The Age of Stupid
I went to a preview of The Age of Stupid last week, a documentary with a fictional wrap, with Pete P
Postlethwaite takes us through his collected evidence of people watching the drift towards societal collapse. Filmed over three years, these include an oil man who survives Hurricane Katrina, and has to reassess his values, and a mountaineer from the Alps who has watched the ice go and the traffic arrive over the last forty years.
More disturbing is a young Nigerian woman who has experienced Shell’s devastating interference in the Delta, and a UK onshore wind project manager who sees Nimbys stop his small scale projects.
Bringing climate change back to the level of ordinary people, it stands in contrast to the high science and diplomatic gesture politics that one detects in the relatively worthy but dull Inconvenient Truth.
I’m hoping to get the film screened at Green Party Conference this Autumn. I know a number of local parties did showings of Al Gore’s film. This is a much better film, in my view, a real solid reminder to us all why we’re in Green movement.
I’m sure part of the reason it’s better is because its production and funding are grassroots, bottom up, from people like you and me (Check out their site – they still need some funds). That means as a project it has tried to keep that people-focus, and demonstrate solutions as well as problems (including changing lifestyles, protesting and generally doing something about it).
That was completely absent from Gore’s film, which left you with the impression that if only Gore had been elected President, then he’d have saved the world. Which in the end is not only wrong, it’s the wrong message entirely.
Much as Gore needed to tell world leaders to do something, we need to empower ourselves. Gore had the opportunity to say that to us and neglected it, where this film makes you want to get out and do something. Go and see it, when you can.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hi Jim,
I am a member of the the Norwich Transition core group, and we are interested in this…..
however, what is your view on:
How does the film make you want to get out and do something?
Is there a link made between external reality and behaviour change?
How negative or positive is it about the future?
What sort of energy does it leave you with at the end?
Cheers
Chris
June 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Yes, it does make you want to do something, by showing other people making their own changes, either in their views or their own struggles, and involving you in that. This is also how the film demonstrates the link between the external reality of climate change and behaviour change. It offers the possibility of an extreme threat, but it shows we have a clear choice, now, which is ultimately positive. I certainly felt very uplifted by the notion that other people would see this film and feel the same way: that they had to do something. That’s the sort of feeling you are left with.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Hi
I just wanted to know where you can see the film THE AGE OF STUPID.
Could i get it on a DVD?
Thanks
June 26th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
It’s not available yet at all, as they are trying to get it out on general release, but they will be looking to get screenings in the autumn by interested green groups. Hopefully there will be a screening at Autumn Conference.
August 4th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
[...] Sue Luxton has just confirmed that the Age of Stupid will be showing at Conference on Saturday night. Space is limited to 50 seats, it seems, which is a shame. Review here. [...]
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Hi
Who did you get in touch with to show the film. We would like to show it BTCV Scotland’s staff conference in November?
Thanks
March 11th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Excellent article thanks! I have my ticket to the Premiere - but we still need to pack out the cinemas so invite you colleagues, friends and family, and MP and everyone! http://www.ageofstupid.net/Premiere.
I hope the film gets out to the wider public - I still get so annoyed that the media mentions that sea levels are rising or glazier melt is accelerating as a brief hedline, then spend an hour talking about wheel clamps!!!
WE AS INDIVIDUALS NEED TO PUT TJHIS FIRMLY AT THE TOP OF THE AGEND OF OUR POLITICIANS, BUSINESSES WE BUY FROM OR WORK FRO, AND WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.