Wasteland Blog

There are many cases where one never realizes the art that can come out of the smallest of things, for instance, trash. We overlook trash as garbage, and because it’s dumped away for us in trash mills, we don’t realize the amount of materials that can be recycled piling away in a mountain of trash. As humans all over the world, we have forgotten about those that take care of our so-called “garbage” for us, and everyday they pay the consequences for our misuse of disposing materials. The documentary film called “Waste Land” by Vik Muniz, displays such great significance as you watch the film, because throughout the film, you realize the whole city of Rio de Janeiro, is one huge land covered in trash. Garbage and recycling come into metaphors throughout the film by displaying the disregard people have for what they are doing to their environment, the harm they are doing to their own home and if they were to just recycle they could earn money, or even prevent their future grandchildren from having to live in a filthy home, prone to illnesses. I believe the director’s main concept, is that we as people need to be happy with the life we have and be grateful to what was given to us than rather be upset with all things were missing, because other people in the world have such worse hardships. Throughout the documentary, the main characters are displayed to us starting with Muniz himself, who grew up in Brazil in a poor home, he struggled against all, those including his father, that told him he was not capable of becoming a famous artist, and he achieved what he set his mind to. Then the film moves onto Tiao, the leader of ACAMJG, he begun an association for recycling materials, and with the difficulties in finding whether this entire struggle has been worth it. Another main character is Irma, an elderly lady who has been working at Gramacho for 30 years, but made it her mission to keep all trash workers from ever going hungry, and to keep meals coming to all the hard working people of Gramacho. All the main characters in the film are introduced by their hardships, and the struggles they endorsed throughout their life, and with this Muniz found their style beautiful and the way they carry themselves inspiring. The main elements of the mise-en-scene that strike me overall include the far shots of the pieces of art, and how beautiful of an artwork they created but when the shots are up close, you see the ugly pieces of the art such as how its recycled materials that people misused of. As well as the acts were definitely striking because of their bravery for everything they’ve been handed in their life, and to earn such an honest living despite and being proud of them selves. One quote that will always be engraved into my skull after watching this film is “99 is not 100” because that one can will make a difference. One artist that is emphasized in the film is Jean Michelle Basquiat, who slept on the streets and lived a hard life just as Muniz, and had an unusual perspective for art. The film comments on contemporary art as being meaningless, and it lacks the communication of a story that it should be telling. Looking at the film with Muniz’s perspective, I look at it as a beautiful film, and being able to learn about the lives of those who have hard much harder experiences and their overall outcome is just inspiring. Its better to have nothing and want everything than to have everything and want nothing, because at least when you want something, your life has meaning, which is one moral dilemma throughout the film. One resolution to this is to continue searching ways to add meaning to your life, in ways you can help others, because if it could have been yourself in their position if one thing had gone differently in your life, putting yourself in their shoes will help your perspective on this. The film defines art by showing the beauty these people have and the way their lives changed throughout the film, and the amount of good they have done for their land, and for others, from taking such garbage and turning it into art and being grateful for the opportunity they were given.

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