Anthony Bourdain, an American chef, author, and TV personality joins CNN to host his series called Parts Unknown . Fascinated by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness , Bourdain sets out to explore history and life in the Congo, past and present.
Watch this 43 minute-long video, and post your thoughts in the Discussion Forum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq2gkJamjX4
I thought that the documentary was a sad scene. The general theme I got from the video is that since independence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo stagnation and fracture have hit, and hit hard.
ReplyDeleteThe conditions of the Congo currently are nothing like what you would expect in a modern country. The abandonment of cities and the seemingly never-ending infighting have kept the nation from reaching its true potential. It distressed me personally at 9:10 when the documentary showed the extent of tribal rebellious factions inside the DRC.. And even more so due to the fact that normal citizens are constantly living in that sort of danger and don't seem to do anything about their situation (move out to somewhere more safe). And the cities! I was shocked at how these once-beautiful cities (à la the Pourquoi Pas luxury hotel) had fallen into such a state of decrepitude. But I was most dumbfounded at the very end of the documentary when the current head of the formerly Belgian research station (who had lived through colonialism) remarked that time under Belgian rule was "the best that they were living".
Overall, Congo itself has all the makings of a rich nation, but from what the documentary has shown me they must first find unity from their people to first restore, and then move forward.
Seth,
DeleteThanks for being the first to respond to the video.
You are right. It is sad to see what people think of the effect of the Belgian rule in the Congo.
This video really showed how tragic the mistreatment of the native people was. It also showed how the colonial rule has shaped the country and made it into the country that it is today. Now the country remains divided with a slim chance of hope that all the different rebel groups can get along and together make the DRC a prosperous country.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response. Indeed, the rebel groups must work together for improvement of the quality of life.
Delete....Mrs. Ignatius
Anyone can certainly notice the dramatic effects the Congo is now facing due to its divided rule. It is such a disgrace how once beautiful landmarks are now a living area for squatters and can't even run the same like how they used to. It seems to me that it is almost impossible for the people of Congo to see any hope in becoming a thriving country. This also widened my understanding of The Poisonwood Bible due to the several connections this video had with the main idea of the story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding. Anthony Bourdain shows how the Congo was, and is.....a sad commentary....Mrs. Ignatius
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ReplyDeleteI feel that this documentary portrays the past and present situations the people of the Congo have to endure. Its a shame that the Congo was essentially stripped of its resources while the natives could do nothing about it. The people had no control as the country was divided by political corruption, war and poverty. I personally envy the strength and determination the Congolese people have. Also that the Congolese people are not infatuated with materialistic qualities such as people of our nation. These people have to work harder and longer hoping they will have enough to feed their families. I feel that Anthony Bourdain did a good job on giving us, the viewer, a glimpse into a country that deserves more than what its gotten.
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DeleteThe students that have commented and I all share similar thoughts of how horrible and tragic the conditions in the Congo are, and it has definitely enlightened me on how many simple things we take for granted such as electricity and clean water. I realized how so many of them seem genuinely happy with their lives, especially the children shown in the video who haven't experienced much in their lives and also envy how driven the people are. Their sole determination is what really runs the Congo now, and all countries could learn from that.
ReplyDeleteThe video helps to bring images to the words I read. Some of the most interesting images were the clothes that they wore. It was extremely similar to the description from poisonwood bible. The clothing is very random and sporadic, without since of style that we like to assume is elementary. It is astonishing how resourceful the Congolese are and how they still have such lifted spirits even after all of the unjust history along with their people. You can learn more than enough about determination and perseverance watching the Congolese live day to day life.
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DeleteThe documentary showed how life in the Congo, dramatically changed from colonial rule to independence(which in theory, should be better than being ruled). However, the Belgians left the Congolese extremely misguided, with education outdated by modern technology, social and political issues on the rise and the government barely able to fund itself, let alone other organizations. The most discerning issue to me would be the Belgians, first fully taking a land which was not theirs to claim, and most importantly, ignoring their responsibility which they had to the Congolese of leaving them able to guide themselves and be an independent nation(which they failed to do).
