kaywithdanes - Tumblr blog

[kaywithdanes]

#Cultured 

Museum Visits 

1.  National Gallery/Veletrzny Palac

2. Rudolfinum - Matt Collisaw: Standing Water

3. Leopold Museum

Culture Markers

1. The House of Black Madonna

2. Viennese Cafe House Culture

Local Delights

1. Evening Opera:  Verdi – La Traviata

2.  Symphonic Motown Concert at Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (My fave one!! Talking about a black experience in a predominantly white European city.!)

[kaywithdanes]

LST: Lectures, Talks, Q&A’s, OH MY!

Prague

Meeting Director Filip Remunda

This was the most rewarding lecture of the week. We had watched Filip’s documentary while in Denmark and we were able to inquire about his documentary style, point of view, and cultural significance his contributions entailed. 

The Avant Garde with Nick Hudac

This was also an informative lecture about the Avant-Garde in Czech history. Nick was a great lecturer and I enjoyed it very much, but we did feel like we already covered most of the information in class before the travel break.

Vienna

Choreographed Lectures with Mariella Greil

This was probably most confusing and experimental lecture I’ve attended. I don’t remember the content any more than I did directly after the lecture, but it was nice that everyone in the class (except for one) was as confused as I was. 

[kaywithdanes]

There’s Something Going On In the State of Denmark

I didn’t intend for this to become a new series of posts but I ran across this twitter moment today and I wanted to express an initial reaction about it and some reflection that relates to my study abroad experience.

I have received emails and messages from prospective students and prospective tourists about Denmark's social politics and I wanted to update the general public as I’ve returned home to the states.  

As of May 31st, 2018, the Danish parliament voted 75-30 in favor to impose a ban on certain types of facial coverings but essentially burqa and niqab veil coverings in public spaces. The notion of criminalizing religious expressive veil coverings was first proposed by the Danish People’s Party (DF) back in 2009. The DF is the equivalent of the extreme right in the United States. They preach of the sanctity of Danish culture and the elimination of all threats to the idealized version of Denmark. They are fierce opponents of racial integration, refugee resettlement, and taxes. 

While Denmark is not the first country and I’m afraid not the last country to ban the use of the niqab or burqa, it is worth noting that the passing of this legislation did not register as a surprise by any means. Throughout my stay this past semester, I witnessed a lot of racial transgressions and xenophobic sentiments that made me feel like I was walking on eggshells in several spaces. Not just in Denmark, but in Europe. As my final weeks came, the premiere of a musical/play form entitled, “White Nigger/Black Madonna”. My blood boiled and my skin crawled as I had to walk the streets of Copenhagen with posters around the city of a white woman donned in blackface. 

It took all my strength to bury my rage and focus on my experience. I never was able to see the premiere or the other installments (besides a music video and synopsis) of the series, but it’s telling that Danish reviewers have only glowing reviews about the art. Most Danish bloggers have condemned Afro-Danes for finding offense to the material. Even if I could experience it as a Dane I wouldn’t be able as I had to be fluent in Danish. While I can surmise that it boils down to the racial fetishization of black bodies, particularly African American, from white people. Also, the idea that militant blackness is the real threat to whiteness is a theme that has resonated with a lot of Danish bloggers. The use of “black devil” narrative as a scare tactic harkens strongly to the film “The Birth of A Nation” in 1915. 

I don’t know where Denmark got the idea that Danish values are under attack and Denmark needs to be protected. The reality is that living in Denmark for non-white Danes has become that more difficult. The only way to take steps to change the culture in Denmark involves the further integration of immigration. I wonder will Denmark soon see its own iteration of the American Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s to the 1960s. Will the DF retain its power in the political sphere? Why did 70+ legislators abstain from the vote? 

