Welcome to the jungle!!! err... I guess I should say the wasteland. Recently, in my G+T class we saw the movie Wasteland. This was a documentary about Vik Muniz, famous artist, who traveled to Jardim Gramacho, Brazil to make artwork out of trash. There he met some of the people who pick out the recyclable materials from the landfill. Overall, this production and project has had a major impact in the pickers, Vic Muniz, and myself. I found this movie enlightening and motivational. I learned of some of the conditions people live through and how they survive through poverty. In the beginning of the film, I felt immense pity for these people. As the movie progressed, I got the chance to see the people up close. The pickers discussed their lives. I heard their stories, their tragedies. I saw their lives, their smiles. My feelings changed as we approached the end of the film. Instead of pity, I wanted to give these people my respect. The pickers live in extremely horrible conditions, yet they still live. One woman named Isis cried about her boyfriend breaking up with her. Don't get me wrong; she has every right to cry. However, she cried about a relationship, not her home, not the sanitary conditions, not poor education, not the drug traffic. She has become so used to the poverty; she has learned to live with it. Notice when I say live. These people are not broken; they still laugh and smile. They live through conditions I could only imagine, and they treat it as their everyday life. In order to cope with their daily struggles, I would have to be superhuman. The pickers are simply remarkable. Was this whole movie meant dedicated to making an impact in the viewers? Not quite. Vik still helped the pickers. He provided numerous oppurtunities for the pickers. Foremost, he got them famous from this movie and his paintings. This fame led to recognition of the Association of Collectors of the Metropolitan Landfill of Jardim Gramacho (ACMLJG). This was created by Tiao Santos, and now this association is global. Everyone else had oppurtunities, as well. One woman opened a drug store. Isis left Jardim Gramacho. Education became a priority in Jardim Gramacho in addition to sanitation.
Aside from the remarkable people mentioned in the movie, there was an underlying message about trash. The movie did get me thinking about the trash I produce. Before this movie, I would always be sure to put my recyclables in the recycling bin. Now, I think I may tackle anyone who decides to dispose of their trash improperly. O.K. Maybe not tackle, but violently wag my finger. This film made me realize that trash and waste MUST be a high priority.
Lastly, art has prevailed to make a difference in society. Vik Muniz's artistic style highlighted not only the lives of those in poverty but also those in higher classes. The pictures depict people in poverty. The pictures are made of trash. We carelessly produce the trash. I think the pictures represent how we are keeping them in poverty by producing so much trash. Not only does Vik target Jardim Gramacho, but he is targeting landfills everywhere. The story remains the same: higher classes produce trash which the lower classes in poverty must pick up. That is the beauty of art. Yes, art can have a message or meaning behind it! Thank you for reading this post, and I hope this enlightened you to the brave, strong people of Jardim Gramacho.
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