Alternate Vision

Mardi Gras: Made in China follows the "bead trail" from the factory in China to Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras, poignantly exposing the inequities of globalization. First-time director David Redmon cleverly illuminates the clash of cultures by juxtaposing American excess and consumer ignorance against the harsh life of the Chinese factory worker.

I overheard someone talking about it and decided to look it up. I was hesitant about taking the 'globalization and design' class mostly due to time constriants. But after I found out its a mini course (which is only for a month and a half), their first assignment involves watching the above film, and their reading assignments are like this, I may just squeeze the three hour lecture on Tuesday evenings into my 26 hour- day-weeks. Just this afternoon while getting briefed on green design practises in the community by Barb for a project I am working on my eyes caught hold of something queer. In the corner of her office tucked under her desk was a whole carton full of water bottles labeled 'Green Practises Comission: Save the Environment'. Upon further inspection, I noticed they were all 'Made in China.' The irony of it all.