Living imperfectly between knowledge and despair: Social impact entertainment, activism, and ‘Dark Waters’

Abstract

This article offers an ecocritical reading of Todd Haynes’ film Dark Waters (2019) in relation to questions of slow violence, genre, envi-ronmental activism, and what is known in Hollywood as ‘Social Im-pact Entertainment’ (SIE). The article examines how the film’s rhe-torical strategies – ultimately seeking to inspire audiences to take po-litical action – elicit embodied, affective responses to the environ-mental injustices depicted on screen. Yet, as the article argues, an analysis of the film and the activist campaign that accompanied its release reveals various tensions regarding the potential of SIE films to resist corporate power and effect long-lasting social change.