astounding rate. 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out? The sustainability problem drawn out in this film stems from a cultural and behavioral standpoint. We are “blindly” using these resources at an incredible rate. Not only are we polluting the environment with the burning of these fossil fuels, which is creating an environmental issue, but we are also depleting the little resources we have, thinking that they will last forever. This is also a technological problem because the film points out the need for new technologies before we completely wipe out our reserve of resources we are using today. 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? The old Shell commercial showed just how dependant we are on petroleum based products. It paints a perfect picture of how difficult it will really be to adapt once oil is actually gone. I also found the quote “In America we aren’t citizens. We are consumers,” very telling of how we are perceived, not only by corporations, but also by other countries. 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? It is easy for a film like this to focus on the negatives of what it is trying to portray, but it always help the viewer when the director brings you back up with ways you can help the cause. I feel like the film really could have benefited from this. 6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.? The film talk a lot about other solutions to replace petroleum as our leading energy source, but also would then point out why it wouldn’t be a viable system. I would like to know, as I’m sure everyone would, what a truly feasible energy would be. How will we cut our dependence with oil? 7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems? This is definitely a wakeup call to the energy blind. It points out that there is definitely a crisis at hand and we must act before it is too late. 8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film? The film definitely suggests, or demands rather, that we change our ways and begs us to slow down our consumption of fossil fuels. We must start small to fix the big problem. 9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? I think the film would have benefited from more positive point on how to fix the problem. No one likes to get kicked in the teeth with their hands tied behind their back. If the director told us all of the bad and then finished with some solutions the message definitely would have stuck, making it a much more successful film.