Academical film review : "the age of stupids" by Jeremy

Doomsday clock

 In 2055, the old archivist of a big archive which stores all of books, work of art, documents reviewed the situation of 2008 to find the reason of the end. The environment of 2055 is totally destroyed as a result of Global warming. Then, through the video, we can watch 'stupids' who don't care about environments and various people. By watching the videos, the old man asks a question 'Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?'

example of animal related
environmental campaign

The movie is quite excellent. At least, the movie succeed to deliver its message well. It does so efficiently that New York Times assess it 'a much sterner and more alarming polemic than An Inconvenient Truth,' Then, there are a few devices which make the movie more persuasive and interesting. The most important persuasive factor of the movie is a human. Negative interaction between humans and environments is an obvious fact and it is very crucial. But a lot of campaigns just deals with animals and plants. 

example of human related
environmental campaign

 They just show a picture of a polar bear or a dying panda. This method is effective only for two minutes and people forget it because those animals are pitiful but not related to them. However, this movie is different. This movie is absolutely about humans. It directly shows how climate change and environmental pollution affect humans and how humans affect them. Detailed description of relationship between humans and nature makes people realize pollution and global warming is directly related with them. In addition, this movie shows human's activity which has a negative impact on not only environments but also humans. The movie described blind eagerness of resources totally destroyed the life of other people, well. It leads sympathy, anger, sense of alert from people. It uses pathos successfully.

 Also, Mark Lynas, the British environmental activist, warns of a tipping point around 2015 if the world doesn’t immediately reduce carbon emissions. Once global temperatures warm more than two degrees, he says, all will be lost. Because he is a famous environmental activist and gives organized grounds, his argument seems persuasive. By showing Mark's authority, the movie uses a method of Ethos. Moreover, Mark gives the specific time, 2015. If someone says global warming will cause catastrophe after around 100years, people would not take it seriously. However, 2015 is much more closer time and specific. It's like an imminent deadline of assignment. It has awakened viewers.

 Furthermore, double time structure makes the movie more effective. In the movie, setting of time comprises 2008 and 2055 and main one is 2055. The old archivist reviews the humanity in 2008 and it makes viewers feel like living in the world of 2055. Therefore, viewers do self-reflection and regret their acts in the world of 2008 from the point of view of people who live in 2055. Then, they can observe their present act with an objective perspective. In contrast, viewers do live in around 2008. They can see the future from 2008's situation. It means they can see the result of their current act. So, viewers feel sense of alert. The important thing is the viewers feel these feeling simultaneously and the movie can send its message to viewers much more effectively.

 To put together, the movie succeeded to sending their message to people effectively. However, some people think 'we don't have solution, we can't avoid catastrophical future' This is because they think the movie doesn't give a solution for the environment problem. Actually, the movie doesn't give a clear answer directly. However, we can see hope and answer from the movie. The movie doesn't show just stupids, they also show people who are not stupids. Even though their claims are usually not accepted by stupids, the Earth still has hope just by the fact they exist. The more important thing is the fact that someone escapes from the state of stupid like Piers Guy who is a windfarm developer. Even though many people are against with his activity, but it is still meaningful that someone tries to protect environment. Fortunately, to see the recent environment friendly trend, the number of people like Piers Guy is increasing. Also, by this movie's message, some people would change their mind. To see this change and hope, hopeless prophecy need to be modified.

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