Cable TV and Beyond

Planet Pictures

This program details the history of this dynamic medium from its modest beginnings. In 1949, cable meant television for locations that had very poor reception or were inaccessible to broadcast signals. By the mid-1970s, cable service began to expand rapidly due to the easing of government restrictions and the use of satellite transmissions. Fiber optics, new cable-ready TVs, and an explosion of programming by an ever-growing number of networks helped to increase the number of available channels from a mere handful to hundreds. In the 1990s, with nearly 60 percent of American households wired for cable, it drew close to parity with the Big Three networks and PBS. More recently, cable has come to mean Internet access as well. For many people, the TV is now a source of personal communication, expanded learning and entertainment, and shopping as viewers use e-mail and the World Wide Web from their TVs. As the world reaps the possibilities of media convergence, what else will come down the cable pipeline? (28 minutes)

Audience and Feedback

Planet Pictures

This program explores the characteristics that define a desirable audience, the history of audience ratings, and the ways in which audiences are assessed. Because the mass media is supported largely by selling time and space to marketers, it has evolved into the main delivery vehicle for advertising, in which the company offering a product or service is the true consumer and the attention of the viewer is the product that is being bought. With billions of advertising dollars at stake, marketers, social psychologists, and statisticians carry out sophisticated demographic and psychographic studies to narrow audiences into well-defined consumer groups. On the back end, the Nielsen television rating system uses "people meters" on TVs to determine if viewers are in fact watching what advertisers thought they would. This program also debates the manipulative nature of television and includes a portion of Newt Minnow's "Vast Wasteland" speech. This video is an indispensable resource for understanding the dynamics of media/audience interaction. (30 minutes)

The Glory of Byzantine Art

NewsHour Productions

Byzantium: spanning eleven centuries and a major portion of the Old World's landscape, its name stands for power and affluence. In this program, noted journalist Paul Solman discusses a magnificent display of Byzantine art garnered from 117 collections with Harvard professor and art expert Ioli Kalavrezou. Paintings, mosaics, carvings, and ceramics facilitate an exploration of Byzantine iconography as it evolved from Hellenistic and Roman themes to abstractions that go beyond classical representation. (12 minutes)

Bosnia's Rite of Return

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

What is it like when tens of thousands of refugees return home from several years of exile to rebuild their lives? In this program, Muslim refugees from the village of Stolac describe the challenges of living with their wartime enemies; Croat refugees, preparing to celebrate Easter, seek guidance from a clergy that is itself divided between a desire for reconciliation and a belief in racial supremacy; and Bosnia's major religious leaders in Sarajevo discuss the struggle to keep the nation's multi-ethnic society alive. (50 minutes)

Chinese Art: Treasures of the National Palace Museum

Lee & Lee Communications

This program spotlights 33 works of Chinese art seldom ever seen outside of the National Palace Museum. Spanning approximately 5,000 years of history, this diverse collection of pieces includes a Neolithic pottery jar; bronze fangzun and fangyi vessels from the late Shang-early Zhou period; a bronze ding vessel from the Late Western Zhou period; a Tang figurine in sancai glaze; a Ming cup in doucai enamels; and a Qing cylindrical curio cabinet. Displayed in chronological order and shown from numerous angles, these cultural artifacts comprise an indispensable educational resource for art history and Asian studies curriculums. Access points, provided in index form, make locating each artifact easy. (41 minutes)

Flamenco

Globetrotter Network

A magnificent panorama of Flamenco and its performers, for whom the rhythms and lyrics are inherited folklore and part of daily life-but the techniques are studied. There are, in fact, four distinct schools of Flamenco in Spain, filmed here away from tourists in the places where the artists perform for their own. (No narration, 56 minutes)

Rhythms to Nirvana: An Introduction to Indian Classical Music

Lightworx

Since India’s ancient times, music has been considered a potent vehicle for attaining nirvana, or spiritual salvation. This intriguing program provides an overview of the history of Indian classical music, from its divine origins to the present day, showcasing popular stringed, wind, and percussion instruments such as the sitar, sarangi, veena, tambora, and sarod; the flute, shehnai, and harmonium; and the mridang, tabla, and bayan. The Indian approach to teaching music is also discussed. (30 minutes)

