## | A Wake-Up Call `Director:` `Availability:` > [!info] >  Surviving Progress explores the dangerous paradox at the heart of modern civilization: what we call "progress" might actually be leading us toward collapse. Based on Ronald Wright’s concept of the “progress trap,” this documentary journeys through history, economics, biology, and politics to reveal how technological advancement, debt, overconsumption, and ecological destruction are threatening the future of humanity. Ronald Wright’s bestseller A Short History of Progress inspired this cinematic requiem to progress-as-usual. Throughout human history, what seemed like progress often backfired. Some of the world's foremost thinkers, activists, bankers, and scientists challenge us to overcome progress traps, which destroyed past civilizations and lie treacherously embedded in our own. With powerful visuals, expert commentary, and haunting parallels to the fall of past empires, the film challenges viewers to rethink growth, power, and sustainability. Are we too smart for our own survival, or is there still time to change course? Original title : Surviving Progress Directors : Mathieu Roy, Harold Crooks Cast : Ronald Wright, Mark Levine, Robert Wright, Jane Goodall, Marina Silva Produced by Martin Scorcese ## Summary ## Key Takeaways ## Quotes - ## Notes --- ### **Film Analysis Template** Take linear notes in bullet points as you watch the film, capturing key moments or scenes. Assign one of the three thematic areas to each moment. Optionally, expand on the moment within the chosen theme. --- #### **Thematic Areas:** 1. **Transgression and Taboo** - Does the moment challenge societal norms or boundaries? - How does it disrupt expectations? 2. **Excess and the Sacred/Profane** - Does the moment depict emotional, visual, or physical excess? - How does it blur the line between reverence and the grotesque? 3. **Eroticism and Death** - Does the moment connect intimacy and mortality? - How does it portray the relationship between pleasure and destruction? --- #### **Note-Taking Structure:** - **[Timestamp or Scene Description]:** - Brief description of the moment. - Assign a thematic area. - (Optional) Expand on the moment within the theme. --- This template provides a structured way to analyze a film’s themes, focusing on key moments and their deeper implications. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Film index]]