Paper short abstract:

I will discuss the role of film in the strategies of climate activists working to effect change in Toronto. From the vantage of a participant ethnographer and filmmaker, I explore the creative possibilities of film as public engagement as well as its limitations as a means of political mobilization.

Paper long abstract:

Climate activists comprise a diversity of individuals and organizations whose political ideologies, strategies and goals frequently diverge and often conflict. Their one and sometimes only area of common ground is a belief in the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for collective action on the part of civil society. For many, the moment of decision to join the climate movement can be traced to the viewing of a compelling film or video. The apparent power of film to move and mobilize across time and space is one reason it has become so ubiquitous in climate advocacy work. Also fueling the ubiquity of film in activism is a belief that increasing the public's exposure to the right knowledge and perspectives on the climate crisis will lead to increased civic engagement. The significance of film in climate activism is evinced by the plethora of videographers and photographers at public demonstrations, the continuous stream of content being uploaded to websites like YouTube and Facebook, and the proliferation of environment-themed film screenings and festivals. My research explores the strategies of climate activists working to effect change in Toronto. In this panel I discuss the role of film in these strategies from the vantage of a participant ethnographer who has been attending and organizing public film screenings as well as producing a short video of my own. I aim to shed some light on the creative possibilities of film as public engagement as well as its limitations as a means of political mobilization.