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ReplyDeleteI truly do not even know how to describe the whole video because it was so depressing. To actually see the Congolese people in such horrible conditions and wretched with poverty was very disturbing. Seeing how the Belgian's and other European powers abused them severely and then,the placement of a corrupt government by the U.S. I'm surprised they even have a functional country! The fact that the Congo has functional cities, even though they are inhabited by masses of poor citizens, is very amazing. Considering that most citizens would buy soap and clothes over food shows a lot about Congolese culture.Overall, the experience was breathtaking as I finally realized that i was very ignorant towards the topic of 3rd world countries so therefore, I am actually glad i watched the video.
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DeleteThis video really makes the imagery described in Poisonwood Bible come alive. I could finally see what the Congo is really like and see how struggle filled their lifestyle is. We take for granted what we have sometimes, and even just hearing how they must ration their money on different things like soap and food makes you feel for them. We are also able to see examples of the modes of transportation they are limited to there and can relate that to the novel. This documentary showed us the clothes the Cogolese wore, all the labor they went through and their shelter. I liked being able to delve into the Congo and see it from the inside and hear what the people there have to say about it and the Belgian rule of the past.
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DeleteNatalie Humphrey
ReplyDeleteThis video is another reminder of how much we take for granted in the United States. It is devastating how such a beautiful country can be so ugly, yet you only see smiles on their faces. It was shocking to hear about the rebel groups and how they are fighting against their own people. I suppose they feel the need to because they are looking for some type of power and hope that things will get better. The Congolese people were left with basically nothing, yet they still go to work without being paid and all they want is some modern technology so they can get things running again, such as the railroad. One thing that surprised me was how kind and selfless the Congolese people were. They gave a warm welcome to Anthony by cooking him a nice meal and even gave him gifts. No matter how bad their conditions were they still found a way to make the best of it and keep smiling.
In all honesty, I'm surprised that the trainworkers keep showing up to work without getting paid. That's a level of pride and dedication you don't usually see within our western culture. In fact, I'm surprised at how one of the number one priorities is looking good and taking pride in yourself in the Congo. That's amazing for them to have that attitude in their circumstance. It also makes a lot more sense to me why the Congo is hard to cover in news and media, as there are more militia groups than you can count on one hand fighting each other. The military landscape of the Congo evolve as fast as a bacterial colony.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to see the documentary the other guy made just to get a better glimpse on life in the Congo during wartime.
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DeleteThe video made it easier to fully grasp the situation in the Congo, for in the book, words can only portray so much. Being able to see the excitement in the children's faces at being able to afford meat, if only for one day, was remarkable.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me was the man in the library who continues to try to preserve works of literature in a building from the 1950s. He believed that the period in which the Belgians colonized the Congo was better than the present conditions. Perhaps the situation would not have been as grave if not for Mobutu and his handling of money.
While the video brought up some depressing points, it was pleasant to see the Congolese reacting positively and having an air of hope and brotherhood around them, portraying them justly as incredibly strong, independent, resourceful people.
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DeleteAfter watching this video, I have a better understanding of the Congo. I was awed at the fact that the Congolese people had more of a value for their people more so than their own well being. When the guide was comparing the importance of soap versus food,it was an example of cultural values. In addition, it was as if a lightbulb turned on when the narrator described the territories. The Tutsis and the Hutu Rebels are familiar to me because of both history class and the movie."Hotel Rwanda". I was however a little surprised by my imagination. As I was reading the Poisonwood Bible, I pictured the villages even more shanty than the ones showed on the video. Not only was there multiple means of transportation(more than I expected), but the people had on clothes that matched! Even after seeing the video for myself, I felt that the book sketched a picture of extreme poverty and desperation. Do not get me wrong, it was not lavish, but it was not as much as the vision in my head.