Sitting back home where the racial climates have become an accepted norm, it’s sad to see the same notions in America reflected in the country I called home. As I try to unpack my feelings about the conversation concerning the “othered” populations in Denmark, I do wonder if the up and coming generation will start the movement of change. As we have the teenaged Parkland activists for gun control reform, will we see the same iteration? What will be the catalyst?  From the final papers I’ve written for my courses talking to Danish high school and college students, I see that the tide may be shifting and that’s worth noting.

For more information about the new law and what Danes are expressing, here are some links:

Danish parliament passes ban on burqa and niqab

Police will not forcibly remove veils from women: Danish justice minister

'Because I have children and I don’t want to get into problems, I will remove my veil': Danish Muslim

[kaywithdanes]

Reviewing Copenhagen’s Movie Theaters

While abroad, I made sure to find the cinemas in the city that would fulfill my American movie consumption. I knew I would be studying a whole plethora of European films and I anticipated that I would want some variation so I set out to test out as many of the movie theaters I possibly could in Copenhagen. So, here is my little run down of the cinemas I visited and their secret charms.

Cinemaxx

This was the most Americanized cinema I visited and I saw Black Panther on the luxury recliners here. If you’re missing an American theater experience Cinemaxx is the way to go. There is a robust concession stand and the recliners were absolutely amazing. It’s also an extension of the mall there, so after your movie, you can always spend more money in the many shops. This theater is great for a block buster screening on an IMAX screen. 

Husets Biograf

I actually visited this twice - one for a field study for my Scandinavian Moods course and second for the culmination of the DIS Film club sessions - and I enjoyed it a lot. I love this space, like absolutely in love with it. The decor of the theatre is filled with character. Instead of the classical recliners, the seating is made of old armchairs some upholstered and car seats. The character of the space reflects the character of the films shown. They have a whole host of fun screenings like Grease Sing-a-longs, The Room hate-screenings, Rocky Horror Picture Drag screenings. The Husets Biograf is within a building, Huset KBH, where all Danes come together with their friends to play board games on the first floor, watch stand up comedians, and watch dance shows. I would highly recommend this theater for a slow weekend with a bunch of friends. There is no shortage of fun.

Grand Teatret

At the last session for the DIS Film club, I won a free ticket to this movie theater to a film of my choice. I chose The Post. Just a note on The Post, I’m surprised it really wasn’t as boring as I thought it would be, but that’s neither here nor there. I do want to say Grand Teatret is a very sophisticated cinema. Your choice at the concession stand is a pastry and coffee, wine, or a soft drink. It’s for a very high-class clientele to my mind. They, also, play more art house films here and most of them are foreign language films. If you want to try your hand at reading Danish of an up and coming classic this is the place for you. Although the seating did not recline, they were extremely comfortable though I would have loved more leg space. Located a few blocks away from DIS, this theater is great for a quick showing after classes. 

Bremen Theatre

During the CPH: DOX Festival, I watched the Generation Wealth documentary in this theatre. It’s a huge space, but you could fall into the trap of being stuck in the balcony seating and have poor sight lines. I liked the space with its classical almost auditorium feel, but I think its more suited for live events. 

Park Bio

Here I watched, The Quiet Place which I highly recommend. Just not at a non-English speaking catered cinema. The reason I say that is on account of the Danish subtitles served almost the whole entire first half of the film and I had to flex my limited Danish vocabulary and ASL knowledge to gather what was happening at those points. But on to the cinema itself, Park Bio is located out in Osterbrø, a posher but still down to earth neighborhood of Copenhagen. I think that sentiment is reflected in this theater. You walk into the space and you feel like your intruding on someone’s home. There are knickknacks along the shelving and walls. Mirrors are everywhere discombobulating you for a second. The posters for every film - currently showing and past - adorn the walls. Once you reached the top flour, there is restaurant seating where you can order traditional and nontraditional concession food. I believe there is only one actual theater screen and it screens the more recent films. As you leave the theater, don’t hesitate to buy a poster for the film you just saw or a film you’re interested in. It’s safe to say, I miss this theater.  

