Art & social change

                                    Art and it's ability to alter people's lives

              Vic Munoz in his art project in the documentary "Wasteland" changed the lives of people who lived in the garbage or otherwise known as garbage pickers. These garbage pickers lived in Brazil and what most people take for granted: access to food, water, shelter these people didn't have. They're situation wasn't pretty, living in the garbage ,struggling everyday, etc. One of the pickers said "There is no future" and it was hard to refute that. Everyday was an uphill battle for them having to deal with the physical and emotional exhaust. It was a heartbreaking scene that's for sure. Munoz however showed them that there was a way out, a solution to get out of they're situation that was in front of they're eyes without them noticing it.

             Munoz proposed that they take the very garbage around them and turn it into something beautiful something that they could call art and sell it to help them and their cause. Which changed the lives of all the garbage pickers in the process. When they sold the first painting for 50,000 US dollars you could see all the emotions the garbage pickers were going through. Showing them how art is more than just what meets the eyes. Today there artworks have roamed across the globe on some of the famous museum's in the world and have changed the garbage pickers lives for the better. 

            This documentary is something that has personally touched me seeing what they go through on a daily basis is tough. What i took away from this is that life will beat you down to your knees and it will be very hard to get back up on your feet and that even though it seems unlikely things will get better even if it's in a way that's unexpected which in this case is art. I saw this quote somewhere and it stated "when we are at out lowest point we are open to the greatest change" and i think that is what ultimately the director tried to showcase.