Environmentalists: They are not all Scientists
Posted: August 26, 2009 by Richard, Category:Sustainability
The subject of environmentalism is not one that exists exclusively in the realms of academia and business, the arts also has a strong body of work exploring the matter.
Perhaps one of the most celebrated films to tackle the topic in recent years is the 2006 Academy Award winning documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. While this brought the issue to the mainstream, it was not the first Academy Award winning film to explore the theme. In 2002 Hayao Miyazaki won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for ‘Spirited Away’, the story of a young girl who, while moving to a new town with her parents, unwittingly crosses into a fantasy world.
‘Spirited Away’ brought Miyazaki’s work to the attention of audiences outside of Japan and allowed them to discover a filmography containing a strong but subtle environmentalist ideology. Two of his films that most prominently portray this are 1984’s ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’ and 1997’s ‘Princess Mononoke’. Both films focus on mankind’s ignorance and short-sightedness in regards to their relationship with their surroundings.
While Miyazaki’s films might never have the same impact on the world stage as ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ his impact and championing of environmentalism through his art should not be overlooked, or understated.
Richard
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- An Inconvenient Truth
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- Spirited Away