The Filmhouse & Cinematheque

The Filmhouse became my secret hideaway during breaks in the day and especially finals. In this building, there is the Danish Film Institute Library, a cafe, movie theaters, two restaurants, and a gift shop. The Filmhouse’s library gave a stunning view of Kungsparken, granted peace and quiet, and immersion as a local.  It’s located right next to Rosenborg Gardens and you guessed it next to Rosenborg Castle. (Also, close to the best burger place in Copenhagen, Gasoline Grill!) I watched a CPH Dox screening of América in this theater and I liked it a lot. The seats had less tension so you could recline to your preferred level and the many uses of the Filmhouse won me over. 

[kaywithdanes]

Throughout this semester, I acted as a DIS Videographer in addition to being a blogger. We worked on this video to capture everyone’s experience in the DIS Copenhagen program. This little group of four managed to do so much and I’m more than excited to share with you all the final product.

[kaywithdanes]

Blackness in Copenhagen Series: Black Panther & P.A.D. Panel - Is It Really That Good?

In honor of my heart being broken by Avengers: Infinity War film, here is my post about my Black Panther experience.

When I first heard that a Black Panther film was in development almost two years ago, I never foresee myself being in Copenhagen at the time of the release. Ever since the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’ve been an avid fan, but all that time I never did I ever think that Black Panther solo film would be possible. Now I can gladly eat my words now that Black Panther has surpassed everyone’s expectations. Currently, it is the highest grossing superhero of all time, the fourth highest film based on the US box office passing Jurassic World, and entered the top ten films of all time based on the global box office numbers passing Frozen.

I remember during one of the NBA final games one of the first trailers had been released for the film. When the Marvel logo crossed the screen, I shushed my whole family, fell out of my seat grabbing the remote, and cranked the volume way up high as I entered the world of Wakanda for the first time. It was really then that I realized that I’m alive during a cultural milestone for the African American/Black film canon. With that, I wanted to share my experience watching (subsequently analyzing) and interacting with other Afro-Danes about the film and what it means for Denmark largely.

Watching the Movie

A benefit of being abroad is that I get to experience those early international release dates. I was able to see the film a few days before any of my friends and family back home which was hard to hold on to spoilers and my feelings without for once sharing it with my immediate family back home. I saw the film at the Cinemaxx Theater which is huge and in it an experience of itself. It’s probably because I’m from one of the smallest states in the US, but I was overwhelmed by the concession stand and candy selection alone. My friend and I arrived early to the showing, so we ended up having a mini photo shoot with the Black Panther stand and that was surreal. Growing up, I don’t remember ever seeing people with the same color - let alone the same hue - have their own stand where they are in a position of power and elegance. I still have butterflies thinking about that. Actually watching the film was surreal, I enjoyed every last minute of it despite the chuckles from the ethnic Danes when the Wakandians exhibited aspects that were specifically African like chanting, etc. Other than that, I left the film fairly satisfied, to say the least. I will say that the cultural significance of the film outweighed some of the technical aspects of the film which I couldn’t help nitpick. The biggest hang-up I had dealt with cinematography and particularly lighting. Sorry Rachel Morrison, but the lighting left a lot to be desired. Sigh.

Anyway onto Digesting and Analysis -

A couple of weeks after its premiere and its subsequent success, a group, People of African Descent in Denmark, held a panel discussing the film and its cultural relevance in Denmark and beyond. I saw the facebook event online and I knew I had to go and tagged along with other DIS students. When I was digesting the film initially, I could only speak on the cinematic and story elements, but the Africaness of the film was foreign to me. I could only speak as an African American and I was really interested to hear from Afro-Danes who have a closer link to their national roots in Africa about their view of the incorporation of African elements and Afro-futurism. We talked about current events considering Africans’ treatment in Denmark in the view of the socio-political elements that the Marvel film overlooks.  

At the end of it all, I admire the filmmaking significance of the film and its resonance considering representation in media. The social resonance past the American context illuminated a whole host of issues for me to decipher as an African American budding filmmaker.