Future Peace, Next War

Marathon International

At the time of Israel’s golden anniversary, it was a nation torn between its political left and right. In this program, the vision of Israel’s purpose and scope—and the leaders who have interpreted and shaped that vision—is discussed. From the first Begin/Sadat meeting in Jerusalem to the war against the PLO in Lebanon, from the post-Gulf War peace initiatives to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s history has been a story of the search for a lasting peace, but within the context of almost constant war. Even today, the volatile issues of security and territorial compromise remain unresolved. (52 minutes)

Print News

Planet Pictures

Although advances in telecommunications and computer technology have changed the way news is covered and written, the role of the journalist-to gather the facts and report the news in a way that will engage a mass audience-has remained the same. In this program, staff members of The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, the Rocky Mountain News, and The Denver Post talk about how they decide what to include in each day's newspaper, the trend towards greater objectivity, the need to avoid undue influence, the Woodward and Bernstein watershed in investigative journalism, and the role of news services like the Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg. The program is a source of valuable information on what it is like to work in present-day newspaper journalism. (28 minutes)

Beowulf and the Roots of Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Films for the Humanities & Sciences

Beowulf is the oldest written epic in English literature. In this program, Dr. Robert DiNapoli—teaching fellow in Old and Middle English at the University of Birmingham, England—and Professor John Burrow of Bristol University examine the symbolism and the influence of Christianity in Beowulf and other masterpieces of English and Germanic poetry. The Wanderer, The Seafarer, The Dream of the Rood, and The Battle of Maldon are also analyzed. The program is an indispensable aid in teaching this watershed period in Western literature. (31 minutes)

The Year of the Hyena

CTE Carlton

The Year of the Hyena has passed and the famine is over. The date is October 5, 1079 B.C. by our calendar, a time of disillusionment, decay, and of change, as the entire Egyptian village moves to the temple enclosure at Medinet Habu. The program tells about the scribe Djutmose; the powerful high priest who could not control the food riots and sent for help to Nubia; Herihor, the general sent by the King to take control, who instigated a royal commission to investigate the events of the Year of the Hyena; the looting of the temples; the old power structure is toppled and our villagers relocated; Djutmose’s son Butamen inspects another tomb and finds it looted—the ancient robbers’ rope is still there; the case of the missing mummies. (26 minutes)

Ancient Britons

Eagle Rock Entertainment

In this program, experts explore the history of the British Isles from the ice age of 30,000 years ago to pre-Celtic times in search of evidence of the ancient Britons-the Neolithic "Dawn People." From Orkney to Wessex, their ancient societies left enough archaeological evidence to answer some questions-and to raise others. This has prompted much speculation about Stonehenge, the nature of the Britons' religious beliefs and rituals, and the extent of their geometrical and astronomical knowledge. Monuments and mysteries appear to be the chief legacies of those who dwelt during the dawn of civilization in ancient Britain. (48 minutes)

Ancient India

Eagle Rock Entertainment

The antecedents of modern Indian culture can be traced back to the Harappan civilization, which flourished between 2300 and 1500 BC in what are now Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Aryan tribes from the Russian steppes invaded the subcontinent in 1000 BC, bringing their language and culture. The resulting synthesis between the Aryan and Indian civilizations brought forth a unique society that included a caste system, which soon became entrenched. This program examines the religious tension between Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, and the historical events that shaped the great Indian civilizations, from the Mauryan Empire through the Mogul Empire. Maps and scholars provide insight into a culture that remains vibrant and diverse today. (48 minutes)

The Spanish Conquest of Mexico

Eagle Rock Entertainment

Although Hernan Cortes hardly considered himself the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs did-and his conquest of Mesoamerica utterly destroyed their world, exactly as prophesied. In this program, Spanish historian and Oxford University professor Sir John Elliott and cultural historian Dr. Elizabeth Baquedano survey political, cultural, and religious aspects of Aztec civilization; analyze Cortes' military campaign in detail; and discuss Spanish influences on Mexican culture. Artwork, artifacts, 3-D models, and excerpts from the writings of Bernal Diaz add depth to this penetrating study of Spanish opportunism in the New World. (28 minutes)

