Kenneth Paul Tan (2022) Movies to Save Our World: Imagining Poverty, Inequality and Environmental Destruction in the 21st Century (Penguin)

Through a close analysis of more than seventy popular documentaries and feature movies from around the world, produced in the twenty-first century, this book explores the theme of poverty, inequality, ecological degradation and revolutionary change, all associated with a contemporary crisis of neoliberal globalization in a world where it has become so pervasive. Profit rules, while poverty and inequality make the political ground fertile for populist manipulation. By returning power to the people, healthier forms of populism can lead the way to progressive revolutionary change that enriches democracy and corrects for social injustice. However, through ideological and political manipulation, populism can also take more debased authoritarian forms, promoting conformism, domination, exploitation, marginalization and degradation of humanity and its habitat. The book urges progressive moviemakers to take advantage of advancements in digital technologies and to collaborate, in post-pandemic times, with educators to develop public deliberation skills and inspire a new generation of informed and compassionate change-makers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

​

1.   What is Wrong with Our World Today?

2.   The Populism of Michael Moore, Working-Class Hero

3.   Corporate Greed: Health, Education, and Criminal Justice

4.   Destroying Our Planet

5.   Narrating Poverty, Inequality, and Revolution

6.   Capitalist Psychos and Cinematic Zombies

7.   Can Movies Really Save Our World?

REVIEWS

​

"Can movies build registers for bringing about social change amidst the devastating effects of neoliberal globalization and the global rise of authoritarian populism? Professor Kenneth Paul Tan, one of the most significant public intellectuals of Singapore, grapples with this vital question of our times, exploring the ways in which cinema can build our capacities for collective deliberation to build a just and sustainable world. The striking geographic expanse of the book and the brilliant analysis of the questions of poverty, inequality, massive ecological destruction, authoritarian populism and revolution offer conceptual fodder for exploring the ways in which the craft of moviemaking can connect audiences with their moral feelings and intuitions."

​

Mohan Dutta, Dean’s Chair Professor of Communication at Massey University, and Director of the Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE)

​

"In Movies To Save Our World, Kenneth Paul Tan explores how cinematic texts present poverty, inequality and environmental destruction in today’s global world. Tan engages the films of Michael Moore and other major documentary filmmakers, as well as significant narrative fictional texts, to explore how cinema can help us see the problems, challenges, and inequities of the world, as well as possible solutions. The result is a probing and provocative text that enables us to envision the political possibilities of contemporary cinema."

​

Douglas Kellner, Distinguished Research Professor of Education, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, UCLA

"Learning from films is something I always enjoyed, as I love both movies and books. Kenneth combined his immense knowledge in the art of filmmaking (he is the founding chair of the Asian Film Archive) and his profession of political scientist to distill lessons from 80 movies and documentaries for some of the most pressing challenges of our times: poverty, inequality, environment, and social justice. He provides a solid intellectual framework in chapter 1 and then proceeds to critically analyze the documentaries and movies of his choice. Images are very powerful educational tool, because they can connect more easily with our emotions and intuitions in a way that graphs and data cannot. Great read!"

Francesco Mancini, Associate Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore