Scott Brons

Dr. Neal Allison, Dr. Paul Prill

Engagements: Solving Complex Social Issues

A Place at the Table

The documentary, A Place at the Table, reveals the saddening truth of hunger in

America. The filmmakers create a strong level of credibility and pathos via storytelling to

achieve their goal. In the documentary, there are two main sections: the storytelling of people

from different cuts of America, their struggles, and the portrayal of their everyday lives; and the

narrative in Washington- one of inefficient and greedy people who cannot seem to focus on the

problems facing people. This latter section also uses effective visual aids and graphic displays to

demonstrate the incredulous hunger crisis. By the end of the film, the viewer is left rather

hopeless and somewhat in terror for the future. As stated in the film, hunger was almost solved in

the 70’s, but this documentary shows how truly far we’ve come.

In the adjoined readings and the in-class lectures there were discussions of “food ethics.”

And quickly into the film we meet a family from out west. The main subject from this family is

the young daughter, who is hungry and has a strange relationship with her teacher in which the

teacher deals with the hungry girl in class (because of behavioral issues) and also donates food,

with the little extra money she has in her teaching position, to the girl’s family. The food given is

subpar. Potato chips, candy, ramen, and nearly nothing of major nutritional value. The question

presents itself: do we all have a right for food- and if so, do we all have a right to healthy food?

Organic food? Sustainable food?

Washington D.C. takes a major role in this crisis. Hunger almost being solved at one

point, and where America is now is a sobering and harsh juxtaposition. The film makes the point
that food lobbyists have a tight hold on congresspeople. Their monetary control seems to hold

the majority, while those who face re-election scares are so wildly the minority that it does not

matter what they do or say. This part of the documentary is quite depressing actually. In order to

address the issues that children face today in terms of hunger, Washington has to answer many

questions and overcome many obstacles, and even if one excludes the monetary issues- which

are massively significant- the socio-economic obstacles and ethical questions may plague the

issue forever in America, at least.

There are a couple moments that feature a church. This congregation- led by their gung-

ho pastor- serve a dinner for the hungry community in their part of America. Food donations are

taken during the week and are prepared by church members. This type of serving and giving are

called for in the teachings of Christ. Imagine, if every church in Nashville had a single night

where the congregation prepared a community meal and was able to utilize transport by the

members- how would hunger manifest? The film begs this question an answer.