Dear all
I thought the film was well made and interesting. However, I doubt it will tell anyone on this list anything they do not already know. I also thought the analysis was weak in that it was not grounded in any particular theory nor did it offer any strong counter-narrative. It was a familiar doom and gloom environmentalist saga which drew on storylines that have been doing the rounds for 30 years or more. I enjoyed the focus on debt and banking but I felt it needed a strong Marxist viewpoint as an alternative perspective. Instead it was left to some mythical hope of us all collectively changing our ways as the answer.
Ruling neo-liberal elites have spent much money, developed sophisticated propaganda techniques and killed many millions of people to remove the spectre of socialism from the political stage. Some form of socialist consciousness must surely be where the answer lies, given the fear that ruling neo-liberal elites have of those ideas. Films such as this, which do not frame the story in a way that offers a political alternative, seem quite dangerous to me.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for the Crisis Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Herrmann
Sent: 07 June 2012 02:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Surviving Progress
Dear All,
This is surely essential viewing to anyone engaged in this discussion group?
(as it raises the most fundamental questions...)
Regards,
michael
michael herrmann
Tel: 0771 427 0069
p.s. i am sorry that i have not been more involved in the essential debates of this group, but am very grateful for your thoughts and words.
p.p.s. I am only just in the progress of watching it again - and, in case you missed it on TV, i'd say that it's vital & fascinating, insightful viewing... Even if you only watch the first few minutes - featuring the fundamental difference between us and chimps (we ask WHY?) - and then asking HOW COME WE ARE DOING WHAT WE"RE DOING TO OUR OWN SPECIES?
Clearly it's about the 'double edged sword' of technology...
It's 80 minutes long, and only available til this Friday, 7am.
Surviving Progress
Documentary telling the double-edged story of the grave risks we pose to our own survival in the name of progress. With rich imagery the film connects financial collapse, growing inequality and global oligarchy with the sustainability of mankind itself. The film explores how we are repeatedly destroyed by 'progress traps' - alluring technologies which serve immediate need but rob us of our long term future. Featuring contributions from those at the forefront of evolutionary thinking such as Stephen Hawking and economic historian Michael Hudson. With Martin Scorsese as executive producer, the film leaves us with a challenge - to prove that civilisation and survival is not the biggest progress trap of them all.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jrlsf/Surviving_Progress/
===========================================
On 5 Jun 2012, at 22:41, Marianne McKiggan wrote:
Hi Folks
This on BBC player, only seen first 30 mins but worth a watch I think.
Surviving Progress
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jrlsf/Surviving_Progress/
Documentary telling the double-edged story of the grave risks we pose to our own survival in the name of progress. With rich imagery the film connects financial collapse, growing inequality and global oligarchy with the sustainability of mankind itself. The film explores how we are repeatedly destroyed by 'progress traps' - alluring technologies which serve immediate need but rob us of our long term future. Featuring contributions from those at the forefront of evolutionary thinking such as Stephen Hawking and economic historian Michael Hudson. With Martin Scorsese as executive producer, the film leaves us with a challenge - to prove that civilisation and survival is not the biggest progress trap of them all.
|