“This is not art, this is life!” – Charleen
Some might be confused by the name: Sherman’s March
I think Ross McElwee made the right choice in the naming of his documentary. Not only did he tear grant providers a new one in the making of his film, but he also shed light on the the absurdity of preceding educational documentaries which were basically art sinks.
I think McElwee experienced his own Sherman’s March of internal conflict and suffering. He slept in cars, tents, what looked to be a jail cell, he was eaten alive by bugs, he filmed, lost, and longed for woman after woman, he didn’t seem to be having the best time, although he tried not to show it.
A moment of showing: “they’re both huge, which I find very depressing, having two large empty beds is twice as depressing as having one large empty bed.” McElwee with the camera turned on himself in a motel room.
I think it is very interesting that McElwee chose to incorporate his nightmares of nuclear warfare so heavily. He went as far as to include his trip to the Georgia Guidestones, four 20ft rocks on which instructions are engraved in 8 languages for the rebuilding of society after a nuclear holocaust.
- Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
- Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.
- Unite humanity with a living new language.
- Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.
- Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
- Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
- Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
- Balance personal rights with social duties.
- Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.
- Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature
– R.C. Christian (1980), Georgia Guidestones
Upon further meditation it makes sense. A nuclear holocaust is a modern day Sherman’s March–
Total War