Mardi Gras: Made in China (2005) Produced and Directed by David Redmon, Carnivalesque Films, A Comment

This film reveals the inequities of global capitalism, particularly, the "disposableness" of "cheap" labor from overseas that is embodied in almost all "lucky charms" and "exchange" beads thrown by carnival motorcades during New Orleans' Mardi Gras. A central message this film poses has to do with the somber alienation of dignity surrounding human work which lies behind "global capitalism". This is wake up call to leave our contemplative state (at best) facing a morale-impoverished reality by not recognizing how our increasing levels of instantaneous material gratification come at the expense of minimizing others' work, dignity, and further aspirations in life. We must bear in mind and practice the dignity and potentiality of labor in others along with our strenuous claims on natural capital, which is embodied in basically all goods and services that we consume and/or desire, if we are to avoid turning global capitalism against us.