chambersendofsuburbia

//The End of Suburbia (2004)// Director: Gregory Greene
 * 1. Title, director and release year?**

Americans have been flocking toward suburbia ever since the end of WWII; however, this way of living cannot be sustained for much longer because it relies on an unlimited supply of cheap oil. We must start changing our infrastructure and adapt to a more local way of living as a result eventually running out of oil. More than half of the population lives in suburbia and the suburban way of life has become embedded in the "American Dream".
 * 2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**

The American Dream is a false promise. There is this illusion that living in the suburbs is like living in the country, yet these housing developments strip the land of its agricultural and arboreal potential. Many subdivisions are ironically named after the places they destroy. There is essentially no connection with living things in the suburbs, just an industrially produced lawn and none of the amenities of country life or a town.

Suburbia's landscape is extremely energy-intensive and dependent on cheap oil. America took its post-war wealth and invested in this unsustainable way of life. Many politicians are involved in securing our energy reserves, and this challenge is' fueling' an endless war over oil (pun intended). Nearly 60% of global oil lies in the Persian Gulf. Therefore, we will do anything to get to it in order to sustain our over-consumptive lifestyles.

The idea of suburbia is now coming to the end of its life in America as the global oil crisis endangers its future. For those who already live there, it might be too little too late to invest in this kind of infrastructure and housing. We are now entering a period that we will have less money to invest in our future. So, what will happen to the suburban landscapes in the 21st century? Some believe we will adapt, but others propose the opposite.

Suburbia is conducive to dependence on the automobile. It expects cheap, plentiful, fossil fuels, to sustain it. Urban sprawl has created continuous bands of suburban development along interstate highways. In these areas, the density population is relatively low, so it is uneconomical to build mass transit. Therefore, the only viable transportation method are cars.The idea of suburbia is not concerned with any issues it may encounter in the future, such as peak oil. Peak oil is here now.
 * 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**

Oil supplies are in decline, and oil isn't as easily extracted as it used to be. Natural gas reserves are being tapped at unprecedented rates. The increase in oil prices will have a catastrophic affect on American society, as demand increases. Our economic growth is based on hydrocarbon energy and electricity. So, the main question is, what will happen when we run out? We are facing a huge economic and social catastrophe in our near future. It is not a question of if, but when.

We will be forced to downsize everything we currently do once oil reserved collapse. Food prices will skyrocket, as the industrial agriculture system is dependent upon petroleum-derived weed killers and pesticdes. In replace of this, farming will have to be done with more human labor (maybe this will force people to appreciate where their food comes from). Also, what will happen when we are no longer able to import goods from China? This will require a much smaller-scale economic system. The film mentions that walmart has destroyed local and regional networks of economic interdependency. So, once this is gone, we will have to rebuild retail on the local level. We would also need better railroad transport because the trucking system will become decreasingly functional. Our consumption of everyday resources is something that is taken for granted.

I am in very much agreement with the film's argument that media coverage is not informing the public about the most problematic issue we are facing. Americans are also being distracted from the truth from preoccupations like shopping, video games, entertainment, professional sports, etc. There is this obsession with fantasy in our culture that allows real problems to be hidden from public eye.
 * 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**

This film also was very dark, similar to //Crude Awakening//. People have gone into a kind of trance in American society about the most important underlying issue that will have the largest social consequences if nothing is done. We don't have very much time left to adapt. There will be a scramble to get out of suburbia. This leaves behind the question of what is going to happen to this land? What will our political system look like? Will this ensue the next World War? It leaves the viewer with feelings of anxiety, yet being aware of this is the only way to promote change.
 * 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why?**

This film could possibly target those who are interested in moving out or into suburbia and would like to be further educated on their decisions. It is also a great film to show for for general awareness purposes.
 * 6. What audiences does the film best address? Why?**

This film didn't mention much about suburbia's impact climate change via overconsumption of fossil fuels. The average commute to work (and school, etc) and the density of people that make that commute really adds up. Traffic jams and decreased walk-ability to places are the underlying infrastructure problems that make suburbia dependent on the automobile. This, in turn, makes suburban living a huge carbon source.
 * 7. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?**

The film suggests that people need to be shocked into awareness because we need to prepare for this problem that awaits us in the near future. People are delusional about alternative energies coming to our rescue. The truth is is that we don't have the resources and technology to maintain the lifestyles that we have on cheap oil. For example, hydrogen fuel cells aren't all what they're talked up to be. It takes more energy to produce hydrogen than to gain energy from it. Therefore, it will still require a high amount of energy derived from fossil fuels to create fuel cells.
 * 8. 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.**

However ,on a positive note, people are starting to demand more walkable and diverse neighborhoods. The new urbanism movement is also working on solutions to America's infrastructure problems. Suburbia may become the slums of the future. The film also talks about using strip malls and sprawl for transit by train.


 * 9. What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out? (Provide at least two supporting references.)**

The film briefly mentions how GM and firestone and standard oil were convicted of taking down the rail system and replacing them with GM buses for corporate profit gain. This is the root of how inefficient our public transportation system came to be, with superhighways cutting through every major city in America. Trolleys used to run on most major avenues and steel track and quiet electric motors were clean and smooth. There wasn't much room for automobiles on these roads until 1922, when Alfred P. Sloan (President of GM) lobbied to eliminate rail alternatives to create a greater market for cars. If they didn't do this, they wouldn't have been able to be as "successful" a corporation. Sloan replaced all the street railways with buses with the presumption that no one would want to ride the buses. This would force people to buy GM vehicles. Their advertisements for GM automobiles showed that cars were "in" and streetcars were "out".

Source: []

I was also intrigued by the New Urbanism movement, a solution for the oil crisis and adapting to the 21st century. So, what is New Urbanism? It is a movement that tries to promote traditional (and sustainable) town planning with walkable main street shopping districts, downtown parks, and grid streets. Basic goods and services are available within a five-minute walk. Garages are hidden in alleys and parallel parking replaces the parking lot. "Suburbs" are placed in one area, schools in another, and shopping in a third. Apartments are built over street level stores and family homes are modest duplexes or townhouses. The New Urbanism movement also emphasizes community interactions by keeping houses close. Neighbors share driveways and walkways. I personally believe this is a great start to decreasing our dependence on oil.

Source: []