The Tragedian, the Rebel, and the Prince

Elena Pinto Simom

This program focuses on the Booth family to evaluate their tremendous impact on American theater and, in a broader sense, to create an image of Victorian American culture. Brooks McNamara, expert on 19th-century theater at New York University, and theater historian and author Mary Henderson delve into the careers of the acclaimed tragic actor Junius Brutus Booth,Sr., the notorious assassin John Wilkes Booth, and Edwin Booth, America’s first great Hamlet and the most important American actor of the 19th century. (30 minutes)

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?

Team Sound & Vision

Obscured by competing images stemming from popular and revisionist history, the real Abraham Lincoln can be difficult to know. In this program, three leading American historians-Pulitzer Prize-winner David Herbert Donald, of Harvard University; Pulitzer Prize-winner Daniel Boorstin, of the Library of Congress; and Eric Foner, of Columbia University-join syndicated columnist and author Ben Wattenberg to separate the man from the mystery by exploring Lincoln's appeal as the common man of the people, his belief in freedom for all Americans, and his commitment to preserving the Union and its principles. (26 minutes)

I Am Dekel: Portrait of a Life with Down's Syndrome

GG Studios

Dekel Shekarzi, a 21-year-old who defines himself as an actor, a poet, a dancer, and a romantic in love with love itself, is defined by many others not by who he is, but by what he was born with: Down's syndrome. This engaging documentary follows Dekel in his everyday life, which is anything but "everyday." For him, faith, hope, and willpower have fused together to fuel his dreams. Film of Dekel on stage and at home, candid interviews with his family members, and reflections from this remarkable individual-who evidently is a philosopher, too-reveal an intriguing personality well worth getting to know. (Hebrew with English subtitles, 29 minutes)

Tennessee Williams and the American South

West Six Media

This outstanding program traces the life of Tennessee Williams, revisiting the locations in the Southern states that were his inspiration. Scenes from Williams’ most memorable works, including The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, evoke the atmosphere, characters, and conflicts of the Deep South, while footage of a rare television interview and a dramatic reenactment of the life of the young Tennessee provide new insights into one of America’s greatest playwrights. (45 minutes)

Love, Lust, and Marriage: Why We Stay and Why We Stray

ABC News

How do people find love, why do they fall in love, and, once married, how do they stay in love? In this ABC News special with correspondent John Stossel, the modern-day notion of love, with all of its attendant expectations, is examined. Despite divorce rates that are currently holding steady at 50 percent, research shows that married couples are actually healthier-and claim to be happier as well. Also discussed are what can make a marriage fail and other cultures' solutions to "the dating game," such as arranged marriages. (43 minutes)

Flutes and Whistles

Granada Media

Primitive men developed the first musical instruments when they used tubes of bamboo, bone, or wood to produce whistling sounds. The ancient Greeks later played pan-pipes. This program shows what happened as the same principle was applied to a wide range of instruments. (30 minutes)

Plucked Instruments

Granada Media

The roots and foreign branches of the guitar-family tree. The program looks at the more important of the many relatives of this instrument. (30 minutes)

Binge Drinking: The Right to Party?

Nightline

Banning alcohol on college campuses to curb binge drinking?periodic episodes of excessive alcohol consumption?has sparked violence and debate around the country. This ABC News program visits trouble spots such as Michigan State University as anchor Forrest Sawyer talks with the President of the University of Iowa about community coalitions, alcohol education programs, alternative activities, and other initiatives as substitutes for bans. In addition, a senior at the University of Maryland and a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, present their own ideas about student rights and how best to deal with on-campus alcohol abuse and the associated issues of crime and unsafe sex. (22 minutes)

