Category Archives: HOMEPAGE – DIVERSIONS

6 Adorable Pups and their Famous Author Owners

Dogs are amazingly loyal and their ability to silently listen without judgment makes them a writer’s best friend.

Emily Dickenson’s words sum it up nicely, “Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.”

We’re grateful for these charming canines, who provide love, companionship and inspiration to some of our favorite authors of all time.

First on our list belongs to bestselling author (and inspiration of our Beyond Words digital lifestyle magazine), Sylvia Day. We cannot get enough of her pups, Beck and Koji.

 

 

Stephen King, who has been terrifying readers for decades, doesn’t seem all too scary now that we’ve gotten a glimpse of, “Molly, aka the Thing of Evil.”

 


We can’t help, but fall in with love Avi, the “windblown dog,” belonging to Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent trilogy.    

This sophisticated-looking pooch is companion to Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. It looks like he takes his treats seriously. Do you think he’s begging for bacon?          

Gratuitous photo of Chunky the Frenchie. A photo posted by Elizabeth Gilbert (@elizabeth_gilbert_writer) on

 

 

Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Brave Enough, posts pictures of her dog, Janie. She is incredibly cute, exuberant and happy. Wish we could cuddle her!

 

My dog Janie. Photo by Meg Vogt.

A photo posted by Cheryl Strayed (@cherylstrayed) on

 


We’re rounding off our adorable pups list with Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook, and his contented rescues, Lucky Bo and Boomer.    

 

Do you have a pup that inspires you? Share them with us in the comments.

Which Celebrated Female Movie Director Are You?

From Meg Ryan’s brilliantly faked orgasm in When Harry Met Sally  to the heart-pounding explosions in The Hurt Locker, women directors are responsible for some of the most iconic moments in film history. Yet the vast majority of movies are still directed by men. According to a recent report from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, women directed only 7% of the highest grossing films in recent years. The entrenched discrimination against women in Hollywood is so dire that the ACLU just filed a grievance with state and federal agencies to help boost representation of them behind the camera.

In celebration of the incredible women directors who’ve created cinematic masterpieces despite the odds, we bring you this quiz. Find out whose style, subject and voice most match your own sensibilities, and maybe you’ll discover your next favorite movie, too.

(Please select one answer for each of the following six questions…)

 

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One-take Wonders: 6 Incredible Music Videos Shot in a Single Take

Action movies and reality TV depend on quick cuts to heighten what’s happening on screen. But sometimes, one continuous take can pack an even bigger punch. Here are six music videos that push the limits physically, emotionally and technically of what’s achievable in a single take. No editing required.

 

Call Your Girlfriend, Robyn (2011)

 


With the stamina of a world-class athlete and the fashion sense of a dystopian teddy bear, Robyn dances her heart out for three-and-half minutes straight in an empty soundstage. Perfectly timed lighting changes and 360-degree camera moves bring out the triumph and heartbreak in Robyn’s vocals and elbow thrusts.

 


 

 

No Surprises, Radiohead (1997)

 

This one will leave you breathless. Thom Yorke stares straight at you from inside a diver’s helmet as it slowly fills with water. His literal suffocation excruciatingly echoes the metaphorical suffocation in the song’s lyrics. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video in the classic Radiohead documentary, “Meeting People Is Easy.”

 


 

 

Two Weeks, FKA twigs (2014)

 

What’s better than FKA twigs? A giant FKA twigs surrounded by a handful of miniature FKA twigs dancing. Here, the multi-talented Brit presides as a golden goddess over a bevy of mini-twigs in one glorious panning shot. Though she typically directs her own videos, this one was directed by Nabil.

 


 

 

Hunter, Bjork (1997)

 

https://youtu.be/CyM5wow-hUk

It took one day of shooting in a studio and months and months of post-production to put together this uncanny and futuristic video. In a pure white environment, a purely bald Bjork shifts shapes between her human body and that of a translucent blue polar bear. She’s alternately the hunter and the hunted, beautifully underscoring the song’s lyrics and her own struggle to find creative expression. Her longtime creative collaborator, Paul White, directed the video.

