The Wasteland

The documentary The Wasteland was nothing short of amazing. I learned how art and a person’s way of like can go hand and hand. It is a literal statement when someone says a picture is worth a million words. Vic Muniz is a contemporary artist with a unique way of expressing his thoughts through his artwork. He uses objects found in everyday life, one of those items being garbage. Vic’s next project would take place in Brazil where he is originally from, in the largest garbage dump in the world. He sought out to change the lives of a few individuals who worked at the dump.

Vic not only wanted to give the employees at the dump proceeds of the pictures taken of them he wanted to do a social experiment. He wanted to take the pickers out of their element and “show them another world”. Vic had his own reservations about the pickers before he met them, thinking they were all drug users. After meeting and getting to know one another a bond was created. The way Vic viewed the employees changed, he realized they were hard working people who weren’t fortunate. In the film Vic made an excellent point when he said, “the same garbage from the millionaire’s mansion mixes with the poorest”. We are all human we are just living with different circumstances.

            The artwork done was astronomical and it gave the pickers a sense of importance, boosted their self-esteem. They realized the garbage they work with everyday can be transformed into something beautiful. Vic taught them how to look at art and explained how people often interpreted it. See the picture then the material and then understand the idea. This also applies to life and I believe they understood that.

            Vic Muniz did something amazing he gave the pickers hope for a better life. Friendships were built and lives were changed. Art and social change are both influential in this film.