“Earthrise” by Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman demonstrates the power or art and poetry to reflect on the state of the environment and what we can do about it.
Among Giants: Short Documentary About Tree Sitting
Synopsis: “Risking injury and incarceration, an environmental activist disrupts the clear-cutting of an ancient redwood grove by sitting on a tiny platform a hundred feet up in the tree canopy. Already three years into the tree-sit when filming begins, AMONG GIANTS blends vérité cinematography with intimate personal reflection to remarkable effect.” This can be compared to how advertisers represent environmental activism. It can also be used to explore environmental ideology.
Kia Niro Super Bowl ad: “Hero’s Journey” Starring Melissa McCarthy
This 2017 Super Bowl ad for Kia uses humor to show how difficult it is to save the environment. The ad offers an easy solution by encouraging people to buy Kia’s hybrid. This is good for exploring the representation of environmental activism and sustainability.
HSBC’s Lumberjack Ad: Pitting Tree Sitters Against Loggers
This 2008 ad for HSBC portrays the conflict between tree-sitters (activists trying to stop deforestation of old-growth forests) and loggers. It closes with the phrase: “We recognise how people value things differently. So what we learn from one customer helps us better serve another.” Students can be encouraged to explore the environmental values being represented in the ad and discuss how it relates to HSBC’s financial policies and environmental impacts. This can also be used to explore and discuss differing environmental ideologies.