 


 

 

Blood Brothers, Ingrid Michaelson (2012)

 

https://youtu.be/JHVLpTyGgt0

Although technically only the first couple minutes of this video were shot in one take, we’re including it because time-lapse makeovers are such fun to watch. This one came out a couple years before Cut Videos’ wildly popular “100 Years” series. Through hair, makeup, costume and set changes, Ingrid Michaelson transforms herself into seven music superstars before your very eyes. She proves her lyrics right: “we’re all the same under a different name.”

 


 

 

This Too Shall Pass, OK Go (2010)

 

Leave it to OK Go to dress a marching band in ghillie suits and get them to dance in a swamp. This exuberant and flawlessly executed video is actually the second one for “This Too Shall Pass.” The other one features an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine and was also shot in one take, the band’s now signature visual hook.

9 Beautiful Movies About Travel

We watch movies to laugh, to learn, and to feel something new. In large part, we watch them to escape reality. We experience something through the screen that we might not experience otherwise. It’s a glimpse into someone else’s life—a chance to put your own mind on mute while you live in another world for a few hours. And while nothing beats packing your bags and leaving on an adventure, an inspiring travel film comes in second. Maybe your schedule doesn’t allow a getaway; or perhaps you haven’t found something budget-friendly. Maybe you simply want to cure your case of wanderlust without having to get up off the couch. Whatever your reasons may be, if you’re looking for some of the most beautiful movies about travel, you’ve come to the right place.

1. Eat Pray Love

Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) seemingly has it all: the career, the husband, the home. But after going through a rather painful divorce, she’s left feeling lost and isolated. She embarks on a journey around the world to rediscover herself, indulging in delicious food in Italy, learning the power of prayer in India, and finding peace and love in Bali. Eat Pray Love is not just visually stunning; it grabs a hold of your heart and doesn’t let go.

2. Into the Wild


Here’s something many of us considered doing at one point in our lives: After graduating from college, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) leaves behind all his belongings, gives his savings to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to experience and live in the wilderness. What makes this even cooler is that it’s based on a true story.

3. Wild


You’ll never forget Reese Witherspoon’s portrayal of Cheryl Strayed after the end of her marriage and her mother’s passing. Hopeless and self-destructive, Strayed embarks on a thousand-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail—alone. This movie makes you feel unlike any other film will, as you share in her journey of fear, finding hope, and ultimately, healing.

4. The Beach


This is certainly a movie of unpredictable adventures. While traveling in Bangkok, American backpacker Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) comes across a map that reportedly leads to an isolated island paradise kept a hidden secret from most. He’s able to make his way to this beach utopia but soon learns that everything is not as it seems. DiCaprio’s performance is, as always, unforgettable.

5. Under the Tuscan Sun


Similar to Eat Pray Love, this movie follows a woman named Frances (Diane Lane)—a professor and author—who has just found out that her husband is leaving her for the woman he’s been having an affair with. She escapes her home in San Francisco for a trip to Tuscany with the help of a friend, and in a series of somewhat odd events, ends of purchasing a run-down villa. It’s a beautiful story of heartache, healing, and remembering how to love yourself.

6. Lost in Translation

An unlikely friendship forms between aging movie star Bob (Bill Murray) and recent college graduate Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson)—both of whom are a little lost in life—when they cross paths in Tokyo. The movie portrays not just the isolation they feel being in a strange country, but also the obstacles they face in their own personal lives.

7. The Bucket List


Full disclosure: This one is a real tearjerker. But it’s hard to resist the touching story of Edward (Jack Nicholson) and Carter (Morgan Freeman)—two men from very different walks of life with one thing in common: their terminal illnesses. Together, they decide to ditch the hospital to scratch off the items on their bucket lists. While their adventures certainly brighten their days, it’s ultimately the friendship they form that gets them through their troubles.

