Awakening from Neoliberal Rationalities: The Ecological Conversion of Brit Marling’s Protagonist in The East

Martín, Mónica (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This article analyzes the ecological conversion of the protagonist in The East (Zal Batmanglij, 2013) as an illustrative case of post-recession film characters that turn away from neoliberal rationalities. Actor Brit Marling plays Jane Owen, a private intelligence operative that infiltrates an underground environmentalist organization to protect the interests of polluting corporations. However, her undercover time with the ecological activists shakes her ideological principles and priorities. Undoing her workaholic, self-absorbed lifestyle, Jane eventually develops an environmental consciousness grounded in cooperative, dialogical and sustainable values. In accord with the ecocritical perspectives of contemporary social movements like Fridays for Future and Rebellion Extinction, and social scholars such as Zygmunt Bauman, Ulrich Beck and Michel Serres, the film’s formal choices support the protagonist’s turn, advocating for inclusive, non-economized worldviews and conceptions of progress guided by eco-social welfare.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.5406/19346018.74.1.2.02

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Journal of film and video 74, 1 (2022), 19-27
ISSN: 0742-4671

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 0.3 - Arts and Humanities (Q3)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.136 - Visual Arts and Performing Arts (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Filología Inglesa (Dpto. Filolog.Inglesa y Alema.)