Educational Media Reviews Online

Joanna Macy and the Great Turning is an inspiring and fairly brief interview with the well-known sustainability advocate, environmental activist, author, and educator. Macy eloquently presents the ways that the world is changing and the dire conditions for many people around the world, yet offers a glimmer of hope in what she calls the “Great Turning.” The Great Turning is described as the transition from the “industrial growth society” to a more sustainable civilization.

What is so powerful about Macy’s message is that it is so pragmatic and accessible. She does not call for radical changes or for people to rush out and become activists. Rather she sees that we are all already part of the worldwide movement towards living more sustainably, and we are making progress even in the smallest everyday actions. Macy’s positivity in the big picture is refreshing compared to the doom and gloom call-to-arms of most environmental documentaries, which may be either energizing or overwhelming. As Macy says, the Great Turning will not be completed in our lifetimes yet everyone can contribute on a personal level, which is what makes this concept so important in the face of what feels like such enormous global challenges.

The interview includes background music and is often overlaid with related video or images. The video footage is high quality and often quite beautiful, and will make the film more engaging for most viewers. My only negative comment about this film is that I personally found the additional production to be slightly distracting from Macy’s words.

Overall, Joanna Macy and the Great Turning seems best-suited for an educational setting and is highly recommended for showing in middle school, high school, and undergraduate classes. This film could be shown in junior high science or social studies classrooms just as easily as in an undergraduate ethics course or first-year seminar. Extras on the DVD include several additional short interview segments on related topics.