World Map
(Worldatlas, n.d.)
The map below shows where Rio de Janeiro is located within South America:
Map of Brazil
(World Guides, n.d.)
Maps construct meaning in what they represent and the purpose intended. A key word in the Australian curriculum is Environment.
"The term environment, means our living and non-living surroundings. The features of an environment can be classified as natural, managed (as with farmland or a planted forest) or constructed. The concept of environment, however, is all about a way of understanding, explaining and thinking about the world" (ACARA, n.d.).
The rationale and aims of the Australian Curriculum support the importance of understanding the world.
While the film is not suitable as a whole to show secondary students, there are elements that connect to the term environment in the Australian Curriculum.
The film is told from the perspective of a boy named Rocket and highlights the poverty, crime, gun use, fear, gangs and drug abuse within that area (City of God-Synopsis, 2002). To understand how this destruction has evolved, the history of how the city came to be needs to be identified.
The "City of God" is described as a slum area or favela (shanty slum).
Approximately 800 favelas exist in Rio de Janeiro (Poorism, 2009). Favelas were originally brought about in the late nineteenth century when African slaves were released from slavery (Poorism, 2009). They had no work or land, so made homes in self constructed shanty towns.
Cidade de Deus was built on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s by the Brazillian Government (Geography film, 2007). "Rio's favelas were constructed in a period of rapid industrialisation to keep the poor isolated from the city's center" (Laurier, 2004). The "City of God" film aims to bring the devastation, inhumanity and poverty to the forefront, so the global community is aware of what is happening in the favelas.
One third of the population in Rio de Janeiro are estimated to be living in favelas , with 34% living below the poverty line in Brazil (Poorism, 2009).
Image of a Favela
(Digital Journal, n.d.)
Health related problems due to poor sewerage, over-population, lack of medical resources and lack of government support during this period of late 1960 - 1980s was a massive issue. Lack of formal education made it difficult for people in these communities to find work, so the cycle of poverty kept on going leading to the domination by gangs, drug dealing and violence.
"The movie is depicting how crime effects the poor population in the slum and how poorness affects the crime vice versa" (Geography film, 2007). The writer indicates that this cycle of poorness will continue as poor families have more children, growing up in the same environment. Today brick and concrete replace wooden shanties, and the government from 1990 has introduced water, electricity and plumbing (Poorism, 2009). It has also been noted that there is now no drug trade in this city and there is a large police presence. The question is then asked, are all favela's in Brazil receiving the same degree of support?
Stabilizing and Greening the Favelas
From a Christian perspective it is important to be aware of the events occurring on a global scale to be able to demonstrate the values spoken of in the Bible. Matthew 22:39 states " Love your neighbour as yourself" (NLT,2004). Loving our neighbour incorporates caring about the needs of those around us and valuing their culture, history and stories. The realisation that poverty is widespread will help students to develop empathy. While it is not possible to help everyone, a difference can be made at some level.
My personal perspective after viewing "City of God" was one of sadness. Children do not choose the environment they are born in. A scene demonstrating the intensity of the situation shows the character having to make a choice between shooting two young boys. The boys sobbing and distressed state reveal the rawness of what is happening in other parts of the world.
Image from "City of God"
(Manson, n.d.)
Even though the life in this city appeared desperate and hopeless, their was hope evident in the character Rocket who was able to turn away from the life that so many of the young people fell into, and take on a job working for a newspaper using his photography skills.
Image from "City of God"
(The Metropolis Times, n.d.)
"Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly - not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God (1 Peter 5:2).
Health related problems due to poor sewerage, over-population, lack of medical resources and lack of government support during this period of late 1960 - 1980s was a massive issue. Lack of formal education made it difficult for people in these communities to find work, so the cycle of poverty kept on going leading to the domination by gangs, drug dealing and violence.
"The movie is depicting how crime effects the poor population in the slum and how poorness affects the crime vice versa" (Geography film, 2007). The writer indicates that this cycle of poorness will continue as poor families have more children, growing up in the same environment. Today brick and concrete replace wooden shanties, and the government from 1990 has introduced water, electricity and plumbing (Poorism, 2009). It has also been noted that there is now no drug trade in this city and there is a large police presence. The question is then asked, are all favela's in Brazil receiving the same degree of support?
Stabilizing and Greening the Favelas
From a Christian perspective it is important to be aware of the events occurring on a global scale to be able to demonstrate the values spoken of in the Bible. Matthew 22:39 states " Love your neighbour as yourself" (NLT,2004). Loving our neighbour incorporates caring about the needs of those around us and valuing their culture, history and stories. The realisation that poverty is widespread will help students to develop empathy. While it is not possible to help everyone, a difference can be made at some level.
My personal perspective after viewing "City of God" was one of sadness. Children do not choose the environment they are born in. A scene demonstrating the intensity of the situation shows the character having to make a choice between shooting two young boys. The boys sobbing and distressed state reveal the rawness of what is happening in other parts of the world.
Despair
Image from "City of God"
Even though the life in this city appeared desperate and hopeless, their was hope evident in the character Rocket who was able to turn away from the life that so many of the young people fell into, and take on a job working for a newspaper using his photography skills.
Hope
Image from "City of God"
Empathy
An interesting thought: If we are to develop empathy and compassion on a global level, why is it so hard to accept persecuted refugees coming into Australia?"Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly - not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God (1 Peter 5:2).
References
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (n.d.). The Australian
Curriculum: Geography: Rationale/Aims. Retrieved from
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/SeniorSecondary/Humanities-and-Social-
Curriculum: Geography: Rationale/Aims. Retrieved from
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/SeniorSecondary/Humanities-and-Social-
Sciences/Geography/RationaleAims
Child Crying [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/city_of_god.htm
City of God (2002) - Synopsis. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/synopsis?ref_=ttpl_pl_syn
Digital Journal (n.d.). Image of a Favela [Photograph]. Retrieved from
http://www.digitaljournal.com/image/52507
Favela | Define Favela at Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/favela
Film Geography: City of God. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://scottfilmgeog.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/city-of-god.html
Geography film: City of god. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://abouthameed.blogspot.com.au/2007/11/city-of-god.html
Meirelles, F. (Director). (2002). City of God [Motion picture]. Rio de Janeiro:
Miramax Films.
Miramax Films.
'Poorism' See the real City of God. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://digitaljournal.com/article/274088
Rio Slums Energy Poverty and Public Health | Sustainable Cities Collective. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
Retrieved from
http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/kaidbenfield/188166/stabilizing-greening-
favelas-rios-formidable-challenge
favelas-rios-formidable-challenge
Sincere, but avoiding difficult questions - World Socialist Web Site. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.wsws.org/en/aricles/2004/03/city-m03.html
The Metropolis Times (n.d.). Boy with camera [Photograph]. Retrieved from
http://www.themetropolistimes.com/1000-film-2/
Tyndale House Publishers (2004). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill:
Tyndale House Publishers.
Tyndale House Publishers.
World Atlas (n.d.). World Map [Map]. Retrieved from
http://www,worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/br.htm
World Guides (n.d.). Map of Brazil [Map]. Retrieved from
http://www.worldguides.com/latin-america/brazil/rio-de-janeiro-
state/buzios/buzios_maps.html
state/buzios/buzios_maps.html
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