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DeleteDakota Homa
ReplyDeleteThe Congolese are strong and pridefull people. They work hard to try to make their nation a better place where they can survive and eventually flourish. It's sad how they where taken advantage of by other countries after Belgium bailed on them. What could have grown to be a foreign political power, was crushed by the greedy desires of those surrounding them. It was interesting to learn of values that the Congolese embody them selves by; where they would rather buy sop before buying food so they can look presentable. The Congolese are highly reliant upon their remaining natural resources, causing detrimental environment destruction, hurting both nature and the people. The overuse of these factors to make ends meet (and sometimes not even that) caused the fishing industry to have an extremely small catch both in size and quantity, game harder to find , plants harder to grow because of soil problems and useable water limited making it one of the most treasured aspects. It's painful to think that the Congo was better off being under Belgium's control.
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DeleteSeeing the ruin and poverty in the Congo was shocking and allowed for a better understanding of the situation the Price family was thrown into. Prior to this video, although I knew what the Belgians did was wrong, I still felt it helped modernize the civilizations and economically help the area, but after viewing this video I was able to really see how unjust and selfish the Westerners were. Taking the Congo's resources and valuables then leaving without any care for what was to come was the European's attitude and it definitely left Africa in a worse position than pre-colonization.
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DeleteAfter watching this video, I could now picture what exactly the Congo, its people and its struggles looked like after reading about them in The Poisonwood Bible. These people work extremely hard every day just to survive and they rarely get any outside help. So, most of what they try to build or continue running eventually just gets left to deteriorate. After getting their independence from Belgium, you could see how badly they fell apart under Mobutu. The people of the Congo were helpless as they were beaten and tortured throughout that time and life was even more difficult than usual. It was so sad to actually see it in this video.
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DeleteIt's amazing to see that in the past the country was doing well and then after people ruined it for civilians now its getting worn out and being over taken but vegetation. Even with everything that happened to the country, you still see the people with smiling faces and pride in their eyes. Having people run places and not getting paid for doing their job, that's amazing. It really makes you think how lucky and fortunate we have it, living in the life style we live in.
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ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video it was somewhat upsetting knowing that the country could have been been so wealthy and prosperous if it weren't for the constant raging wars and the rebel groups. It's inspiring to know and to see how hard these people work to keep themselves up. Now that i have watched this, i feel like I've gained more insight into The Poisonwood Bible, beginning with the Congo crises, and the life of the people.
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DeleteI cannot stress enough how much I admire the Congolese people after watching this video. It is truly outstanding how they persevere through the worst of conditions and always remain hopeful. They are relentlessly hopeful, keeping up their train stations and school libraries the best they can without either money or technology.
ReplyDeletePersonally, this video made the Congo much more "real" to me. Before everything was just a story, even though I knew the setting was real-life Congo. But now that I've seen it, I can hardly believe the monstrous effects of colonialism, and almost just as bad, the way the Belgians immediately pulled out after independence and thus left the Congo really unable to rule itself or even address the basic needs of its people.
The conditions in the Congo are so horrid that besides serious tragedies (such as the loss of a loved one) we Americans really do not understand the struggles that the Congolese face on a daily basis. We must constantly remember how lucky we are to live in the United States. We must make good use of our plentiful opportunities and resources, from all kinds of food and technology to our educational systems. In a different sense, the fact that many of the Congolese people still manages to be happy teaches us valuable lessons: your life is what you make of it and being happy is largely a personal choice.
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DeleteThe story of the Congo and its people is truly a tragic story. The poverty that the Congolese experience every day is astonishing and really makes you feel almost a want to help out these people. It is amazing how cruel the Belgiums were during the Congo's colonial period by flaunting their wealth in front of these impoverished people. What I found even worse was the fact that the Belgiums just left the Congo to fend for themselves once they declared independence. It's the equivalent of leaving a teenager to fend for themselves the jungle, it is just plain wrong. I think the people of the Congo have the resources to make their country great, but to do so they must unite as one people and begin the process of developing their country. Hopefully the future of the Congo holds a brighter image, these people deserve some sort of credit for the hardships they have had to endure.
