The Commons

[marmar]

In a just world, the idea of wealth--be it money derived from the work of human hands, the resources and natural splendor of the planet itself--and the knowledge handed down through generations belongs to all of us. But in our decidedly unjust and imperfect world, our collective wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. There is be a better way--the notion of the commons--common land, resources, knowledge--is a common-sense way to share our natural, cultural, intellectual riches.

In this innovative animation, filmmaker Laura Hanna, writer Gavin Browning and video artists/animators Dana Schechter and Molly Schwartz examine the concept of "The Commons" as a means to achieve a society of justice and equality.

[Moonwalk]

1. It's very cleverly and beautifully made...however....

(1) The words distract from the animation, which is a pity. There is a lot of reading required, and the reader has to read fast, and so misses the beautiful animation. That's an aesthetic critique.

(2) I'm afraid it's preaching to an elitist choir. And that's not who we need to inform. The minds that need to be changed are those who are poor, but dreaming of winning the lottery and becoming millionaires. The ones sure that their ship will come in and they'll finally be able to join the 1%. These people resent anyone who they think is going to take away not only what they have now, but their chance at being that rich, future self. This is one of the roots of greed. "I don't care, so long as I get mine." So long as the market driven world can, in simple, powerful terms convince these people to think this way, little animated beauties like this one don't stand a chance. Such people won't be awed by the animation or moved by what they read. They'll be intimidated by all the words, and even more intimidated when faced with all those quotes and, yes, the animation too. They'll either be bored with it, or feel stupid, and that will just make them angry and eager to reject it's message.

So, while I find this innovative and wonderful...I have to remark that, ironically, it's not "common" enough to get across the idea of the commons to those who would value most from it--and need most to hear it. There is no defeating those who are holding us hostage so long as most of us have stockholm's syndrome.