January 2007 Archives

Making the unseen seen, that was what Zana Brinski did in the film Born into Brothels. Zana Brinski is a photographer. She went to the red light district in Calcutta, India to photograph how life really is there. In the end, she got more than she bargained for as she grew attached and involved with some of the children of the brothels. She actually taught some of the kids photography and provided them with cameras so that they could show others the things in their lives. This was a unique dynamic for the film since it allowed others to view the world that the kids had access to, it showed a truer world. Film makers came in to documents the changes that Brinski was bring about with the kids because her work didn't end with the photography. She worked really hard to get the kids into school (very hard considering that very few schools would take in kids who lived in brothels). The kids' photos have been displayed in exhibitions in New York and other places to help raise money for the kids to get them out of the situation that they are in. The documentary showed things that the cameras couldn't capture, such as the abuse (both verbal and physical) that went on the kid's daily lives. Most of the children had some kind of work to do within the brothels to earn a little money, fortunately none of the girls had to work "the line", but that's where their future is pointing. The children were able to express their own personal fears and worries to the camera. None of them wanted to be there, they all knew that the future was very bleak and desperate if they did not get out, some had touching concerns for others. In the end, Brinski did more than take pictures, she became active in these kids lives, and remains active to this day. Some of the children managed to get to school and out of the "home" environment.

The movie was all about the power of making the unseen and unnoticed seen. That is the power of photographs that we had been learning the past few days from Professor Vermeland. Photographs are supposed to show truth, how things are really happening at that moment. When people see what is going on, they generally act on it. The problem is to get them to see it (which is where photographs play a huge role). Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine's work had much of the same affect. The photographs showed problems and people acted, either changing things for the better, or just wiping away the problem (not the best solution).

Throughout both the films that we have watched in honors, I just keep thinking about how the problems have taken so long to be noticed. It gets aggravating to think about how many of the problems in the world go unnoticed by the majority, or by those who feel like they would have too much to lose in taking notice. How blind the world is to suffering and injustice. How much different would the world be if blind eyes weren't turned from the truth of reality. Unfortunately, the authority that things like photographs and films have are being put more and more into question because of the abilities to manipulate things digitally. How will the truth be seen if people question the evidence in front of them all the time? Questions just bring more questions, no answers, and the blind lead the blind. I wonder what will happen when a person can no longer trust any of their senses...

Silent Killer the Unfinished Campaign Against Hunger is a documentary that pushes the pangs of chronic hunger into the open. Hunger the major cause of death (millions dying each day) and disease in the world. It often gets swept under other things and overlooked. The movie described actions that were being taken to end hunger in areas that have great need. It showed examples of programs in Africa that are working to produce more food (Genetically altering vegetables/plants to make them drought resistant, virus resistant and bug resistant farmers new farming methods) but the problem continues and has been hampered by patents of techniques and tools needed to make better crops and the world market. If people in developing countries don’t eat enough to develop themselves, than the country will have a hard time to grow as well. Unfortunately it is a cycle that must be broken in order for any progress to be made (the poor don’t eat, so they can’t develop, work or produce thus they and their children remain poor. The film did move on to show that there are programs that work. Brazil has a program to end hunger within its borders, which involves free meals at schools and daycares for children, having farmers sell their own produce at controlled prices, serving subsidized lunches and nutrition education. This program seems to be working and it is rather inexpensive, so that the movie ends with hope. There is a way finish the campaign against hunger; we all just need to work for it.

Despite not having done much in class yet, there are several connections the film had with things we’ve already worked with. For instance, I see a sort of triangle between the movie, the psalms we read and Wallis’s God’s Politics. To begin, the movie showed the need. It very clearly showed the need for people to be able to eat nutritiously. There were several passages found within the Psalm readings that clearly stated that God would take care of the needy, “The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.” Examples of God taking care of the hungry were shown in God’s Politics, since it was Mary Glover, doing the will of God in feeding the poor. So, there’s the need, the promise of care and help, than the help coming from Christ (since He set the example) through the work of His followers (those trying to be Christ-like). The movie also tied into the discussion we had Tues. about the power of images and how they were used to make an impact.

I want people to begin to think about the big picture. When it comes to problems like hunger, I think that more needs to be done locally instead of generously handing out food. Local action is more permanent and beneficial because people are learning about how to make their lives better; this knowledge can be applied and worked on throughout their lives. There is also a solid sense of work ethic and pride in what they accomplish, and when they actually grow things for themselves they create for themselves a foundation to work from. It is important to realize that there is no easy fix for this problem and that people are going to have to work hard if they want to see anything get done.