In a world grappling with environmental crises, the call for positive change is stronger than ever. Every role is crucial, including the often overlooked need for storytelling. As author Jonathan Gottschal famously noted, “We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.” It’s testament to our inherent love for narratives.
Instead of bombarding audiences with statistics and data, stories are able to offer a humanizing lens. The right story can spark emotions and make the complexity of environmental problems felt. Stories have the power to inspire action and transform attitudes, behaviors, and policies.
Makmende editor Alda’s pick
Book – We, the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age
Our data-intensive world is here to stay, but does that come at the cost of our humanity in terms of autonomy, community, dignity and equality? Author Wendy H. Wong argues that we cannot allow that to happen.
Makmende creative Elise pick
Documentary – Dancing with the Birds
This is one of the most entertaining nature documentaries I have watched and at the same time it made me reflect on animal and human behavior: what do or don’t we have in common when it comes down to impressing the opposite (or same) sex?
Makmende creative Maaike’s pick
Movie – 20th Century Women
This film portrays what it means to grow up as (cis/straight, in this case) man and woman within society’s norms of gender in a very nuanced way, it’s refreshing! Tragic at times but also sometimes hilarious.
Makmende producer Maja’s pick
Movie – Quo Vadis, Aida?
I select this film,because it is important not to look the other way when genocide takes place. Films like these are of crucial importance to make a wider audience aware of what has taken place in our history and we should not only say never again, but act on it.
Makmende producer Wietske’s pick
Book – Homegoing
This book begins with 2 Ghanian sisters in the 18th century: one becomes a wealthy slave trader’s wife and the other one is sold into slavery and sent to America. The novel follows the lives of their descendants. Spanning 3 continents and 8 generations across 3 centuries, the story addresses the legacy of slavery, for those who were taken and those who stayed.
Makmende creative Nicole’ pick
Book – Catch and Kill
Need a great book for the beach? I gave Catch and Kill a reread 5 years after its publication, and I still loved it. Written by journalist Ronan Farrow, this non-fiction actually feels more thriller as he exposes how the media industry buried shocking stories to project our society’s rich and powerful. The story focuses on outing Harvey Weinstein, but it’s a timely read since Ronan’s investigation also unearthed some “catch and kill” practices by you-know-who running for the U.S. Presidency.
Makmende marketing Lavinia’s pick
Documentary series – Marvel Studios Assembled
As a long-time enthusiast of both big-budget filmmaking and Marvel lore, I find it incredibly exciting and fascinating to see the actors, production teams, and visual effects teams at work. Witnessing how they bring characters and stories to life adds a whole new layer of appreciation to the movies.
