Stay golden

What, exactly, is California? A new documentary strives to answer that broad question by breaking the state's history into three chapters in an effort to answer the age-old question, “Can nature and civilization coexist?”

Becoming California chronicles the Golden State's past, present and future with a study on its physical evolution, cultural changes and the impact of technology. Explosive population growth, crop farming and fracking. Urban development, car-clogged roadways and ongoing conservation efforts—all are explored here.

Narrated by Jane Fonda with a score from Pat Metheny, the two-hour documentary was funded by the California Environmental Legacy Project, an educational media initiative that “challenges the notion of people vs. nature” and has also produced films for the likes of Lassen Volcanic National Park, Point Reyes National Seashore and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The organization also runs an online educational site and a K-12 program.

Jim Baxter, a biology professor at Sacramento State University and one of the film's executive producers, explained the documentary's scope.

“It's California-centric, yes, but the message is much broader than just California,” Baxter said in a written release. “It's about overcoming seemingly contradictory notions of preserving the environment while having the quality of life we want.”

The film airs at 10 p.m. on Monday, October 6, on KVIE Channel 6. For more information, visit www.calegacy.org/becoming-california/.