8. Vicky Cristina Barcelona


Gal pals Vicky and Cristina are enjoying their summer in Spain when they meet and are immediately fascinated by an artist named Juan Antonio. While he finds himself attracted to the both of them, he’s still hooked on his ex-wife, who is quite the emotional (and also unstable) character. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy.

9. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants


Based on the book by Anne Brashares, this flick follows four best friends who spend the summer apart. While they can’t be together, a pair of jeans that magically fits all of them is passed between them, keeping them together in another way, and sharing in their adventures.

7 Books about Life-Changing Love

The weather is cooling and fall leaves float in the breeze. The coming of fall signals a time for togetherness and compassion. To help you celebrate love, we’ve compiled a list of books focusing not on romance, but on life-changing love.

 

Kisses from Katie by Katie J. Davis

kisses from katieKatie’s relentless love for her God and others leads her to a life of service in Uganda. At just eighteen years old, Katie foregoes her parents’ college plans and pursues a mission trip to Africa. Katie’s mission trip turns into a lifetime commitment as Katie decides to permanently move to Uganda and adopt fourteen children. In her premier novel, Katie details her life as she takes care of her children and launches Amazima Ministries in order to provide orphans with school, meals and care. Katie’s love story with Uganda is truly inspirational.

 

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

secret life of beesLily Owens and her stand in mother, Rosaleen, seek refuge in the home of the beekeeping “calendar sisters” after an altercation with a trio of violent racist. Lily joins Rosaleen in order to escape from her abusive father and haunting memories of her mother’s death.  The two are quickly immersed in the world of beekeeping. Slowly, they discover the truth surrounding the death of Lily’s mother and learn how to love themselves.

 

My Name is Mahtob by Mahtob Mahmoody

my name is mahtobMahtob is the daughter from the novel and movie, Not Without My Daughter. She tells the story of her captivity in Iran from her perspective and continues her story to the present day.  My Name is Mahtob is the story of a mother who loves her daughter too much to leave her behind and too much to teach her to hate.  Because her mother takes special care to keep Mahtob immersed in Iranian culture, Mahtob is able to come to love her father as the man who will forever be a part of her. Through this love, she is able to find forgiveness and peace.

 

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

bread and wine“With love, with love, with love” is the refrain of Niequist’s follow up to Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines. Niequist writes of that deep abiding love we often share around a hearty meal. Bread and Wine is a collection of essays about the love-filled moments in Niequist’s life, including travels around Europe, Sunday afternoons with her family, moving into her own home and her pregnancy. Each essay is followed by a recipe, like blueberry crisp or mango chicken curry, that she felt captured that moment for her. Niequist reminds us to focus not on counting down minutes, but on cherishing moments that take our breath away.

 

Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble

things i want my daughters to knowNoble heartbreakingly captures the beauty of mother-daughter love in Things I Want my Daughters to Know. The novel opens at the funeral of Barbara, the mother of four daughters. After being fatally diagnosed with cancer, Barbara wrote a series of letters for each of her daughters to be read after her death. In a beautiful way, Barbara is able to help her daughters heal and move on with their lives, even though she can no longer be physically present.

 

Walk to Beautiful by Jimmy Wayne

walk to beautifulWalk to Beautiful is the true story of Jimmy Wayne’s life. Jimmy spent time in and out of the foster care system, and eventually came to meet Bea and Russell, an older couple who took him under their wings. Their love, coupled with the love and energy of his guidance counselor, is what motivates Jimmy to finish school and pour himself into his music. After reaching the pinnacle of his country music career, Jimmy passes on their love by walking halfway across America in order to raise awareness and support for foster children.

 

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

divine secrets of the yaya sisterhoodDivine Secrets is a classic example of the power of a sisterhood. Siddalee‘s mother sends her old scrapbook to Siddalee after she attacks her mother’s parenting ability in a national newspaper. Through her mother’s scrapbook, Siddalee discovers the stories of the women who have been her mother’s lifelong friends, the members of the “Ya-Yas”. Each Ya-Ya comes to life, and Siddalee is able to piece together their personalities, flaws and life events. The scrapbook allows Siddalee to learn life lessons as well as reach the point of forgiving her mother for past transgressions.

