Desert
Sonoran Desert, USA/Mexico
Today's session was about the environments and nature that can be seen as agents of violence, with the focus being on the desert. "The desert is a weapon of deterrence" (p. 52, Jason De León's The Land of Open Graves, 2015). Discussing how the desert can act as a defense mechanism through deterrence, as it's difficult to cross due to high temperatures, wild animals, and the difficulty of measuring distance.
After I watched films such as El Mar, La Mar (2017), I saw how the film uses the desert as a backdrop to explore complex issues related to the environment, migration, and social justice. In this documentary, the desert is portrayed as a harsh and unforgiving environment, with close-ups of migrants' feet highlighting the physical toll of the journey. I noted that the film also explores the environmental impact of migration, emphasizing the damage caused by border patrols and other forms of law enforcement. Through its experimental techniques, I feel like El Mar, La Mar (2017) encourages viewers to engage with the sensory and emotional experience of the landscape, rather than just absorbing information.
After researching more about El Mar, La Mar (2017), I found that the film has been praised for its artistic merit, but also for its political relevance and its potential to raise awareness about the human cost of border enforcement policies. The film has been screened at festivals and events around the world and has received critical acclaim from a range of film critics and scholars. Its impact can be seen in the attention it has brought to border issues and the conversations it has sparked about the ethics of border enforcement and the treatment of migrants.
El Mar, La Mar (2017) by Joshua Bonnetta and J.P. Sniadecki
The desert's erasure and the traces of human activity that remain serve as a visual index of human presence and activity. By constant erasure, I mean the way in which the desert landscape is presented as a site of absence, where there is little to no human presence and where nature seems to have been left to its own devices. Governments can use the desert as a defense system without incurring any costs, and the use of these lands can be hidden from the public eye since most cities are built away from deserts.
I understood how using the environment as a form of deterrence draws attention to the power and unpredictability of nature and the need for respect and caution when interacting with the environment. The films emphasize the importance of respecting and preserving the environment, rather than exploiting it for short-term gain. They encourage viewers to consider the ecological impact of human activity and the consequences of their actions. I believe it also highlights the impact of human activity on the environment, featuring powerful shots of discarded water bottles and other debris left behind by migrants, underscoring the environmental impact of the border crisis.
Despite the challenges posed by the desert, I feel that the film emphasizes the beauty and poetry of the landscape, encouraging viewers to engage with the sensory and emotional experience of the environment. It challenges traditional views of the desert as an empty and lifeless landscape, emphasizing its complexity and importance as a site of human struggle and resilience. I learnt that the film's use of experimental techniques, including impressionistic imagery and atmospheric sound design, sets it apart from more conventional documentaries about the border.
I find this concept intriguing as some countries can use nature and land as a defense system, and it can be used through mountains, deserts, and even lakes. People must almost "fight nature" and overcome it, and nature retaliating. In my opinion, nature is trying to coexist and will surmount around artificial biomes and we should also respect that and do the same.
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Bibliography
Bonnetta, J. & Sniadecki, J.P. (2017). El Mar, La Mar (2017) [online]. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6587706/. [Accessed March 9th 2023]
De Leon, Jason (2015). Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail, The Land of Open Graves. Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2015. [online]. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/80324508/The_Land_of_Open_Graves_Living_and_Dying_on_the_Migrant_Trail_Jason_De_L%C3%A9on_Oakland_CA_University_of_California_Press_2015_384_pp. [Accessed March 3rd 2023]
