Analysis of Bottlemania and Tapped Have you ever had to read a particular sentence or even paragraph numerous times to actually understand its meaning? Is it hard for you to visualize certain descriptions in a book? Well, some people find it challenging to grasp strong topics in a book because it can be boring to read only words on a simple sheet of paper. Bottlemania is a great, descriptive, and resourceful book that I am convinced everyone should read at least once in his or her life. It’s overflowing with knowledge and examples of why bottled water is recently found to be poor for our economy and land. Besides the written form for educating the world, Tapped is a film that exemplifies all of the problems and horrors in the world because of the process of water bottle creation and distrubution. The movie seems to affect a greater amount of people than the book because of the visual effects as well as the soundtracks that follows.
The similar aspects of Bottlemania and Tapped are that they both portray the harmful effects that bottled water does to our Earth as well as people. They also offer factual information that states how water was stolen by large corporate companies and used without the permission of the community, such as Fryeburg. Bottlemania and Tapped provide the readers with interviews that lead individuals to believe the information they are consuming comes from a reliable source. They all have a descriptive way of presenting examples of the harmful chemicals and substances that are in our drinking water, as well as the negative effects of producing water bottles. Corporations were also found stealing water from towns such as Fryeburg in the movie Tapped, and the affect it has on people’s lives and even the world’s living conditions. A difference between Bottlemania and Tapped is how the video and actual vision aspect of the presentation makes a stronger influence on viewers because of the sense of realism that is displayed. Tapped was created in a way that allows people to understand the effects of bottled water by forming a dramatic approach in showing it to the viewers. For example, during the film Tapped, they showed a visual of all the garbage caught along the beach, along with the image they also including music to enhance the overall perception of the movie. Royte, the author of Bottlemania, assumed the readers to make their own images by taking the information given to them in the book and turning it into a picture. It is sometimes difficult for people to fully understand the importance of things through reading because it is up to them to place the photograph in their head. “There is enough water for human need, not human greed,” wise words once stated by Gandhi. This quote is the prime example of the problems that have risen from the abuse of water use. Bottlemania provides interviews and factual information that inform us of the problems in the world. Tapped uses more dramatic personal stories to get their point across as well as factual information. They also show interviews with large businesses such as Nestle and how their representatives are unaware and respectfully considered ignorant because when questions are asked, they either dodge it completely or hesitate for a while. Listening and watching with our own ears and eyes to these companies debate on certain issues truly helps people realize the issues that most large factories aren’t aware of. Tapped focuses on the emotional appeal for viewers. It emphasizes on the pollution of beaches as well as the water miles away from land. On a personal level, that is the part of the movie that had the most affect on me because the world’s constant way of acting oblivious to all economy issues. Unfortunately, it only leads to the creation of more issues instead of minimizing them. It also shows that the craving they share for profit and money blocks most of the companies’ desire to fix the problems they created. To them, this is a source of money and income only. We are left to assume that Nestle, and all of the other large corporation’s only seek for their benefit and totally ignore any other problem that may be afflicted by their destruction on the environment. Royte left the readers with factual information and a relatively close analysis about the harmful affects water has on people and the environment. As viewers, it is up to us to conclude that the water industry is becoming a greater problem everyday. Bottlemania discussed about fish and how they were all affected by the pollution of plastic. Tapped also included a brief part in the movie about fish and how our water is getting destroyed, which leads to the death of fish. Like I mentioned earlier, I found how plastic bits were being consumed by fish very traumatizing, which researchers referred to as the eastern and western garbage patch in the ocean. This was basically just a whirlpool in the middle of the ocean, miles away from land and created by the polluted plastic bottles. Unfortunately, the garbage patch threatens the entire marine food web. This is just one of the many distresses that are slowly destroying our world by the production and use of plastic containers and bottles. In conclusion, it is the people in the world that need to change the way they live and the abuse the use of plastic bottles. Water bottles have recently become a better-known problem in our environment, and it is time for people to realize that if we continue to destroy our home, earth will quickly deteriorate. I for one will discontinue my purchase of water bottles. There are many options in the world; Americans need to stop taking the easy way out of things. “Be the change you wish to see in the world” Gandhi makes a great point in this quote. Change by beginning to use filtered water bottles that are reusable! Overall, both Tapped and Bottlemania opened my eyes to the trouble that is happening in our world and current generation. If you are the few that recycle, great! You are one step closer to helping change the world for the better.
Works Cited
Tapped. Dir. Stephanie Soechtig and Jason Lindsey. Atlas Films, 2009. Film.
Royte, Elizabeth. Bottlemania How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It. New
York: Bloomsbury, 2008. Print.