 

5 Quotes About Marriage That Teach Us How to Live Happily in Love

The secrets to a blissful life lie deep in the world of literature.

Since the very idea of marriage came to be, supposedly sometime before recorded history, people have been searching for the secrets of how to make it work. How can two independent people, who have lived well enough alone, come together to co-exist? No, not just co-exist — come together to be one entity, having every aspect of their previous lives align as one. I’m certain you’ll agree that it sounds a rather demanding task, and yet it’s what many of us attempt every day of our lives. So, when wondering how to have a happy marriage, where do we begin? Since art is incessantly obsessed with love, it’s as good a place as any. After all, you may just find what you’re looking for between the pages of a book, like with these popular quotes about marriage.

best quotes about marriage

1. “Oh, Lizzy! Do anything rather than marry without affection.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Can you honestly imagine a marriage free from any form of affection? The idea is almost laughably implausible yet, of course, it happens. But that’s wrong because love is not a cold emotion. It’s not something made up of logic, reason, or facts. Nor is it a tangible entity. Love is something quite inexplicable that we can’t see, hear, or write down on paper. It’s something that’s accompanied by its partner in crime, affection. Without it, you just have two people sitting in a room, trying desperately to think of something to say.

2. “A good marriage, like any partnership, meant subordinating one’s own needs to that of the other’s, in the expectation that the other will do the same.” ― Nicholas Sparks, True Believer

You’ve heard that tired, old notion that you ought to put others’ needs before your own. Well, it’s true, and it’s especially true for your life partner. Nicholas Sparks put it best in this straightforward and elegant quote. When you choose to earnestly dedicate your life to someone else, that means putting them first in everything you do. A selfish person will find it hard to have a happy marriage. They will always put their own niggling needs before that of any other person.

quotes about marriage

3. “They may part in one year or ten; they may live together until death. But if she thinks he is a fool, she will not love him again.” ― Philippa Gregory, The Other Queen

Respect is one of the hardest things to earn, and yet one of the easiest to lose. Once your spouse has lost it, they may never regain it from you. If you’re honest with yourself, you know that to have a truly happy marriage, you have to hold your partner in high regard. There are many reasons that a person might lose your respect; maybe they don’t prove to be the partner you thought, perhaps they cheat on you, or maybe they let you down in some way and you just can’t look at them as you once did. Whatever the reason, when you’ve lost all respect, you’ve also lost the marriage.

4. “If I have to ‘catch’ a man to get a husband, I don’t want one.” ― Tamora Pierce, Shatterglass

Read all the dating columns you wish, but that simply will not change the facts. Although many like to believe that it’s so, love is not a game. You do not need to “catch” a spouse or somehow trick them into falling quite madly in love with you. In fact, you can enlist the help of all the self-help-esque romance tips in the world, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will meet a partner who’s just the right match for you. Deciding to take someone as a husband or, indeed, wife, is much grander than you imagine. Only when the games are over can you truly see that.

love

5. “Marriage is like a well-built porch. If one of the two posts leans too much, the porch collapses. So each must be strong enough to stand on its own.” ― Deb Caletti, The Secret Life of Prince Charming

Finally, to make things really work, you have to be equally strong alone. Sure, in your darkest hours, there’s no doubt that your partner ought to be there to support you. That should be a rarity, though, rather than the status quo. If either of you becomes fully reliant on the other, it won’t be long before the cracks start to show. It’s just far too much pressure for one party to shoulder. Put simply, a marriage is a partnership. That means that neither one of you should do all the work. Instead, you should both be somewhat independent and yet, stand together with nothing but sheer strength.

