"Waste Land": Role of Art in Societal Transformation

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Art can depict a person’s life distinctively and eccentrically. Waste Land is a documentary that attempts to explain the role of art in societal transformation. It discusses the significance of nature in changing people’s lives. The documentary is set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the world’s largest dumpsite. The documentary proves that people can achieve tremendous and unfathomable things even in adversity.
At the beginning of the documentary, the catadores working in the landfill appear happy with their jobs. As the documentary progresses, the catadores are introduced, including why they work at the landfill and their role in the community. Tiaõ and Zumbi are two significant catadores who helped their community. Tiaõ formed an organization to help his fellow catadores, and Zumbi finds books that have been discarded and distribute them to those who cannot afford them. This work provides them with shelter, food, clothing, and employment. Even though many people regard them as inferior to the rest of society and regard their work as insignificant, it is one of the most critical jobs. The catadores prefer this job rather than performing heinous acts such as drug dealing and prostitution (Walker).
The filmmaker wishes to remind the audience that there is always light in the darkness. There are instances wherein this statement was proven; for example, a catadore realizes that garbage can be profitable and help the people he fights for. The film’s message to the audience may be the ability to see beauty in everything. It is too easy to dismiss people based on their impoverished circumstances or entirely dismiss them. S...