Connected

Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death & Technology is a thought-provoking and visionary documentary delivered by Tiffany Shlain, the founder of the Webby Awards. Released in 2011, this film presents an innovative and insightful exploration of the intricate relationship between humanity and technology. Featuring Ken Goldberg, Peter Coyote, and Leonard Shlain, Connected takes viewers on an intimate journey through human history, emotion, and our increasing dependence on connectivity in the digital age.

The film opens with questions about our increasingly wired world and sets out to discover what it means to be connected in the 21th century. Because we live in an age where literally everything is, or has the potential to be, connected, Tiffany Shlain attempts to answer some big questions – such as how did we get here? And where are we heading?

What sets Connected apart from many other documentaries is its brilliant combination of different narrative styles. It perfectly blends the elements of a personal portrait and classical documentary style. It tells a compelling personal story about love and loss, while still educating and enlightening the audience on the broader theme of human progress and our connection to the world around us. As the director’s father, Leonard Shlain, has a prominent role in the film, we see the world from an entirely unique, personal, and intimate perspective.

In the film, Shlain puts forth a timeline of the major steps of human evolution in parallel with significant developments in communication technology, and critically questions whether the growth in connectivity has truly benefited humanity. She manages to trace and determine the coinciding rise of both human personal development and technological advancements, nudging the audience to consider our relationship with technology and its profound impact on our lives. The documentary asks viewers to reflect on the inevitable problems and possibilities that arise from our fondness with ever-evolving technology.

Peter Coyote masterfully narrates the film's scientific and historical ideas, while Ken Goldberg, an engineer and roboticist, also lends his knowledge and perspective on the historical interaction between humans and technology, grounding the documentary in historical evolution and scientific progress. The film shows how technological innovation has shaped our societal and personal advancements and challenges us to consider its future implications.

Connected utilizes distinguished animation styles to depict historical periods, scientific concepts, and abstract ideas, making it a visually stunning piece. Its vivid and unique stylistic approach simplifies complex ideas and theories about connectivity, providing a dynamic and engaging viewing experience. The lively animations aren’t just graphically appealing; they effectively encapsulate the progression of thousands of years of human innovation and relational changes up to our contemporary state of constant connection.

One of the most impressive aspects of Connected is its ability to navigate through expansive topics - both personal and global - seamlessly. The momentum and intensity of the movie swing between festive and serious moods, shaping a captivating journey through the narrative. Tiffany Shlain successfully intertwines her personal life and family experiences with the wider narrative of advancing world civilization and technology, displaying a balance of intellect and emotion.

Being a film that questions our profound relationship with technology, the movie does not offer easy answers but challenges viewers to think critically about how technology influences their lives. Shlain wants her audience to ponder more profound questions about connection and how it has changed us as individuals and as a global community.

Overall, Connected is a deeply personal, engaging, and journey-driven documentary that invites us to contemplate the history of human connection from its ancient origins, through technological advancements, to present connections in this digital age. With its unique fusion of personal storytelling and overarching theme about human progress, it's a compelling look at our modern society and how we can navigate our future in this tech-driven world.