Dr. Sewell's Ecopoetry Class Meets Jeff Bridges!

Members of Dr. Lisa Sewell’s Ecopoetry and Environmental Criticism class, who recently attended the on-campus screening of the documentary Living in the Future’s Past, were treated to a special event last week.  Two of the documentary's "luminaries," Susan Kucera (director) and Jeff Bridges (producer and narrator) met with Dr. Sewell’s class via video chat to discuss various aspects of the film.  You heard that right: the group got to virtually “meet” The Dude himself!

Dr. Sewell's Ecopoetry & Environmental Criticism class

Living in the Future’s Past, which is described on its website as a “beautifully photographed tour de force of original thinking on who we are and the environmental challenges we face,” explores the pressing environmental issues facing our world today.  The film, which includes expert commentary from an impressive group of psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers (including Timothy Morton!), and more, is driven by its core question: “What kind of future would you like to see?”  LITFP has received overwhelming critical praise, and also recently qualified for consideration in the Documentary Feature category for the Academy Awards.

Students were able to ask Bridges and Kucera a range of questions about filming strategies, the creative choices behind the visual components of the film, the team’s process for arriving at the film’s positive and even hopeful tone, plans for future promotion of the film, and more.  Students learned that in addition to promoting an environmental awareness message via her film work, Kucera also practices environmentalism in her personal life: she edited LITFP using exclusively solar power.  The class also learned that Bridges is hopeful the documentary will be widely incorporated into the curricula of various educational institutions, since its message is educational and empowering for positive change.

LITFP's director, Susan Kucera (on video chat)

LITFP's producer and narrator, Jeff Bridges (on video chat)

The screening, which took place on November 14, was co-sponsored by the English, Geography & the Environment, Honors, GIS, Ethics, Philosophy, Peace & Justice, and GWS departments.

You can visit the film’s website (or ask Dr. Sewell and her students) to learn more! The film is also available to watch on iTunes and Prime Video.