Lew Blink is a self-proclaimed “dumpster archeologist,” meaning he plunges into trash bins and waste receptacles to unearth objects that piece together a story about someone’s life. Like other researchers, Blink creates collections of finds devoted to specific people—like the couple who traveled to Paris for a lavish vacation—along with books on Zen, UFOs, and magic and saxophones, disco balls, and paintings. He houses everything in his apartment, which doubles as a research lab for in-depth internet sleuthing.

A short documentary produced by Stolen Sun peers into Blink’s work and philosophy. With a campy aesthetic in the style of horror parodies, “Dumpster Archeology” is an intimate look at one man’s unyielding curiosity and devotion to storytelling.

As Blink discovers legal documents, diaries, and other incredibly personal artifacts, questions of privacy and consumerism come to the fore, which he quickly assuages. “I’m not trying to expose people. I’m not trying to tell their deepest, darkest secrets,” he notes. “I just want you to know how amazing these people are, how remarkable they were.”

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