The Day After Tomorrow - Where Will You Be?
Globalisation - how are the different aspects at work? This post will be examining how cultural and environmental globalisation has worked together to impact upon the world through various forms of media. It will be illustrating the close relationship between environmental and cultural globalisation through an example, which is the movie "The Day After Tomorrow". The Day After Tomorrow is a science-fiction movie made in 2004 which shows catastrophic consequences of global warming and boasts high-end special effects. It is a very good example to show how environmental issues can be packaged into forms of media to be broadcasted around the world, raising awareness, and at the same time, provide global entertainment.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After_Tomorrow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808417410/details
http://www.csicop.org/scienceandmedia/blockbuster/
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1076/is_3_47/ai_n13664920
"What if we are on the brink of a new Ice Age? This is the question that haunts climatologist Jack Hall. Hall’s research indicates that global warming could trigger an abrupt and catastrophic shift in the planet’s climate. While Jack warns the White House of the impending climate shift, his 17 year-old son Sam finds himself trapped in New York City where he and some friends have been competing in a high school academic competition. He must now cope with the severe flooding and plummeting temperatures in Manhattan. Having taken refuge inside the Manhattan Public Library, Sam manages to reach his father by phone. Jack only has time for one warning: stay inside at all costs. As full-scale, massive evacuations to the south begin, Jack heads north to New York City to save Sam. But not even Jack is prepared for what is about to happen--to him, to his son, and to his planet. "
Generally, this is a short description of "The Day After Tomorrow" by Yahoo Movie News. The movie places emphasis on several issues: refusal of USA to sign the Kyoto Protocol, effects of climate change, urging of the public to save the environment. This movie is a 'product' of cultural and environmental globalisation working hand in hand to raise awareness in the midst of global entertainment. Crucial environmental issues were embedded in the movie, before it was packaged and sold to the world cinema. "The Day After Tomorrow" serves a very useful tool in climate change communication via the media on the general public. Worldwide, "The Day After Tomorrow" received very popular response and is the 38th most grossing film of all time, with a revenue of US$542,771,772.
In my opinion, several aspects of globalisation are at work in the course of the production of this movie. Before, during and after the showing period of this movie, we can constantly see a merging of technological, cultural and environmental globalisation.
- Technological globalisation is the increase in information flows between geographically remote locations. It is said to bring about the 'shrinking' of the world and increased telecommunication without the need for transportation.
- Cultural globalisation is growth of cross-cultural contacts; advent of new categories of consciousness and identities such as Globalism - which embodies cultural diffusion, the desire to consume and enjoy foreign products and ideas, adopt new technology and practices, and participate in a "world culture".
- Environmental globalisation is the examination of global environmental challenges that can only be solved through international cooperation, such as climate change, pollution, as well as the spread and development of diseases and medicine.
Cultural globalisation takes place as there is the rise of a global culture. Entertainment made by a nation is not only enjoyed in the nation, but also around the world. Cultural globalisation leads to cultural diffusion, the desire to consume and enjoy foreign products and ideas, adopt new technology and practices, and participate in a "world culture". "The Day After Tomorrow" received popular response around the world and is the 38th most grossing film of all time, with a revenue of US$542,771,772. Therefore this shows that there is a desire for people to consume and enjoy foreign products and ideas.
Environmental globalisation is expressed in the movie as the movie examines the seriousness of climate change and its consequences. The movie highlights the seriousness of climate change which is a form of environmental globalisation. For example, there was a scene where Jack Hall, the protagonist was giving a presentation to a conference on "global warming" in New Delhi, India. Jack told the story of the 1,300 year long Younger Dryas cold climate period of the ninth millennium BC in the Northern Hemisphere to a skeptical audience, including the Vice President of the United States, who dismissed the possibility of such an event recurring. This scene was intentively placed in the movie to direct criticism at politicians concerning the Kyoto Protocol and climate change. Climate change is a form of environmental globalisation as it is a major environmental challenge which can only be solved through international cooperation. Therefore there are actually traces of environmental globalisation at work, even in movies. Therefore from the example of "The Day After Tomorrow", we can see that movies can be used to carry messages about environmental globalisation, in this case, specifically climate change.
My Reflections
"The Day After Tomorrow" is, in my opinion, a very meaningful movie. This is because the movie is designed in such a way that it provides global entertainment and sparks public concern about the environment at the same time. People from various nations around the world can view this US production and at the same time, witness for themselves consequences of climate change. This might actually trigger their concern for the environment and inspire them to play a part to save the Earth.
The movie attacks powerfully on the refusal of several world leaders to sign the Kyoto Protocol and expresses the consequences of climate change in a very aggressive way. Throughout the movie, there is a subplot involving the refusal of the Vice President of the United States to accept the threat of global warming despite increasingly extreme weather conditions occurring around the world. He insists that preventive measures will instead do too much damage to the economy. Is a similar situation not happening in our world today? Has US President Mr George W. Bush agreed to sign the Kyoto Protocol? Has he not proclaimed that signing the Kyoto Protocol would mean the loss of millions of jobs Has he not complained about how it will affect the US economy? Has the White House not doubted the existence in global warming? The answers to these questions are clear. The US is not keen to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
On the other hand, although the movie is believed to be an inaccurate description of climate change, scientists have also highlight that climatic temperatures are indeed changing. The changing temperatures of the climate will not do us good. 2007 is said to be the hottest year in recorded history. A warmer climate will encourage the thriving of microorganisms which might be lead to the rise of new diseases. Moreover, I believe that although the film is said to be inaccurate, it has brought up the idea that if we do not do something now, it might be too late for us to save the environment. In the film, Dennis Quaid, the protagonist scientist of the movie, warns the US Vice President that "if we don't act now it will be too late." However, the US Vice President has not heeded his advice and soon later Manhattan It has shown moviegoers that some politicians might have underestimated the power of Nature to bring about climatic changes. Again, this draws attention to Canada and the US, which have not signed the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore I find that the film is worth watching due to the meaning underlying the film.
Also, I've read on the Net that a survey was conducted to find out why people chose to watch this movie. 37% of the respondents mentioned that they watched this movie as they wish to witness for themselves the effects of climate change, which might possibly happening to us in a century. I find this study interesting as it shows that there are people concerned about the state of the environment, yet it also shows that there are not that many Earthlings aware of the state of the environment.
Therefore in conclusion, I would like to say that I really like this movie, as it is indeed one of its kind. There are few movies of its kind in modern age, which carry messages of saving the environment. Thus it has provided me with new insight as to how movies can convey important messages, such as criticism against certain world leaders and the importance of conserving the environment. Also, it has allowed me to understand how different 'forces' of globalisation can work together. So, if you have the time, go catch that movie. You will be able to gain valuable insight.
Yours,
The Environmental & Health Expert
serene!