Ratings vs. Journalism: Going Live with Breaking News

Nightline

When Daniel Jones ignited his truck on the Los Angeles freeway, adult and child audiences saw what turned out to be a gruesome suicide, live and in color. Can real-time coverage of such spectacles truly be called journalism? In this program, ABC News correspondent John Donvan reprises the incident, after which anchor Chris Wallace, the director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, and two TV news directors debate the responsibility of the news media, the qualities of good editorial judgment in a "go live" world, and the role of the ratings race in news coverage. (20 minutes)

Digital Dirt: Matt Drudge's "Reportage" on the Internet

Nightline

Publishing online to an immense audience is as fast as clicking a mouse, for high-profile columnist Matt Drudge-a self-styled Walter Winchell for the digital age and creator of the notorious yet popular Drudge Report, registering more than a million hits per month. But for Drudge, the price for posting insider gossip so quickly includes a $30-million libel suit, initiated by White House aide Sidney Blumenthal. In this program, ABC News anchor Ted Koppel and Howard Kurtz, of The Washington Post, assess the implications of Internet publishing for both journalism professionals and cyberspace netizens. (21 minutes)

Amiri Baraka

Doctoroff Media Group

Artist/activist Amiri Baraka has managed to alter not merely the face of African-American writing, but its very sound and substance as well: among the first to promote Africanized English, he also introduced an element of jazz into poetry. In this program, Bill Moyers and Mr. Baraka discuss topics centering on the black experience in America. Readings by Mr. Baraka spotlight "Funklore," "First Fire," "The Pet's Reward," "X," "Wise-Africa," "Wise-One," "Wise-Ghosts," and others. Filmed at the Biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. (27 minutes)

Lucille Clifton and Mark Doty

Doctoroff Media Group

Like musicians, Lucille Clifton and Mark Doty stress the rhythmic and musical qualities of poems, the former shaping them with economical, everyday language and the latter with language more baroque. In this program, Bill Moyers and the two poets discuss topics such as the weight of racial memory and the encounter between self and history. Readings by Ms. Clifton showcase "Fury-for Mama," "Donor," "The Times," and "Alabama 9/15/63"; readings by Mr. Doty spotlight "The Embrace," "Fish Are Us," "Michael's Dream," and "A Green Crab's Shell." Filmed at the Biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. (27 minutes)

Shakespeare and the Globe

University of California at Los Angeles

This program artfully brings together a treasury of visual resources to retrace Shakespeare's life and work. Included are the landmarks of Elizabethan London associated with his plays; depictions of the structure and operations of the Globe Theatre (including scenes from Laurence Olivier’s Henry V); historical sources of the plays in art and architecture surviving today; theatrical traditions that influenced the playwright, like folk festivals and medieval dances; and sites associated with Shakespeare's family and origins. Some of the major dramatic motifs, like that borrowed from Plautus's The Braggart Warrior, are shown through reenactment of sections of the plays. Produced by Hugh Richmond, University of California-Berkeley; directed by Paul Shepard. (31 minutes)

Crossing the Divide: Creating a High-Tech Work Force

Sue Ellen McCann

As America's economy goes global and companies continue to adjust, what skills and education will tomorrow's workforce need in order to prosper in the marketplace of the future? This program profiles the Travis Communications Academy, Silicon Valley's Monta Vista High School, and the New Technology High School, "the school that business built"-schools that stress the value of critical thinking and teamwork as the building blocks of success. Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and others also discuss issues such as the school-to-work movement and universal Internet access. (57 minutes)

The Great Hamlets, Program 2

ABC News

In this program Trevor Nunn probes the underlying dynamics of the play. He examines the psychological dynamics of Hamlet, the oedipal conflict and Hamlet’s madness, feigned or real. Nunn also explores the political questions that are raised in the play. The viewer learns that Hamlet is the most coveted of all performances in the classical repertoire, because, as Nunn says, "To act Hamlet requires nothing less of the actor than everything he’s got." (56 minutes)

Trials and Triumphs in Rome: Christianity in the 3rd and 4th Centuries

C.T.V.C.

