Explore the various ways junk is reutilized in Scrap. When everyday objects reach the end of their lifespan, they are discarded and are left to decay for decades. However, in many ways, old objects become much more unique than when they were new and people around the world have utilized ways to bring new life to what was once junk. This includes a family in Thailand living in an old airplane, architects using parts of old boats to build churches, and artists who use scrap to create sculptures.
Scrap is a documentary by Stacey Tenenbaum, which is emblematic of the saying that “one man’s junk, is another man’s treasure.” The film features about a half dozen subjects who utilize scrap in their own ways. This includes Dean Lewis, who founded the “Old Car City” museum in Georgia and New Delhi photojournalist Saumya Khandewall, who photographs the workers at an eWaste facility.
At the very least, Scrap is an interesting documentary that gets us thinking about what happens to the objects we discard. With cars, appliances and electronics created for relatively short life spans, with electronics in particularly being made to be quick and disposable, the individuals featured in Scrap try to find ways to extend the lives of what is otherwise junk.