We all know that humans use technology as a tool for our own advancement, but what about when technology becomes a trap to our own destruction? How do we as humans rationalize it all when technology does not help but is controlling us and leading us to chaos?
This is one of the themes explored in Kevin Jarvis’ satirical documentary-styled apocalyptic film. A Dangerous Cure. The film essentially consists of several interviews about Savia Jones, a media personality who was making a film about a zombie virus epidemic at first for fame, but then gets in too deep. As is already known, apocalyptic films, shows and books are a major part of our current culture, but this one gives a slightly different feel with its old school documentary style and closer-to-reality plot. It feels as if the film could happen right now, but also, with its timeless feel, seems as if it already happened.
Centered in New York City in the 21st century, the virus, which we learn is the result of a technological invention, that has taken over is only the pinnacle of a long series of issues plaguing a civilization on the brink of end and reveals the desperate measure humans will take and patterns we try to reform when confronted with death and chaos. We see the effects of the recession, failure of the healthcare system, gentrification, city decay that harkens back to the the 70s and security threats that lead up to the virus; but we also see the aftermath with the increase of religious fear and zealotry, the continuation of the sensationalism and emotional detachment of the media, hedonistic upheaval of social mores, underground economies, superficial solutions to complicated issues (“organic clove cigarettes” made me laugh), and dismissal of people who are warning the rest of society of its downfall.
A Dangerous Cure gives another take on an old tension of ours that we see in other stories like Frankenstein — how we use technology to escape our fears of death and to advance our societies, but how sometimes it actually leads us faster to our destruction. It is humbling reminder of our mortality and our imperfections. As we again reach the brink of end, how do we teach ourselves to use technology in conjunction with nature and not against it, how do we recognize the dangers of our own technology, how do we not escape our lives, our inevitable mortality and the cycles of nature. How do we keep the soul in the machine?
Sherese Francis: Futuristically Ancient 