Part one of this program places Christianity-an outlawed faith-within the context of the religiously diverse Roman Empire, whose citizens worshipped the old Greco-Roman gods, mystery cult figures such as Mithra, and the Emperor himself. But by appealing to all people and promising eternal salvation, Christianity began to surpass the popularity of the Roman religions. Part two begins with Diocletian's Great Persecution; proceeds to Constantine's conversion, the Edict of Milan, and the Council of Nicaea; and closes with the excommunication of Theodosius. (47 minutes)

Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities

CTE Carlton

The mood, the conflicts of character, and the contrasting sites of Paris and London are movingly realized in this 1958 screen presentation of the widely read Dickens story. Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin, and Donald Pleasence star. (113 minutes)

Surrealist Film: The Stuff of Dreams

Films for the Humanities & Sciences

Surrealist cinema sought to break with the conventional linear narrative style in favor of chance events and a world of the subconscious. This penetrating program featuring Alan Williams, author of Republic of Images: A History of French Filmmaking, analyzes the origin, evolution, and legacy of a cinematic movement whose stylistic artifacts can still be found in today's mass culture. Background on Dadaism-and the seismic historical events that gave birth to it-sets the stage for a nuanced discussion of Surrealism and its use of cinema to best express the movement's vision during its heyday and since. Key figures of Dadaism and Surrealism are highlighted, as are important films such as La Coquille et le Clergyman, L'Etoile de Mer, and Bunuel's iconic Un Chien Andalou and L'Age d'Or. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. (39 minutes)

Beijing Opera Masks: The Face of Chinese Tradition

Joongang Broadcasting Corporation

This program enters the world of Beijing opera through the traditional art of mask-making-and through the eyes of 76-year-old Xiang Qi Shang, a celebrated mask maker who has devoted his life to preserving a custom that may yet be lost in China's rush to modernization. Master Xiang demonstrates his remarkable brushwork as he comments on a range of topics, including the use of facial expression to illuminate a character's personality and the application of symbolic colors to aid in audience recognition. Facial painting in Beijing opera is also discussed. (17 minutes)

London: The Post-Imperial City

Wilson R. Ruiz

Defining the typical New Yorker has always been impossible; today, the definition of a Londoner is nearly as elusive. This program travels London’s increasingly cosmopolitan neighborhoods, sorting through perspectives on immigration and resistance to it. Interviews with leaders and everyday citizens reveal distrust in several quarters; Lord Nazir Ahmed and East London Muslims cite examples of Islamophobia, and several Londoners express frustration with foreigners who refuse to conform. But a tour of the city’s food markets reflects an astonishing diversity that is, according to many interview subjects, a source of newfound civic pride. (26 minutes)

The Balancing Act: Security and Liberty Post-9/11

National Memorial for the Prevention of Terrorism

CNN journalist Frank Sesno moderates this energetic and informative program exploring the post-9/11 relationship between security and personal freedom in America. Seven distinguished panelists-including USA PATRIOT Act author Viet Dinh, bioterrorism specialist Margaret Hamburg, and Harvard Kennedy School of Government professor Juliette Kayyem-confront scenarios involving hypothetical attacks on American soil. Their discussions examine such critical issues as indefinite detainment, the rights of Arab-Americans, the relevance of the Freedom of Information Act, and varying interpretations of USA PATRIOT Act Section 215. (58 minutes)

Beyond the Classical: Byzantine and Later Greek Art

Beckman Limited

Far from disappearing after the Hellenistic age, Greek art flourished with the rise of Christianity and the Orthodox Church. This program explores the development of icon painting, the influence of Greek artists on later European movements, and the advent of neoclassical architecture as a manifestation of an age-old cultural legacy. With historical context from the conversion of Constantine through Greece’s post-WWII development period, Beyond the Classical provides a double portrait of a national art movement that has drawn on its own roots to reinvent itself, and a set of aesthetic principles that have shaped societies around the world. (25 minutes)

