Manufactured Landscape

Both the film and Scranton’s writings share the same view of human behavior. Each work is attempting to stress the idea that humans are hurting the environment through industrialization, advancements in technology and manufacturing. If we do not change the way we live as a species, we will not last long on Earth. Earth itself will cease to live.

In the film, the metaphor of shipping vessels is discussed. The narrator says that oceans are a reason for globalization. The oceans allow humans to build ships and transport goods and materials, and allows industrialization to thrive. Consequently, industrialization is harming the climate and causing sea levels to rise. This is similar to how Scranton discusses what we are doing as humans is having an effect on the environment. He explains that unless we stop emitting greenhouse effects by burning fossil fuels (those used by ships) then humans will find themselves in a very high temperature and high sea level environment.

Scranton also explains that the Anthropocene poses the questions “what does it mean to be human?” and living a meaningful life. I believe that this is reflected in the film when looking at the factory workers in China. Are these people really human? Or are they more like machines? They are forced to be in the same positions for hours on end. They do the same task over and over. These workers must abide by strict rules and are forced to become more accurate and commit fewer errors. It seems as if they are programmed to do their job, just as a machine is. This is not what it means to be a human, and I would think that deep down, they do not feel like their life is meaningful.

Scranton discusses his time in Iraq. He explains that he recognized everyday that death is the future. He accepted it and felt that he was dead already. Scranton says that human action today seems like we believe that we will go on this way forever: burning fossil fuels, killing off other species, and pumping carbon into the air. These ideas are also depicted in the film through various forms of industrialization. Manufacturing cars, building ships, and deforestation to make infrastructure are all examples of this.