6 Beautiful Quotes About Female Friendship

Female friendship is a beautifully delicate thing that can all too often be undervalued by those who possess it. As a woman, navigating life’s many obstacles alone is a tough feat. Sure, your life partner may be there to hold your hand when times get tough, but a true friend will be holding the compass and telling you which way to turn. She will be there, by your side, at all the most important points throughout your existence. Having a woman this close to you is only akin to having a sister. Of course, none put this feeling better than authors. So, with that in mind, here are six quotes about female friendship that aptly sum up what it means to have this unforgettable bond.

female friends

1. “We could fight and wrangle and name-call, but it didn’t change anything underneath. She was still my oldest friend. Is.” (The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood)

If a friendship is so weak that it will break after the first insignificant fight, it was never one that would stand the test of time. True relationships can sustain any amount of hardship. They are like diamonds: Rather than cracking under the great many pressures of life, they become stronger at every opportunity. Having a disagreement with a friend is never a pleasant experience; it’s not one you’d wish upon yourself or anyone else. Still, it doesn’t change the way you feel about them and, in that moment, you know that it never will.

2. “True friendship resists time, distance and silence.” (Portrait in Sepia, Isabel Allende)

Whether you tell yourself that you don’t have the time, that they’re too far away, or that it’s been too long since you last spoke, you’re lying. When someone is a real friend, when they are an intrinsic part of your life, none of those things matter a single iota. You can call them up from the other side of the planet having not once contacted them for the last six months, and yet you’ll still feel as close to them as ever — if not closer. It’s these friendships that are so intricately woven into our lives that we can never untangle them, no matter how we try. The likelihood is that you’ll get but a few of these in your life, but they are the bonds that keep you grounded and, much of the time, sane too.

3. “There’s nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends.” (The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath)

As comically vulgar as this one sounds, there’s great truth in it. Bonding with another human being is not merely about spending wine-fueled nights together, though that helps too. Instead, it’s about facing every battle together. Once someone’s held back your hair while you vomited up your regrets, it’s hard not to find them a little endearing. What women look for in any friendship is something lasting. We don’t just want friends who will take pouty selfies with us in clubs; we want those who will be there when we’re no longer posing.

4. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling)

It’s not about simply being a Yes Woman when called upon for help. Sure, that may be a fast-track way to trick people into liking you, but it’s a disingenuous way to gain people’s trust. Our closest friends will come to us for advice and guidance. How we respond to that depends on our strength of character. Telling someone exactly what you think they want to hear is not only spineless, but it can actually turn out to be a hindrance.

5. “I have your back. I didn’t mean only when it’s easy. All the time.” (Divergent, Veronica Roth)

At the core of any relationship, there’s just one thing: loyalty. This trait is so hard to come by, nigh impossible, which is why it should be valued in a person once you’re lucky enough to find it. You can have everything in common — the same sense of humor, the same interests, a similar outlook on life — and yet if this one key thing is misplaced, it will never work. When someone is only out for themselves, for their own personal gain, the friendship will wear thin quicker than you could ever imagine.

6. “No friendship is an accident.” (Heart of the West, O. Henry)

The final thing to remember about any legitimate friendship is that it’s not something you simply fall into. Friends of convenience rarely last, and just because something’s easy doesn’t mean it will work. Friendship is by no means an accident; it’s something you have to work at every single day of your life. When you decide to align your life with that of another person, it changes you; it means that you suddenly have to consider them in your plans. The moment you stop doing so, you could lose them — that in itself should worry you enough to never make the mistake. That’s not to say that friendship should be hard work, but you definitely should work hard at it regardless.

The Happiest Playlist

One of the reasons music exists is to enhance any and all situations; some is best for thinking, others are for distraction, and then there’s music for celebrating (to name a few). The celebrating kind is easy to pick out – it’s punchy, exhilarating, and just plain happy! Now we all know that it’s the little things in life that matter and whether it’s an entire night of extravagance or simply getting three and half minutes of bliss through your headphones, any moment of joy can certainly become an occasion.

As if you needed any more reasons to jump for joy on a Friday — goodbye, work – hello, world! — we’ve put together a list of the happiest tracks to get you on your way to a fabulous weekend.