Portrait/Self-Portrait: The Conquest of the Human Figure

Lagardere Studio Distribution

Ten thousand years ago, Magdalenian artists carved expressive faces into slabs of limestone, creating a Paleolithic portrait gallery that required sophisticated drawing skills. This program shows how the art of portraiture has been refined and expanded through the ages. Examples of Egyptian sarcophagi portraits segue into discussions of paintings by Titian, Rafael, Dürer, and other masters—including Rembrandt, who produced more self-portraits than any other artist. Examining modernist and Pop Art approaches, the program illustrates ways in which Cézanne, van Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol captured the features and emotions of the human countenance. (27 minutes)

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason: Salman Rushdie

Doctoroff Media Group

Painfully familiar with the clash of personal and religious expression, Salman Rushdie can now be seen as a literary sentinel regarding the rise of Islamic extremism. In this program, Bill Moyers talks with the author of Shame, The Satanic Verses, and Shalimar the Clown about the impact of 9/11, about tension between moderate and radical Islam, and about the need to hold the line on fundamentalism even when it leads to personal risk. A reading by Rushdie from The Satanic Verses is also included. (57 minutes)

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason: Colin McGinn

Doctoroff Media Group

Does science have a monopoly on reason? Not at all, says philosopher and novelist Colin McGinn-reason is the foundation of morality as well. Bill Moyers talks with the author of The Mysterious Flame: Conscious Minds in a Material World and Ethics, Evil, and Fiction about his adoption of atheism, his views on the practicalities of religious tolerance, and his belief that rational scrutiny and criticism must coexist with religious freedom. (26 minutes)

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason: Jeanette Winterson

Doctoroff Media Group

Raised with parental expectations that she become a Christian missionary, the teenaged Jeanette Winterson embarked instead upon a defiant journey of self-discovery-sparked by the books she smuggled into her bedroom. In this conversation with Bill Moyers, the author of Sexing the Cherry, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, and Lighthousekeeping talks about Weight, her new version of the story of Atlas and Hercules. She also discusses the power of art to build a fulfilling inner life. (34 minutes)

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason: Sir John Houghton

Doctoroff Media Group

An atmospheric physicist and a leading expert on global warming, Sir John Houghton speaks as a scientist and evangelical Christian. The author of Does God Play Dice? A Look at the Story of the Universe and The Search for God: Can Science Help? talks with Bill Moyers, explaining his belief that science and religion, rather than dividing society, can both work towards improving the human condition. (28 minutes)

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason: Margaret Atwood

Doctoroff Media Group

Can spirituality, compassion, and emotional honesty survive in the face of oppression and religious fundamentalism? Canadian author Margaret Atwood, author of such classics as The Handmaid's Tale, The Edible Woman, and The Blind Assassin, speaks to Bill Moyers about agnosticism, the hunger for meaning, and the distinction between belief and knowledge. (35 minutes)

Cervantes y la Leyenda de Don Quijote: El Espiritu de un Libro-in Spanish

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

Featuring film clips, reenactments, and dramatizations, this program examines the imperishable spirit of Don Quijote through the life of Cervantes and the literary masterpiece that bears Quijote’s name. Topics range from the place of Don Quijote in world literature and its influence on later writers, to autobiographical parallels between Quijote and Cervantes, to the universal qualities of Quijote and Sancho Panza, to the eternal search for utopia. Commentary by Günter Grass, José Saramago, Mario Vargas Llosa, and other authors and professors adds academic authority.

Bitter Harvest: The War on Drugs Meets the War on Terror

Wide Angle

For many governments in the new political landscape of Central Asia, supporting America’s war on terror translates into a dangerous internal juggling act. This Wide Angle documentary examines the uneasy relationship between forces aligned against the Taliban and the drug lords who control the cultivation of much of the world’s heroin. With militias and tribal factions diluting centralized power, the current opium crop in Afghanistan is among the largest ever. How will the international community deal with this fact of central Asian life? Can agricultural reforms be implemented that will equal the profitability of the opium trade? And how will the United States resolve a dilemma that pits the war on terror against the war on drugs? In addition, UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown talks with anchor Daljit Dhaliwal. (57 minutes)

