The Crisis of Credit Visualized

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis.This tightly rendered video-animation-infotainment was done as part of graduate student Jonathan Jarvis's thesis work in the Media Design Program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Let me be honest, if someone were to approach me and ask why the economy is the way it is right now I would probably say something along the lines of handing out too many mortgages to people who can't pay and mention how there was just too much borrowed money. It would get me by, but I really don't have an understanding of why those things occurred and it certainly isn't enough knowledge to have an opinion on economic decisions being made in the news. Perhaps I'm just uniquely ignorant, but I'm willing to bet that most people wouldn't be able to explain it all very clearly if they had to. I feel like since it's something that's all over the news and heard talked about every day, everyone just goes along like they know whats going on from hearing bits and pieces of "who's to blame" and whats being done, then reacting based on their limited understanding. Everyone's walking around with their emperor's knowledge hoping no one calls them out because, of course, you'd be stupid NOT to understand.

But again, perhaps I'm uniquely ignorant.

In any case, I came across this video that does a pretty good job of explaining on a basic level what led up to the economic collapse. It's really well done and the graphics keep your attention; which is important because, of course, this is all refresher anyways, Right?

Enjoy!

Die Finanzkrise visualisiert und erklärt (via spreeblick)