UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Sustainability Institute at Penn State will host a film screening of "Salvage," at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Happy Valley LaunchBox in downtown State College. This is the third film in the Limits of the Imagination Film Series taking place through the fall. The screening is free and open to the public.
The feature-length documentary by Amy C. Elliot explores how the expression, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” contributes to a sense of identity and community for residents of Yellowknife, Canada. This colorful Northwest Territory town has a large, unrestricted dump that people from all backgrounds come to salvage. From dirt-stained-but-lovable teddy bears to 60 pounds of dry vermicelli noodles — thrifty salvagers see ways to reuse and reduce what others think of as waste. However, some city officials want to close the dump, citing safety and liability issues — or do they just want to put a “modern” facade on the city’s waste management? Whose way of thinking about people’s relationship with material goods will prevail? The film poses these questions, and more.
Amy C. Elliot’s "Salvage" raises profound issues about humans' systems of consumption, disposal and relationship to materials. Accompanying the feature film will be a selection of waste- and consumption-themed short films that can open a larger conversation about how we want to manage our materials. A panel discussion with local experts on waste and materials management will follow the screening, which is co-sponsored by the the Borough of State College and Happy Valley LaunchBox.
For the complete calendar of films for the Limits of the Imagination series, visit intersections.psu.edu.