  1. “Can’t Stop This Feeling” by Justin Timberlake
  2. “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE
  3. “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars
  4. “Geronimo” by Sheppard
  5. “My House” by FloRida
  6. “All in My Head (Flex)” by Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap
  7. “Cheap Thrills” by Sia ft. Sean Paul
  8. “The Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
  9. “Valerie” by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
  10. “New Soul” by Yael Naim

 

For more fabulous playlists, subscribe to Beyond Words’ YouTube channel!

Studio Ghibli: Animation is Art

Animation in film is dominated by studios such as Pixar and Dreamworks; and although these produce some high quality and emotionally evocative films, there is one studio that often outshines them in terms of artistic imagery and visual story telling. That studio is the Japanese rooted Studio Ghibli, and in this article we take an introductory look at the legendary artistry that has given Ghibli its well deserved status in cinematic history.

In 1984, Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki adapted his complex comic book into a screenplay, and one of his original anime films, Nausicää of the Valley of the Wind, was brought to cinemas. The story is of a princess who struggles to prevent two nations from destroying themselves and their planet.

A year later, the film was adapted and given a Western voice in the US, and his work was brought to the masses in the form of the controversial Warriors of the Wind. A studio was developed by Miyazaki, director Isao Takahata, and producer Toshia Suzuki. The torch paper of cinema’s love affair with Studio Ghibli had been lit, and off the success of this film.

Miyazaki’s enchanting storytelling and the studio’s breathtaking visual splendour enraptured audiences; and in 1996, Disney agreed to distribute Studio Ghibli’s films internationally, dubbing those that had already been released into English and bringing the magic to the world.

Grave of Fireflies

In 1988, Studio Ghibli produced the Takahata directed Grave of Fireflies. This still stands as one of the most heart wrenching and beautifully devastating animated films to have been made. In wartime Japan, a young boy and his little sister struggle to survive when faced with homelessness following the death of their mother. The mixture of evocative imagery and childlike innocence that seeps through the screen to the audience work together to enthrall and envelope so that is impossible not to feel for the characters and their horrendous plight.

Spirited Away

In contrast, Studio Ghibli released Spirited Away in 2001. This remains as one of the favourite anime films of many cinema buffs, and it is hardly surprising given the films fanciful originality and extravagant storytelling. When 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents drive to their new home, they take a wrong turn and end up in an abandoned theme park. Chihiro ends up in a world full of monsters and must fight her way back to her parents and her new life in a new home.

There is a myriad of visual and narrative metaphors for fear and anxiety within the film, which focuses on the young Chihiro’s strength and faith in order to overcome the physical and mental obstacles that stand in her way back to safety. In Spirited Away, Miyazaki really demonstrates his vivid imagination and understanding of a child’s psyche in order to bring a complex issue to life in a way that is disturbingly entertaining and visually invigorating.

Spirited Away has gone down in history as one of the top animated films ever made; and in 2004, Ghibli produced their second universally acclaimed masterpiece. Howl’s Moving Castle, based on a book by British author Diana Wynn Jones, tells the story of Sophie Hatter. When Sophie is cursed to look like an old hag by the Witch of the Waste, she runs from her home and finds the moving castle of the wizard Howl. Once there, Sophie befriends his fire demon Culcifer and strikes up a deal whereby if she frees Calcifer of Howl, he will help her return to her younger self.

Howl’s Moving Castle

Howl’s Moving Castle again demonstrates the incredible imagination and visual dexterity of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki as a director. As with previous films, Miyazaki matches his whimsical colourful imagery with dark and often scary representations. The juxtaposition works to create a journey that plays with an audience’s emotions not just through the narrative but through what is offered on the screen.

Throughout 2016, UK cinemas will be screening classic Ghibli films to celebrate the studio’s impressive achievements since its conception. The studio has gained a strong following, and a number of its films remain favourites of animation fans, and indeed of cinema fans in general. The films’ fantastical storytelling and quirky, whimsical imagery have captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of filmgoers. This year, it may be your turn.

 

*Featured Image: The Wind Rises (2013) directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli

6 Must-Watch Documentaries for Good Global Citizens

For those of us born since around the early ’70s, we’ve been growing up in a world that was steadily going global. But today, in the 2016 of global economy, location independence, and international personal lives, we’re in many ways already there.

