Comments on: Wicked Problems at the Movies I

By: Madison McCue

Madison McCue — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 15:47:22 +0000

Wicked Problems at the Movies 1

May 14th, 2014

“At the center of all literature, theatre, cinema, and much of the graphic arts, can be found on or more intractable, complex, unmanageable “wicked” problems for which the characters in the play or the novel are neither ready nor prepared for.” (J Bentley, 2014) And in most cases they must “act in ignorance”. (Wendell Berry)

From the viewers standpoint:

– We are able to evaluate from the far

– Watch the characters as they struggle with their “wicked” problem

– We watch them struggle with contemplation and missteps

“They struggle, and by watching, we learn about struggling.” (J Bentley, 2014)

The Descendants-(Analysis)

We are presented with an example of a movie that is omnipresent with “wicked problems” that a man seems to face alone with no one person to go to with help. They are all intertwined with “wicked” problems the main character is facing.

The character is forced to make decisions in the hope of managing problems that have no “correct” answers he can only use the knowledge he has to find the “best way” the move forward. He must “act in ignorance” because that’s all that he can do.

As the viewers struggles with the character we can’t help but find ourselves saying what I do in the situation. J Bentley shows us that this movie is a great example of a story where a character is forced to face many “wicked” problems and how their struggle can become ours and help us face “wicked” problems in our own lives. Although, movies are not the answers to facing “wicked” problems for many of us we could not actually face a “wicked” problem until it was sitting right in front of us in our own life.

By: Ryan Lundahl

Ryan Lundahl — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:17:15 +0000

Wicked Problems at the Movies:
Wicked Problems Faced by Matt King:
Matt king is an attorney in Hawaii and just happens to be the solo trustee of 25,000 acres of pristine land that is not developed on the island of Kauai. His family wants him to sell the land to help them out financially. Matt is torn between selling or not while he is wrestling with the land his wife is in a boat accident and is put on life support. Matt is then dealing with the situation on how to tell his kids about their mother. Finally Matt is told that his wife has been having an affair to put the icing on the cake for his problems.
Wicked Problems:
• Matt’s decision about the sale of the property causes great consternation and anger among his cousins. They threaten to sue, which leaves Matt to decide how to manage this threat.
• Matt faces the ordeal of telling his daughters that their mother will never recover and must be removed from the ventilator. He struggles with how and when he should tell them.
• Elizabeth has a living will, which instructs her doctors that in the case of a comatose state with no hope for recovery, her life must not be prolonged. Matt is left with the decision as to when and how to end her life by removing her from life support.
Other Movie Examples:
• Aspen Extreme
• 50 first dates
• Good Will Hunting
Overview:
Movies are a great way to examine and break down wicked problems. Movies offer dense problems that can even make the viewer feel uncomfortable. The Decedents was a great choice. The Decedents had many messy problem that seemed to get more wicked by the minute. I really found this technique to be very useful and never thought to look at movies in such a way. This could be a great training tool for managers to really analyze a wicked problem from a far. Thanks for the great insight on wicked problems, looking forward to your next article.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 21:47:47 +0000

Wicked Problems at the Movies I

Summary

Literature, theater, television, film, these are all sources that portray “wicked problems” through the storylines of their characters.

The characters’ problems usually arise suddenly and overturn the characters’ lives and jeopardize their sense of well-being.

To overcome these problems the characters must act.

We can live vicariously and learn about how to face challenges by watching these characters through their journey and paying attention to the decisions they make and the consequences thay face.

Joe Bentley uses the 2011 film The Descendants, starring George Clooney as his first example of “Wicked Problems at the Movies”

After being able to distinguish between “tame” and “wicked” problems we are able to recognize these problems outside of our own lives. Whether it is the real world issues that Pope Francis faces or the fictional versions in literature and films we are able to learn by watching their journey to solve these “wicked” problems. It is not necessary to experience these problems ourselves to have an understanding of how to begin trying to solve the problem. By learning from the actions and consequences of other, whether real or fictional, we can be better prepared if we face similar “wicked” problems.