Poverty and Social Violence in Latin America - Term Paper Example

Poverty and Social Violence in Latin America Introduction Social violence and injustice spread throughout Latin America has been a major issue for the government. This issue arising mostly due to poverty ends up making the very normal people fight for their livelihood. The statistics in Latin America regarding poverty, violence, inequality and other social problems have not been decreasing but rather due to overpopulation, these problems are on the rise. Since more than half a century both written and visual arts have been trying to depict the story of Latin America. Plays, movies and books have been released from individual’s point of views towards real time documentaries that have shown the real time situation results of poverty in Latin American countries. The paper discusses through the scope of different points of views regarding the situations and consequences present in poor countries. How they are shown through certain genre of movies and books, the reality to which they are based on and what was the need to show them to the larger audience? These acts of violence and injustice through the lifestyle of communities as well as countries make it hard to penetrate positive change in those societies. Measures no matter how strong, are mostly used for containing and limitation purposes rather rehabilitation process. Goals of Visual arts and literature As far as history goes, the only way to spread the message has been written or visual context. Now having the newer media available in all parts of the world, it has reached and given opportunity to not only present one’s ideas but to also spread a message. Films such as Bus 174, City of God, and Los Olvidados etc are amongst their time from 50’s onwards have tried to share the changing stories of Latin America. The purpose of books such as Child of Dark show reality of the times regarding the social stratification present in the society. Each of the depiction of reality has been related to fight poverty to become amongst the ones who can live the rest of their lives in ease. Much like a jail, all of the films have tried to portray a life more or less confined under boundaries where the only way to survive is through someone others fortune. Having a downstream injustice present based in all parts of the hierarchy the films try to show the system failing to control its own public and being biased towards making choices. The ambitions lay towards the stability of life in most of the films but either failing to reach that goal due to fact that when one is caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and crime, there is no way out of it. The bloodshed and sudden changes in plots of the films and books show how unpredictable life is in those countries. Hence people are not just concerned about the protection of their wealth or homes but cannot access the very basic rights of life, food and water. (Rodgers, 1999) Poverty and Violence Movies have shown different versions and visions of poverty in countries like Brazil, Mexico etc. They varying context show the diversity that is present in all types of Latin American countries. From the movie Los Olvidados in 1950 to 2002, City of God, both movies have had similar context when it comes to poverty. The shacks life, based on involvements in gangs for unethical earnings have been depicted throughout the 50 plus years of movies. All of the movies have shown the norms that have been followed by the masses. The involvement in gangs being normal, murders and careless attitude of parents have been the answer towards the violence generated in the slums of Latin American countries. People who try to have a safe life are not protected but are slowly dragged into either being effected by violence and crime of others. Protection of such individuals from extreme conditions in those countries is more problematic as due to corruption by the state authorities. Major emphasis on major of the movies towards collective crime and violence in form of gangs is present and portrayed in all the movies. Some authoritative involvement towards keeping the general public out of touch from work and freedom of earning has been present. The causes then are shown directly towards the public as in the book by Carolina Maria De Jesus, the impacts of poverty through the father who only sends in a little amount of cash for the living while not caring about any other matter and enjoying a luxury life changes the way Carolina lives and is forced towards finding food and clothes from the trash cans. Carelessness from the people who have higher roles in the society due to corruption is not administered and is considered a collective immorality in the Latin American countries. (Rotker & Goldman, 2002) Collective living, and ambitions and emotions set through families are also considered a major part of the violence igniting feature in the Latin American countries. Being a part of a certain clan or gang puts them under direct threat. The causes are loss of life in a rapid rate and it majorly spread through the poverty line of public in countries like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, where due to limiting the resources by the government there are no limitations towards population expansions thus creating a major gap toward feeding everyone. (Rodgers, 1999) Contributing Factors High levels of contrast is shown through the books and movies, factors that are propagating both sides have many contribution factors that keep the overall situation of the country involved in the same process. The movies have tried to show these factors under which the major plots and documentaries have been able to effectively spread the message. Armed Conflicts In the movie Los Olvidados and documentaries such as Favela rising, the major problems have not been able to stop due to the armed conflicts. They add as a major contribution factor towards continuing the bloodshed and a constant struggle of proving one community or one side supreme and right. Drugs and Unemployment Documentary based on Bus 147 showing how Nascimento have been involved in drugs due to frustration of unemployment plays an important role towards the constant struggle people face to stabilize their life. Not being able to have education and even after those reasons, having no stance in the society due to involvement in