As more and more of the world becomes available to us, we have a growing responsibility to make ourselves informed consumers and participants in global society. To gain insights into the lives of some of the seven billion other humans who share our planet and learn about the common challenges facing many of us, start with these six documentaries.

 

1) Century of the Self

Century of the Self is an eye-opening investigation of the origins and consequences of consumerism in the West, but with a psychoanalytic twist. The documentary details how Freudian psychology was systematically applied to the world of the 20th century free market to induce us to want to spend more, starting with Edward Bernays, Freud’s nephew and the founding father of the field of public relations.

Century of the Self regards the societal drive to spend with skepticism, and takes an important look at how the latest kitchen appliance is in many ways keeping us distracted from the things that really need and deserve our attention in the world. Watch the first episode or the whole series for free at Top Documentary Films.

 

2) Breaking the Taboo

What started out as America’s War on Drugs quickly became a global phenomenon with heavy consequences for an entire generation, in the US as well as in Latin American neighbors like Mexico and Colombia. Breaking the Taboo takes a critical look at how policy decisions in one country can have extreme consequences for children, families, and entire industries in other countries.

This film looks not only at the failures of the global war on drugs, but also at success stories like the famous tolerance of the Netherlands and the Latin American countries on cutting edge of progress, like Uruguay.

You can rent or buy Breaking the Taboo on Amazon or the iTunes store.

 

3) Girl Rising

Girl Rising documents the lives of nine young girls growing up in different parts of the developing world. As it surveys young girls’ stories of human trafficking, violence, arranged marriages, and more, this documentary promotes a powerful message about the girls that are “rising” to reshape our world into a more equal one.

Girl Rising reminds us of the importance of educating young girls and developing them into community leaders, while also reminding us to tip our hats to the women of the world who are leading the revolution by balancing work and family and generally being badasses.

You can watch Girl Rising on Netflix or purchase a download from the official website.

 

4) Black Gold

One of the places we can have the most impact with the least effort is as consumers. Black Gold asks us to think about how something so abundant in most of our lives, coffee, travels from a person’s farm to your local Starbucks.

Fair trade is one of the most practical and successful approaches to ending poverty in rural communities: It ensures that farmers and the people who actually produce the goods we consume have access to accurate market prices and are able to unionize to combat the wage-suppressing forces of multinational corporations.

To learn more about how fair trade coffee is impacting farmers in Ethiopia and worldwide, you can stream Black Gold on its official website for $5: http://blackgoldmovie.com/.

 

5) The Square

In a world that’s still living the aftermath of the Arab Spring and navigating difficult questions of what “democracy” means worldwide, a human perspective is often just what we need to understand the lives behind the statistics and news headlines.

This Netflix original documentary does just that in a flawlessly-crafted film that strives to balance different and dissenting voices while empathizing with several from up-close. Filmed on the ground at Tahrir Square during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, The Square documents the two years of struggles and sit-ins by the same different factions of Egyptian society that have continued to alternate between collaboration and antagonization since the start of the conflict.

For a documentary that inspires human empathy without distracting from the issues at the heart of an ongoing global struggle, you can watch The Square on Netflix.

 

6) The End of Poverty

Despite its idealistic name, The End of Poverty takes an enlighteningly rational and pragmatic approach to the why and how of poverty, as well as to how we fix it.

Tracing its history from colonial conquest to modern trade, The End of Poverty illuminates how the policies of many world governments and the actions of global financial institutions affect drinking water in rural areas and a factory worker’s ability to earn a livable wage. Best of all, where so many others fail to go beyond diagnosing the problem, The End of Poverty ends with a series of practical and achievable goals for establishing a global system that works for everyone.

For a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of world poverty then and now, you can watch The End of Poverty for free at Top Documentary Films.

 

Awareness is just the first step.

 

*Featured image: Egyptian activist Ahmed Hassan in Jehane Noujaim’s documentary THE SQUARE. Courtesy of Noujaim Films.