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ReplyDeleteWatching this video made me come to understand and appreciate the Congolese. In welcoming a white stranger, their troubles were soon to come for they had no idea what this visitor had in mind. Due to Belgian greed, the Congolese succumbed to violence/abuse, and were stripped of everything they had: their land, will as humans, and future. Although through one retrospect the Belgians did allow the community to modernize, they also abandoned the civilization in granting the independence, leaving the nation without the means necessary to regulate a modern society. I was able to connect better to what Orleanna was saying in regards to Africa and how, because of western influence, the once beautiful, flourishing land has been transformed to where it cannot provide or develop the way it used to in order to nourish the nation or itself. I can also see what Leah (and Anatole) are trying to achieve: education, public institutions, construction, employment, and basic necessities (such as food, shelter, clothing, sanitation, etc.) It is truly inspiring how after all they have experienced, the Congolese continue to preserve their strong will as individuals and a country in hopes that a better future is coming.
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DeleteBefore watching this video I could not encompass or envision what the Congo Crisis was like and how the Congolese people lived but after watching it I realized that things were much worse than I had expected. Just by watching the video and seeing the geography of the Congo, I saw that everything is just strewn all over the place, there’s trash and litter and rumble everywhere you walk and buildings look as if they have been burned down leaving only bits and pieces of brick. Like it says in How to read Literature like a professor; geography encompasses a lot of aspects. You can physically see how the Congolese people live and survive and how everything is just displaced. They were taken advantage of by the Belgians and suffered so much during the colonial period. Honestly like the guy Dan said in the video there is no way you can describe the Congo in a three minute video or even a short paragraph. The Congolese people were mutilated and forced into labor all so that the Belgians could ravage their country and take everything they could find. There are no words to describe how poorly they were treated during the Colonial and how graphic the violence was at that time. Even today, none of us would be able to live a life like the Congolese people where they have to forage for money, sleep on floors, and work for only enough money to barely buy food and clothes. It’s astonishing how they still have to desperation and patience to even hope for a change to get better. This video was probably the best way to truly help me understand what happened in the Poisonwood Bible.
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DeleteThis video allowed me to get a whole new perspective of life in the Congo. Although the Congolese are facing many hardships and are in a desperate condition I admire that they are able to move on and keep working. They are very dedicated and strong willed people who view their condition in an optimistic way. I was shocked to learn the pay they receive from their jobs and that some even worked without pay just to keep places such as the library and train station running. I feel that in America we take much for granted, we easily have access to resources such as water and food whereas in the Congo some don't even know when they can provide themselves with food. Through this video I was able to fully grasp how people in the Congo truly live which I believe helped me understand The Poisonwood Bible just a bit more.
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DeleteI thought that The Poisonwood Bible as a text had given me ample evidence as to how bad off the Congo was and still is...but after seeing this video it's all the more real to me. It truly is astonishing how such a naturally rich country can be taken advantage of and controlled to the point that it's left with nothing but scraps to hold itself together in the end. From what I saw in the video, the Congolese aren't so much resentful for what happened (though I'm sure it's still a sensitive subject) as they are doing their best to get along with what they have, and that's very admirable. If we as average Americans went through things even a fraction as difficult, we would simply give up. I can't claim to understand these people, not by a long shot, but I've come to respect them and their lifestyle much more than ever before thanks to this video and The Poisonwood Bible.
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DeleteMy mental illustration of the congo has completely evolved! While reading books such as The Poisonwood Bible and Things Fall apart I always percieved the congo as this uncivilized region where they only coexisted in huts, wore any kind of scraps they could salvage, and had no access to any kind technology. But to my surprise the congo isn't as desolate and rural as I once imagined. The Congolese do have access to modern attire and technology such as light bulbs. However, these "wants" are more scarce. I was also entertained to learn what items the Congolese spend on with their paychecks. Their priority purchase is soap! It made me realize how much I as a fortunate american take for granted. When I am paid my money is usually spent on a materialistic item not a necessity! Watching this video has encouraged me to respect and understand the Poisonwood Bible in a new light.