[kaywithdanes]

Tourist Tuesday! During my long study tour in Prague, I paid my respects at the Lennon Wall!

[kaywithdanes]

Long Study Tour Posts, Coming Soon!

2 weeks, the last half of the core courses embarked on their study tours to different parts of Europe. My core course, Art & Visual Culture, split our time in Prague and Vienna. In the coming weeks, I will regale you with the interesting and the less noteworthy aspects of our study. Stay tuned!

[kaywithdanes]

Tourist Tuesday! A couple weeks ago I traveled to Reykjavik and toured along the South Coast. This is a must for anyone flirting with anything Europe. This place is stunning and awe inspiring.

[kaywithdanes]

What I Wish I Had Known Before Cope....

So, fellow blogger @marshallahmallow asked me, what I wished I had known before I came to Copenhagen and I decided to share my response (with contributions from friends) in this post.

Just to preface this as well, there are some generalizations and observations made from Americans in Copenhagen, so that may differ from that of a European coming to Copenhagen or Denmark in general.

Food

This might be indicative of the food industry of USA vs. Europe, but you won’t find sugary cereals that you’re familiar with back home. Kelloggs, General Mills, etc. are present in Denmark, but you will see different variations of your childhood cereals. Look for Frosties as your Frosted Flakes comparison!

Grocery food items are smaller than the US (and many of us have thought this contributes to why the trend of meal prep is relatively unknown here in DK). For example, I’m used to a gallon sized milk cartons and the carton sized in the country is a quarter of the size. Leading to multiple grocery trips during the week.

You won’t be able to find sweetened peanut butter!

Related to restaurants and grocery markets, there is a lower sense of diversity in food than that of the States. The biggest tragedy my friends have expressed is that of great Mexican food and ingredients. 

Climate

When I say, Denmark is cold in the spring, I mean it! We’ve only recently started seeing the sun and shed our fur coats these past two weeks. That means invest in Vitamin D pills and make sure you buy gloves, hats, and scarves.

That being said, when the weather goes to and above 20 degrees Celsius EVERYONE in Copenhagen come out in droves. Don’t be surprised if your commute becomes 20 minutes longer because trains and buses are abnormally full to capacity. 

Cost & Shopping

So, all of my friends and I knew this one, but we were still surprised by this one. Copenhagen is an expensive city and the whole of Denmark is no different. No matter where you go it seems everything is double or tripled the price than it is back in the states. 

Also, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DANISH KRONER! I made the mistake believing that Denmark is completely cashless, but I was sorely mistaken and by the time I was in Denmark it was practically impossible to take money out of an ATM and not lose half of my money just on fees.

Another important note! Danish pharmacies are completely different than that of the ones I’m sure you are familiar. They do not sell cold medicine or anything else found in your neighborhood Rite-Aid or Walgreens. You can’t get your medicine back home filled here as well. Similarly, the pharmacy stores have weird hours and don’t extend late into the night. I recommend bringing Day-Quil, Ny-quil, Z-quil, cough drops, seasonal allergy relief, and headache pain relief meds (or your personal equivalent).

History

I’ve already talked about this on my blog before, but my friends felt this point was something every visitor or study abroad student should know about Danish history - their colonial history.

With that, we have to come to the conclusion that everyone should know that racism and xenophobia are alive and well in Denmark. No matter how progressive Denmark seems and/or is there are drawbacks that students have seen or experienced while in this country.

Fashion

I’m here to let you know that yes Danes wear black, but no they don’t only wear black. Dark colors are a sign of a local, but I’ve also seen lighter colors as a part of their wardrobe. 

An aspect of their wardrobe norms that was foreign to me was the implementation of tights. Tighs under skirts and dresses are seen as both fashionable and functionally necessary for the weather.

For the men out there, the Chelsea boot is a common footwear of the everyday Dane. So, if you want to prance around like a local make sure you grab a pair.

Danes - the people!

Upon first glance, Danes come off super unapproachable on public transit, in bars, and even walking down the street. But don’t be put off by appearances, for the most part, every Dane that I’ve mustered up the courage to talk to are very inviting and welcoming.

