Response to Fast, Cheap...and Food, Inc.

Two very different views on life. But man, they were really heavy. I'm still not over Food, Inc. Cyan was right, it was truly devastating.
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control was a very playful and experimental prod at four people of fairly unrelated paths of life. It unfolds to us that they are very much connected through the overlap of b-roll and amazing music. By the last 20 minutes, I found each of these men very connected in the beauty and wonder they see in their own worlds. I loved how the editing let us breathe and think, connect for ourselves, and reflect on our own lives. I also really liked Errol's technique to bring back the eye contact with these people. I will definitely have to watch this again.

This morning I went of a small documentary binge on my Netflix instant play and watched Spirit of the Marathon and Food, Inc. Both caused deep emotional responses and I felt like this has been a very important day in the development of my life as an artist.

Spirit of the Marathon was a traditional style documentary that discussed the history of the marathon and also followed the experiences of a diverse group of marathon runners. Among them was a first timer single mom, a seasoned running couple, an Olympic bronze medalist, a marathon almost winner from Kenya, and a 70-some year old man.

On a small level I can relate to them while they train for the Chicago Marathon, having run 2 half-marathons myself. I know how emotionally involved runners get and how devastating it can be to get injured in an important race after months of training. Near the end as they show footage of all of these people on their journeys in Chicago I felt myself get caught up and actually did cry when they finished the race. It's this unexplainable emotional roller coaster during a 12.6 mile or 26 mile and 300 yard race. But anyway, I move on.

After that I decided to watch Food, Inc. I was hesitant and kind of scared to hear about yet another dimension of corruption in our world.

During the whole film I was heartbroken, disturbed. Absolutely devastated.

The majority of the topics they addressed not only effected every consumer in the country, but my own family's way of life.

Coming from almost carbon copies of the farming communities they shot, I was knocked over. I knew there was a lot of controversy in land, hogs, and seed. But My God, I have friends that have worked for Monsanto, I had no clue that was why most people call Monsanto; Monsatan. I just can't fucking believe it.

I'll get to the point. These were topics I had already started developing and discussing for my independent works later this semester. But after seeing this documentary I know this is my struggle, my personal cause as an artist, the unveiling of these injustices close to home is what I want to give all my energy to.

These documentaries have shown the humor and beauty of life, and the ugliness of what man will do to man. It's hard for me to grasp that they both exist.