What is this Project, Anyway?

What is this Project, Anyway?

I'm very glad you decided to ask that question. This project, first and foremost, is to think about the Anthropocene in a way that is relatable to the Average Joe. Not everyone has the time or the desire to capture what the Anthropocene is all about, after all. But I'm getting ahead of myself, so let's break this down one thing at a time:

This project is all about media, specifically movies and television. These mediums are how people today ingest stories, and how we as a culture present larger ideas than we may be used to. It's how ideas and stories reach the masses.

There's a wealth of films and shows out there that deal with messages pertaining to the Anthropocene, with messages about global warming, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and more.

Our relationship with the planet and with technology is an interesting one. We're eager to advance technology, but simultaneously uneasy about how powerful we've become. It's not a thought that gets put into so many words in daily conversation, but I figured that it might be present in the media we consume. These conversations about our technology and our power as humans abound in the media.

At first glance, there's a large amount of discomfort with technology and the global impact of humans in the stories we tell. I suppose this shouldn't be surprising, since narrative structure demands that there be some sort of conflict, and technology usually fills that role. However, the fact that we don't often strive to make stories about the benefits of technology and our power as a species is interesting to me. Do we not want to hear about it? Why can't we make a compelling story where technology saves the day? Those questions may not be answered by this project, but I at least hope to gain some insight.

So pick a movie or an episode, and feel free to read my thoughts! It goes without warning that this blog will be littered with spoilers, so don't say that I didn't warn you!