 That being said, Danes have a different perspective on political correctness and have different social taboos to Americans. The best comparison is with Danish humor is similar to the witty and deadpan humor of the Brits. For an American, this seems off-putting because they generally are more straightforward and blunt with their opinions and takes on topics. Some of my friends who aren’t used to that kind of socialization have remarked that it has made them uncomfortable more often than not. 

I think this is self-explanatory or could be avoided, but make sure you know a little of the language. Many of the adult Danes are practically fluent in English, but it does help to bridge the divide between tourist and local. (Also, don’t be surprised if Danes don’t say “excuse me” (Undskyld!) everything that they do is with an implied “excuse me”).

[kaywithdanes]

Tourist Tuesday!

A few weeks ago, a group of us went on the hunt for Thomas Dambo’s scultupred giants. He has hidden them in the western parts of Copenhagen and they are the hidden gems for tourists. We had a great time singing, dancing, and taking photos to find these sculptures and climb all over them.

Featuring DIS Copenhagen bloggers, Natachi and Andru!

[kaywithdanes]

Tourist Tuesday!

This past week during our Easter break, I didn’t travel abroad and had a staycation in Denmark. I had a great time exploring the most touristy attractions like the royal reception rooms at Christiansborg Palace and the crown jewels at Rosenborg Palace. I, also, visited Amalienborg Palace to witness the changing of the guard and the famous Church of Our Savior.

[kaywithdanes]

Hey! My name is Belinda (black as well), Im a blogger at the Stockholm program as of now and just wanted to peep at your Kendrick post, I went to his concert as well and overall admire your blog as well! Hope you're having a good time :) my blog if interested: theafricanvisionnaire on wordpress

Hi! Thanks for the feedback. I’ll be sure to check your blog out and I hope your time over in Sweden is a good one as well.

[kaywithdanes]

Tourist Tuesday meets Blackness in Copenhagen Series!

This past weekend, the first monument of a black woman was erected in Denmark. Honoring the courage and strength of Mary Thomas, artists Jeannette Ehlers and La Vaughn Belle created this site specific installation. Queen Mary, posed like Huey P. Newton from an iconic 1967 photograph, sits on the waterfront near Copenhagen’s West Indian Warehouse.  Ehlers and Belle both want to incite ethnic Danes to contend with their collective memory loss of their colonial past. 

I had found this most interesting that this monument was even made considering in the United States many believe that the eradication of Confederate monuments will erase history. While Denmark’s memory loss occurred because no monuments from the colonies were ever made until this year. 

To read more about the installation and about the artists, click here.

[kaywithdanes]

Blackness in Copenhagen Series: Kendrick Lamar & Janteloven - The New Odd Couple?

Earlier this month, Kendrick Lamar stopped over at the Royal Arena as part of his The Damn. Tour for his most recent album. I’ve always been a fan of Kendrick Lamar’s work and his beliefs, so when I saw that he was stopping in Copenhagen I knew I had to get tickets. I still don’t know how I did it, but I managed to snag some tickets and attend the concert. As I left the concert venue, I was walking away with some Danish and DIS friends. One of us expressed our fascination with the love that Kendrick had for the city of Copenhagen and vice versa. One of the Danes explained that the love Danish people have for Kendrick Lamar comes from the idea that Kendrick is the epitome of Jante. 

Now you might be wondering what is Jante. Jante is an unofficial code of conduct that Danes adhere to which I believe influences their welfare society. Janteloven is a concept present in the narrative by Aksel Sandermose (A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks, 1933) which brings to light a group behavior pattern present in Nordic countries. The Law of Jante is not a spectacular reflection of the Danish mindset, to say the least. Plainly, Jante is a sociological term that condescends individuality and difference and emphasizes the collective. 

 Within Sandermose’s novel, he creates a fictional town that adheres to what he deems Janteloven. The ten laws of Jante is as follows:

You’re not to think you are anything special.

