In the mid 1980's I was introduced to a journey of site and sound that completely transcended my understanding of modern society and it's relationship to the planet we live on.
The thing that resonated the most in this film was the Hopi word "Koyaanisqatsi" or "life out of balance".
This lack of balance resonates heavily throughout the production, gently instilling on the viewer that there is a massive underlying problem with the way we perceive our place in the scheme of things on this tiny blue globe.
It is only near the end of the production that the actual
meaning of this word is suggested to the viewer, and the possibility of prophecy comes to life. To understand more about the Hopi Prophecy connected to this timeline, we must dig deeper and consider the potential ramifications of this information...
Here's a quick 2 minute preview:
The full version is available for viewing online, but with limited quality:
Over 20 years later I find myself faced with another documentary film that I can't ignore:
This documentary explores the wonderful world of industrialization and our total addiction to fossil fuels.
If you thought that my first selection was harsh, this little beauty will completely jam your eyes open and make you rethink everything that we perceive as perfectly normal in our wonderful industrialized world.
I don't think that anyone truly understands exactly how dangerous our continuing endeavor to suck every little drop of petroleum from the ground is becoming... and unfortunately it may be too late to prevent severe political, social, and economic repercussions from occurring on a world wide level.
It appears that retaining control of a shrinking resource base at all costs may actually cost us almost everything that we weren't willing to give up in the first place.
That's both very ironic and terrifying.
Here's a preview:
The full version is available for viewing online, but with limited quality:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-665674869982904386&ei=jk5_SZ7pM6GG_AGU6JWVCw&q=a+crude+awakening
Both of these films are wonderfully put together documentaries and very well laid out. Neither film is action-packed, but the information being conveyed is potentially difficult to digest. Koyaanisqatsi may be the most visual of the two, but the repetitive nature of the medium is almost trance-like.
I would highly suggest to anyone that reads this to take the time and view both films, even if it must be done a few minutes at a time, alternating from one to the other... and even consider purchasing them on DVD format for better sound and video quality.
I think the experience would be very awakening indeed...
reference websites:
Koyaanisqatsi*:
A Crude Awakening*:
http://www.docurama.com/productdetail.html?productid=NV-NVG-9920&gclid=CL7VwcitppgCFQXGsgod5VZgmg*Note: also available online from Amazon
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