Lauren Greenfield examines materialism, celebrity culture, and social status and reflects on the desire to be wealthy at any cost. This visual history of the growing obsession with wealth uses first-person interviews in Los Angeles, Moscow, Dubai, China and around the world to bear witness to the global boom-and-bust economy and to document its complicated consequences.
“Societies accrue their greatest wealth and the moment they face death”
Generational Wealth is a documentary produced by photographer Lauren Greenfield. The documentary looks at American celebrity culture, materialism and the 'get rich quick' mindset prevalent in society today.
In the documentary, Lauren takes us on a journey from the start of her photography career to the present day (2017). Lauren Greenfield began her photography career trying to photograph a Mayan village in Mexico for National Geographic. The project ends without abrupted as the funding stops, and Lauren returns to her native Los Angeles to start the project of her life.
Throughout her career, she has documented her human environment and the relationship between wealth and perceived social value that comes with it. In this documentary, she discusses the origin of her project and returns to meet her peers in 2017. The changes are remarkable and give an insight into the influence of wealth on a broad spectrum of society, from billionaires to single mothers.
“If I want to work a hundred hours a week and never see my family, die an early age, that’s my prerogative”
Lauren delivers her story with incredible ease and emotional intensity. With humility, she turns the camera on herself and her family too, revealing a deeper introspection and view of life in America today. At times you will be left shocked. As she flows from the discussion of the proliferation of porn culture, she moves into a very descriptive analysis of the impact of plastic surgery on women. A desire to remain young, particularly amongst women has an incredible toll on their mental and physical health.
Her story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, and she vividly describes how the drive to 'have it all' and 'make it big' has created significant societal change on the old and the young. The idea of the 'American Dream' has wholly changed to an obsessive society with the self at its centre. If you are one for introspection, you will take away much from this documentary.
“I would have money as big as this room and kiss it”
In conclusion, this documentary is very different from her first film 'Queen of Versailles,' where she views a glorious world as a spectator. Instead, she is immersed in this film, and she is also a subject. Covering twenty-five years worth of work, it certainly gives an insight into the personal and international impact of consumerism in the world today. If you are intrigued by our society, this film is a must-watch.