ReplyDeleteHow enlightening this is! One can only imagine the extent of one nation's circumstances after reading a novel such as "The Poisonwood Bible." Having a visual aid has helped me to further visualize the true depth of the damage done to the DRC in such that the state of affairs within the DRC is worse than I thought: Everything is in ruin, the people are malnourished, there is barely any money to circulate for the improvement of the economy, and, the most devastating of all, the DRC suffers a lack of unification that stunts its ability to rise out of its metaphorical ashes.
ReplyDeleteWithin the video, starting at 8:28, Bourdain names approximately 8 different rebel groups that all have some sort of problem with the one another or simply one specific group. All of the squabble between these groups does not fix anything; in fact, it only hurts the DRC even more each day of fighting by killing possible workers and destroying more structures. If only they would conspire to change state of the Country they could solve a lot more than they are solving now.
My final questions are in regard to those sitting at home watching this video. Is it true that all of these events occurred in the DRC while we stood idly by? Do we take our lives for granted? the obvious answer is "yes," while we complain if a traffic accident slows down our overly-accelerated lives, the people of the DRC still strive to find happiness in the miserable death trap that is their home.
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DeleteI'm in complete awe after watching the video of the crisis that is occurring in the Congo. During the video, i was able to develop a deeper understanding of the adversity that the Congolese people live in everyday. The hope, dedication and heart that these people have is eye-opening. Watching the men carrying heavy loads with just their bodies, the challenge the fisherman face just to catch a maximum of 50 fish a day and even how hard many of the Congolese people work with no pay just to maintain everything that is rapidly deteriorating. These people are trying to survive and possibly receive help, in order to restore their home to it's previous condition. The Congo, what should be a wealthy nation is the complete opposite. Overall, the video was heart-rending.
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DeleteThe most interesting thing to me was the presence of European influence, and it's helplessness in the "jungle" of Congo. The presence of natural abundance is almost directly counteracted by what we consider a "modern" presence, and simply detracts from the situation on the ground. The presence of infrastructure (somewhat functional railroad network) and civilized thought (agricultural center) is in stark contrast to what actually helps people get through daily life. I think that's what really actualized the evils of colonialism for me: the presence of structural development is not the same as the presence of basis for economic advancement. The video made me think about what we consider modernization, and whether it is more self-serving to western culture, rather than being to the Congolese people. I think that was an aspect that was visible in the Poisonwood bible as religious supremacy by the foreign presence, but can also be seen as economic supremacy in actuality.
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DeleteThis video has evolved my mindset incredibly. While reading "Poisonwood Bible", I believed that only secluded, unknown parts of the Congo faced struggles that are stereotypically only in movies. Viewing how influence has altered many Congolese lifestyles, I have come to terms that this crisis may seem unfamiliar to me but is an everyday struggle for them.
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DeleteKaylin Danzy
ReplyDeleteI believe that this video was very insightful and helped me to grasp to reality of life in the DRC. Though, I'm sure that some students who replied above will agree with me when I say that I may have had some understood concept about the Congo and Africa in general, however this video has given me a greater understanding of the Congolese and their lifestyle. Truly, I was shocked by the normal living conditions of the people (i.e. no electricity, etc.)living in Congo, while surrounding countries seemed to be doing much better in their society. Also, I was taken back a little when the man said, times were better when Belgium colonialism was in effect. Watching this video also help me discover a greater respect for the Congolese and their country. One thing this video has taught me: the Congolese are a very proud and hopeful people; always looking towards change and improvement.
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DeleteI enjoyed the insight this video brought. It was a good way to end the story of The Poisonwood Bible because it shows what has happened (or hasn't happened) in the past decades. I think that it's crazy that the Congo was affected so drastically by colonization in terms of the new technology that was brought over and it is tragic that the technology was never utilized by the Congolese. It is easy to see that the civil warring and corrupt leadership has brought this lack of improvement on; the lifestyles that people live in this video could very much be identical to those of 30 years ago. One piece that surprised me from this video is that the Congolese take pride in the resources the Belgians left them with such as the team of volunteer railroad technicians or the "mayor" who preserves the library. I think this shows that the Congolese people are good people and resourceful people who are filled with hope for a better future. They just need to unify under a just leader and end the civil warring before that can start.
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