You’re not to think you are as good as we are.

You’re not to think you are smarter than we are.

You’re not to convince yourself that you are better than we are.

You’re not to think you know more than we do.

You’re not to think you are more important than we are. You’re not to think you are good at anything. 

You’re not to laugh at us.

You’re not to think anyone cares about you.

You’re not to think you can teach us anything.

In a matter of coincidence, my Danish Language and Culture class had covered Janteloven earlier that day. We explored that Danes may hate to admit it, but it’s culturally relevant today. Janteloven is a double-edged sword. It leads Danes to live average lives and strive to work to benefit the collective (contributing to its high happiness reports), but on the other hand, it leads Danes to deny socio-economic class (and its effects) and act as a passive power. Personally, I could never imagine striving for mediocrity as per the consumer capitalist culture of the United States, but I could see some merits out of the controversial law. Ultimately, I left class feeling that the negative implications of the law outweighed the positives.

That’s why when my fellow Dane told me that Kendrick exhibits Jante I initially balked because I never saw Kendrick’s work in such a light. I felt offended by that analysis because as an African American Kendrick represents everything that Jante hates. The very nature of his brand of rap teaches its listeners about politics and social issues. Frequently, Kendrick takes shots at his competitors and those that threaten his community. More often not, Kendrick always reminds his listener that his voice has power, he has intellect and he demands to be listened. It’s only in his later work does Kendrick explores his relation to humility and how its practically impossible for him to achieve it. I mainly see Kendrick as a lyrical storyteller working through the variety of issues that plague a young African American Compton boy that makes his way to stardom.

With a huge - and early - success in Denmark, it begs me to wonder if the younger generation is really aware of why they like Kendrick or is it something mainly lost in translation. 

[kaywithdanes]

Blackness in Copenhagen Series: Reflection & Choosing Cope

Close to a year ago, I had made my decision to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. Partly, the reason was that it was the most popular program for a Film major at my home institution. I figured why not travel to Copenhagen. I had no prior knowledge about the country beside it’s regarded by several studies as the happiest country in the world. I liked that it was a popular destination in the UK or Italy for an experience. It wasn’t until later that I researched the country’s stereotypes and demographics that was aware that I was to be a minority on a larger scale. I immediately steeled myself to seeing only white faces around me and being seen as an anomaly by the Danes. I’m glad to say I overestimated how homogenous the society is actually. In reality, the city center is fairly homogenous and a lot of sentiments I’ve observed from Danes is fairly that of a history of sameness and a difficulty dealing with a growing heterogeneous society. Controversially, this growth in heterogeneity came from opening the borders to refugees and Syria. (Talk about that more) Consciously or Unconsciously, the majority of these minorities I have observed/ recognized live in the neighborhood of Norrebro, which many Danes considered the “ghetto”. The definition of the “ghetto” may be different for each Dane, but generally the Danes I have spoken to consider it the “dirty, unsafe, and undesirable” place of residence. 

I want to explore how blackness is treated in a seemingly homogenous society and the consumption of African American content. Right now, I’m hesitant to make any more assumptions, but it’s been interesting so far. I can’t wait to educate myself some more.

[kaywithdanes]

CPH: DOX - 10 Days in Documentary Heaven

These past two weeks, one of the biggest documentary festivals in the world occurred in Copenhagen. During this time, I’ve been able to go to screenings, attend Q&A’s with the directors, engage in installations, and on top of that lend a hand as a volunteer. I wanted to share with you the two screenings I attended that had a profound impact on me and I encourage everyone to see when they’re available.

América (Directors: Erick Stoll & Chase Whiteside)

The film follows a trio of grandsons’ love for family as they return to Colima, Mexico to care for their elderly grandmother, América. In the last stages of her life, she has become dependent on the people around her. After an incident which resulted in the incarceration of América’s son, Luis Alvarez Serrano. Filmed over three years, the directors capture the intimacy and reconfiguration of the family unit and what that means for later years.  As political filmmakers, the film explores both the family unit but the missteps of the geriatric care system, the corrupt government, and how the most vulnerable are impacted by these powers.

