The TED Talk I chose was about these two men that went to Rio to ultimately make a documentary of a poor neighborhood and ended up completely switching courses and instead, transformed buildings into art. These neighborhoods they were working in were called “Favelas”, which were basically very poor neighborhoods with crime and broken down houses. They had the idea to completely transform the area and started by painting one building bright blue and eventually painted a boy flying a kite over it. This beautiful mural went viral, bringing positive attention to the neighborhood and changed how people looked at it. The two continued to make art around Rio and were asked to do a Project in Philly in one of the poorest communities. They ended up getting to know everybody in the neighborhood and made a strong connection with them. They also employed a lot of those people as they simplified the murals and had them help. They wanted to keep expanding and brighting their ideas to different places but money was somewhat an issue. They needed sponsors and funding for projects but in order for that to happen they needed to have strict plan of what was going to happen. They never really had strict plan as they would just show up in the area, get to know everyone and then “let the project grow organically”. Eventually, they got the funding needed and continued to transform areas all around the world.
Ultimately, they changed the perspectives of those looking in at these poor neighborhoods and turned them into something beautiful and inviting. It kind of makes you think about how you sometimes judge too soon or just look on the surface. In order to fully understand something you need to take the time and look deeper. This also show how in some ways art can bring us together in ways we wouldn’t expect. To some extend it brought communities closer together and made them feel proud of where they came from.
I find it interesting that the two guys went to go and make a documentation on a poor neighborhood and then ended up turning it around for the better and bringing a positive environment. I really like your last paragraph. I like how you said “it kind of makes you think about how you sometimes judge too soon or just look on the surface” because I completely agree with this. I think after people hear this TED talk it makes them connect it to their own life and think for a minute about what they do. Art’s strength and ability to bring us together is another good point. It made multiple communities closer together which is a powerful thing. I don’t think I can provide a different perspective because I like the way this is written and I agree with what is being said.
I am in complete agreement with this blog post. It is a very admirable concept for these documentary filmmakers to go into a poor, crime-ridden neighborhood and ended up using art to improve the quality of life and environment. One specific method they used was employing those in the neighborhood to help them create the murals, giving them a source of income and having them contribute to the betterment of their home. It goes to show, how the slightest, but sincere project such as the one run by the two documentary makers can completely change the culture, atmosphere, and life of a neighborhood. I also agree with your notion of how art has the ability to instill a sense of pride within the inhabitants of the neighborhood. I have no different points to raise; very agreeable and strong blog post.