drugs and gangs limit the option of growth in the society. These reasons put Latin America behind the scale of growth in terms of economy as well as in the race of human development. (Rodgers, 1999) Rural life and fighting towards modernization The backbone perhaps is to reach the level of satisfaction in society by moving out of rural life into urbanization. This has created mindsets of people in all the rural communities throughout Latin America. Movies have shown that people with steady household in rural areas have to work towards finding some stability by being modern and being able to protect themselves. If anyone can get a hand on something in their area, it starts a constant struggle in all of the society to fight for it to their last breath. Children Involvement When compared to all the models of stagnation present in the society of Latin America, children are not even away from these misdoings of the society but are a complete part of it in. Having access to arms and being able to get hired in gangs for daily food, shown in movies such as City of God and Los Olvidados, is then a necessity for survival. There is no sympathy shown towards the treatment they are given, no education opportunities as well as no limit towards their use in gangs. They are treated equal and their life and death regardless of their limited mental growth is neglected. Hence, children are immorally used and lives are lost due to this mishap. Many of them in future even if try to run from their misdoings are too far from having a stable life as they again are either immersed in the same cycle or are murdered for their previous involvements. (Rodgers, 1999) Who is to Blame In regard to all the movies and books that have contributed enough towards trying to portray the real picture of the Latin American society, the blame is spread towards everyone who is a part of it and is playing a part to keep it going. Problems can be easily traced back to the lack of interest by the governing authorities. Due to mass level of corruption, these countries governments don’t take steps to create solutions but use military arms when the problem reaches their apex. Latin American governments shifting majorly from authoritarian systems towards democracies have not been able to control their populations and have given a major level of crime freedom in most aspects. The culture hence portrayed also has major symbolism that clearly shows the lack of interest by the government. Government doesn’t like to get their hands dirty as they don’t want to be in their position. This has created major impacts that help in widespread of injustice in the society. Failed Rehabilitation The rehabilitation system is not in place and illustrated in Favela Rising the situation in the jails is worse than anywhere else. People cases are not solved, the crime is to the intensity that people have to take shifts in their cells to sleep and to stay standing. In many other cases people haven’t been able to receive any medical care and are in other terms forgotten. The judicial system has not been able to file any reports towards solving the issue therefore limiting any results towards creating progress in the society. (Buvinic et al, 1999) Illiteracy Illiteracy of people with no civic sense towards stopping their children to be involved in criminal activities is the root cause. Population grown has been immense where people are not able to support themselves and are burdened with children. As the home, even though majorly shelter homes are the world they grow in, they are let free and to feed themselves daily have to steal or kill. (Buvinic et al, 1999) Responsible Film Making Through the stories and real time actions being carried out around Latin America, films are helping to change people’s mind into creating a sense of help. Literate people across borders realizing the need of their neighboring countries are shifting towards humanitarian funding which is starting to penetrate the societies where the need is extreme. Films and books are thus the only means to the masses to get the message heard. Most of it can only be done with the help of writing and ideas. There are people who are strong enough to take charge into spreading the right stories by pointing fingers at the issues and people. Many people who are involved in these acts of violence and crime are being exposed through the help of responsible film making. The need of civic sense and the understanding of their basic needs is the depiction through which many rights are to be preserved of Latin American countries where responsible film making constitute the basic ingredients to start a movement. Conclusion By the thorough analysis of movies such as City of God, Bus 174, Black Orpheus and documentaries such as Favela Rising with the motivational stories on reality such as Child of Dark, text and visuals have tried to get the message out from the core of the country. Not everything is as it seems and trusting the issue from credible writers and film makers can only help telling the true story of Latin America. These societies are very closely knitted towards their associations within their groups, religions, ethnicities and give their life in terms of issues relating to love. The direction is wild and uncontrollable as it is motivated by emotions rather than rationality. Daily cases of violence are mostly the answers of long term problems where due to lack of education, civic sense and less or no interest by the government has ended up creating a harsh negative impact in the society. With the turn of the centuries new governments are starting to take control to avoid international blacklisting but are facing oppression through the gangs present. Latin America progress is thus much important to be portrayed through visual arts and films to find their solution within their countries and with the guidance of others. References Buvinic, M., Morrison, A., & Shifter, M. (1999). Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: a framework for action. Bid (Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo). Rodgers, D. (1999). Youth gangs and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: a literature survey. World Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development SMU. Rotker, S., & Goldman, K. (Eds.). (2002). Citizens of fear: Urban violence in Latin America. Rutgers University Press. Read More