I was struck by the beautiful and powerful cinematography of the film. Stoll contributed the majority of the shots and footage that survived in the final cut and hearing his thought process has changed my whole view of capturing reality while hanging onto the Hollywood classical filmmaking practice of stylists of the past. His motivation for the camera’s focus was physicality. As career performers, the brothers' physical connection to their grandmother as they cared for her explored intimacy to its most basic sense. Also, the camera segments the body often reading into sexual and personal invasiveness yet the emotional beats of the story and the exuberance of our protagonist, Diego. Stoll combines traditional documentary-like angles and staticism by leaving the camera to sit while the individuals move at their own pace. It almost seems easy, but the key is Stoll’s ability to capture the scenes in a multitude of angles and perspectives with stunning clarity. Most poignantly, the final shot has to go down as the most beautiful and heart clenching shot in all the documentaries I’ve seen. 

A self-criticism and an acute awareness that the directing duo had their own film was the portrayal of the secondary female individual, Cristina. She is the girlfriend of the eldest brother Rodrigo. They brought up that they felt that her story of domesticity and cleaning was underappreciated in the home by the brothers which they assume influenced their editing in some way. A lot of her cleaning and cooking was less impactful than the brothers fighting - physically and verbally. Furthermore, they argued in a male-dominated physically aggressive home that Cris’s “outsiderness” lent well to Ro’s desire to separate from the family unit and assume independence. Here’s the point where I tell you that the duo are unnecessarily hard on themselves, Cris’ story was less action motivated, but they managed to capture parts of her experience that still spoke to her experience in that family unit and represented her quite well.

All in all, this film gave a graceful lived-in experience of an intimate portrait of care and family. I loved it and I’m excited to see more from these independent filmmakers. 

Generation Wealth (Director: Lauren Greenfield)

Lauren Greenfield’s documentary is a personal essay exploring the consumer capitalist culture, the effects it has on youth, the oversexualization and commodification of bodies (particularly female), the philosophy that allowed for the 2008 financial global crisis, and the shift to a value of the material allows in a greater context. With that laundry list of topics, Greenfield combines her photojournalist eye to capture the essence of these subjects and masterfully links philosophy, testimony, and factual evidence to enlighten the viewer on an underlined problem in our society. 

As an accompaniment to her photography book, Greenfield scours her 20-year career to make a film that encompasses her life and the drive that makes all of us complicit in our desires. The compilation style of the film (combining her photographic images to the video) worked extremely well to convey the visual overstimulation we constantly experience in popular culture. As a fictional comparison, the film’s humor and awareness likened that to the style of Adam McKay’s The Big Short.

Greenfield’s personal journey on the surface would seem unrelatable and privileged, but she manages to point to the universal characteristic of all individuals which is greed and excess. Manifested in different forms, greed is analyzed and how it affects specific cultures. 

A criticism I have of the film is one that Greenfield is aware of which is her narrowed focus on the extremes clouds her to the general. She argues that her methodology allows her to pinpoint the culture of the mainstream. While this is effective and poignant in her photojournalism, it showcases her profound biases when conveying her argument. She’s not afraid to take a stand on the issue which I admire, but it came at the expensive of being hypercritical of the "liberated” woman. It felt that during the film that judgment was being placed on the sex workers, exotic dancers, and pornographic artists she interviewed for their choice of career path and not for merely the culture that created the industry for their work to profit. Our Q & A was cut short, but I would wonder what she would respond because at times it felt she was trying to save the oversexualized young girl, but judging the women that took advantage of the male gaze. 

As McKay’s The Big Short, I enjoyed Greenfield’s portrayal of the cultural and high-class elite and the greed culture prevalent on a global scale. Be sure to check this one out because I assume it will land on Amazon Prime Video’s library as it’s produced by Amazon Studio.