Joey in the Forest: How a Television Show can help Prepare our Future for System Change

Thibault, John

Joey in the Forest: How a Television Show can help Prepare our Future for System Change

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10456/57663

Author(s)

Thibault, John

Date Issued

April 1, 2024

Abstract

Capitalism values the Earth through a lens of monetary potential. This, combined with capitalism’s growth imperative has lead to the destruction and wasting of our natural resources leading to the climate crisis we face today. This way of interacting with the world is ingrained within the minds of Americans because it is essential to survival in capitalist life. This project identifies this problem while addressing it through a television show designed to attack this worldview of exploitation. The show seeks to offer discussion on how capitalism impacts the earth while offering alternative systems of value through interconnection and inherent value. I have written the pilot episode, outlined the rest of the season, and prepared a pitch of the show for this project. Goals were created to make sure my goal accomplishes what it seeks to do. My show, titled Joey in the Forest, accomplishes these goals to varying degrees. Interconnection and inherent value are portrayed well, but the relationship between capitalism and the earth could be stronger. The show does do a good job of attacking the thought processes behind capitalism, though. Through watching my new show, my audience of 13-16 year olds will learn ways of valuing the world and be able to think beyond capitalism, creating a future population more ready for necessary system change.

Major

Environmental Science and Sustainability

First Reader(s)

Swann-Quinn, Jesse