AndersonFilmAnnotation1


 * Film Annotation #1**
 * Blind Spot**
 * Word Count: 760**

//The Blind Spot// directed by Aldofo Doring. This film about all of the environmental problems people do not usually think about was released in 2008.
 * 1.** **Title, Director, and Release Year?**

The central argument of the film is that if nothing is done about a myriad of environmental problems, then nature will take care of them for us and we probably will not like the way that nature takes care of these problems. For example, people can choose to try to limit population growth, or they can just not worry about it. If the population grows to beyond a sustainable level, then there will be natural and human-caused disasters that will wipe out a large percentage of the population.
 * 2.** **What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**

The argument is made by alternating scientists’ views on different environmental problems with footage from different places around the world. A lot of scientific information is provided to support the documentary’s argument. The film has emotional appeal as well, though; the music and stark contrast between footage made the film seem dramatic.
 * 3.** **How is the argument made and sustained? How much scientific information is provided, for example? Does the film have emotional appeal?**

Many different sustainability problems were drawn out in the film. Political and legal problems, such as the lobbying done by large corporations to get laws passed that favor them and the political agenda seen in science today were discussed. The film also showed how the economic system we have today (where growth is very important) is problematic for the environment. Technological problems, such as footage demonstrating our dependence on oil, were a central part of the film. Disinformation through media was also touched upon. Behavioral and cultural influences on the causes of sustainability problems, such as the ideal of the American Dream, were discussed in great detail as well.
 * 4.** **What sustainability problems does the film draw out? Political? Legal? Economic? Technological? Media and Informational? Organizational? Educational? Behavioral? Cultural? Ecological?**

I found the quote at the beginning-“…World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones” very inspiring. To me, it is a reminder that we are on the brink of pushing our planet beyond the point of no return. The ending, with the dead bird on an oil pipeline, was very poignant, too. It was so small compared to all the problems that had been discussed in the film, yet it made me feel bad for the poor little bird.
 * 5.** **What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**

The film was a bit too depressing. It listed a number of important issues, with scientific backing, but did not provide many solutions. I would have liked it much better if there had been more positive solutions and a “we can do it!” attitude. After watching it, I felt like the environmental problems were overwhelming and impossible to solve.
 * 6.** **What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why?**

The audience that the film best addresses is young and middle-aged adults who already know something about environmental problems but want to learn more. The film would be too serious and complicated for younger children and teenagers. People who were uneducated about environmental problems would probably also find the film too complex, confusing, and depressing.
 * 7.** **What audiences does the film best address? Why?**

The film could have shown some solutions and inspired people to take action instead of just listing everything that is wrong about Western culture. While this might not seem like something that would enhance the film’s environmental education value, the lack of positivity made me start to feel bored about watching it halfway through. I would imagine that someone who didn’t already know much about environmental issues would have felt extremely depressed and overwhelmed by then and perhaps would have stopped watching and not have gotten the benefit of the additional information in the second half of the film. These people might also feel like it is hopeless to try to do anything about environmental problems and just give up on educating themselves further.
 * 8.** **What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental education value?**

The film did not really suggest any actions or interventions that the viewers could do. Some of the solutions that were touched upon were changing the lobbying system, not letting money control scientific results, and cultural change. //How// exactly these could be accomplished by the ordinary viewer was not discussed that much. Actions that I can imagine being effective include being a well-informed voter (and actually voting), being active in politics instead of just letting corporations run everything, and trying to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
 * 9.** **What kinds of action and points of intervention are suggested by the film? If the film itself does not suggest corrective action, describe actions that you can imagine being effective.**

I’ve heard before about how, as fuel gets more expensive, food and other goods will get more expensive, too, since fuel is used to grow and transport food. I found this interesting [|article] online that describes issues with the food system, especially the amount of fossil fuels in food. The article states that 10 kilocalories of outside energy are needed to produce 1 kilocalorie of food. Another [|website] also discusses these problems, and promotes sustainable farming as a way to reduce fossil fuel use.
 * 10.** **What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out? (Provide at least two supporting references.)**

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