Unhappily Ever After
When we think of Disney movies, we think of an idealised world, where the search for love is an ultimate goal and true love and eternal happiness is at the end of the pathway. As with many things however, the wish is farther from the thought. In a sad new retrospective series, New York animation artist Jeff Hong has created a new series that is arguably more realistic a representation of where our world is headed today. While we may not necessarily see an immediate connection as architects and designers, for me, this photo series represents a reminder of the implied damage to the environment our work often has.
“Think of instead, a girl worth fighting for...”
A tale of a brave woman who defied traditional values and the patriarchy to fight for her country, now caught up in the toxic fumes of the Middle Kingdom. This image is evocative of how in our race for industrial development, we have forgotten our history, our heritage and our morals. Living at peace with the environment is no longer our priority. Today, it must become the case where restoring our rapidly deteriorating environment should be something worth fighting for.
“Darling it’s better, down where it’s wetter, take it from me...”
Our ongoing thirst for oil apparently knows no bounds. Even as the arctic perma-frost melts, Russia and the United States are locked in battle over who should control the new trade routes and massive undersea oil deposits. In an act of irony, no one seems concerned that this ongoing fight the very substance we use to fuel our industry is also slowly killing our ecology. The image of the Little Mermaid, drenched in oil is therefore a shocking reminder for me of our twisted priorities, favouring existing unsustainable methods over research for the new and for the future.
“Deep In The 100 acre woods,
Where Christopher Robin plays,
You’ll find the enchanted neighbourhood,
Of Christopher’s childhood games”
Timber has been perceived as the miracle material, with its carbon embodiment capabilities, its strength and durability, it possesses the potential to replace our unsustainable production of steel, aluminium and other ‘modern’ materials. Winnie the Pooh however laments the loss of his 100 acre wood. Without sustainable practices of replacement, replanting and balance, even the most sturdy of materials will one day be all gone, and I can only shudder to think of the knock on effects this will have not only to other industries (paper, furniture etc…) but of our ecology and most importantly, our oxygen.
Conclusion
In a departure from my usually resource based research posts, I hope that this particular posts illustrates that unsustainability is not a question of numbers or data. On an emotional level, it represents a dangerous shift affecting inevitably our entire way of life. While we do not often see ecological tragedy first hand, it is not an excuse to ignore it. We must all do our part to reduce waste, to reconsider and redesign processes and work collectively toward a better, more sustainable future.
References
Jeff Hong. “Unhappily Ever After”. (2014). Retrieved 5 May 2014 from:
http://disneyunhappilyeverafter.tumblr.com/
Design Boom. “Childhood Disney Characters Face Reality of Unhappily Ever After” (5 May 2014). Retrieved 5 May 2014 from: http://www.designboom.com/art/childhood-disney-characters-face-unhappily-ever-after-05-05-2014/