Kawabata Yasunari: The Master of Funerals

10 Francs

Winner of the 1968 Nobel Prize for Literature, Kawabata Yasunari wrote novels that expressed the transitory nature of love and beauty. This program traces Kawabata’s life and career, focusing on his importance in Japan’s Neosensualist movement and the development of his finely tuned, elegiac sensibility. Personal and historical events that shaped the author’s creative journey—including the loss of his family in childhood, Japan’s militarism and defeat in World War II, and Kawabata’s friendship with Mishima Yukio—provide a framework for discussions of The Izu Dancer, Snow Country, The Sound of the Mountain, Kyoto, and other novels. Kawabata’s untimely death and the role of suicide in Japanese culture are also explored. (50 minutes)

Journeys into Islamic China

Grand Brilliance

In addition to trade goods, religious beliefs also followed the ancient Silk Road into China. Today, a vibrant minority of more than 20 million Chinese Muslims of various ethnic groups live harmoniously among an overall population of more than a billion. This program traces the history of Islam in China while illustrating the Muslim way of life there, including prayer, religious education, and cultural activities. (52 minutes)

Cervantes and the Legend of Don Quijote: The Spirit of a Book

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

Featuring film clips, reenactments, and dramatizations, this program examines the imperishable spirit of Don Quijote through the life of Cervantes and the literary masterpiece that bears Quijote's name. Topics range from the place of Don Quijote in world literature and its influence on later writers, to autobiographical parallels between Quijote and Cervantes, to the universal qualities of Quijote and Sancho Panza, to the eternal search for utopia. Commentary by Gunter Grass, Jose Saramago, Mario Vargas Llosa, and other authors and professors adds academic authority.

Alternate Literary Voices and Vehicles

TV Ontario

In the novel-driven world of popular fiction, graphic novels and short-short stories haven't had much of a place-until recently. In this program, Art Spiegelman, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus; Giller Prize-finalist John Gould, writer of 55 fiction and palm-of-the-hand stories; and others who are daring to be different share their successes with these robust genres. Topics range from the influence of manga on the rise in popularity of graphic novels to a growing respect in literary circles for compressed forms of fiction. Portions of graphic novels by Spiegelman and others and readings by Gould are included. (29 minutes)

Writers and Censorship

TV Ontario

Authors Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasrin know about severe censorship firsthand. In this program, Suanne Kelman, of Ryerson University, opens the subject of censoring in literature using Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, The Diviners, and the Harry Potter series—all banned at one time or another or under threat of banning—as examples. Expanding on the theme, Rushdie (The Satanic Verses) then talks about fundamentalist Muslim sensibilities, living under a fatwa, and the writer’s role in the world, while Nasrin (Lajja) discusses patriarchal oppression of women, her escape from Bangladesh, and life in exile. (27 minutes)

Hooked: America on Meth

Nightline

A rising number of American children under the age of 18 are experimenting with methamphetamines. In Montana, meth addiction has become the No. 1 drug problem. This ABC News program reports on the Montana Meth Project, an organization undertaking an aggressive plan to "unsell" meth-with an ad campaign designed to frighten Montana's youth into avoiding the drug. Highlighting the campaign's gritty imagery and language involving prison, rape, and prostitution, the report includes information on the project's financing, how the ads play out in Montana's teen demographic, and the need for long-term antidrug programs. (11 minutes)

Baghdad ER

HBO

Produced and directed by 11-time Emmy®Award-winner Jon Alpert,this 64-minute verité documentary takes an unforgettable look inside the 86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), the U.S. Army’s premier medical facility in Iraq and former site of one of Saddam Hussein’s elite medical facilities. Shot over two months in the summer of 2005, the film puts a human face on the war’s cold casualty statistics, as doctors and nurses fight to save the lives of wounded soldiers who are Medevaced (helicoptered) in a numbingly routine basis. As we learn, most patients are victims of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), homemade bombs that are the leading cause of injuries and deaths in Iraq; 90% of the wounded survive, largely thanks to the efforts of ER doctors and nurses. In addition to often-graphic footage of victims and caregivers inside the ER, the documentary includes exclusive frontline rescue footage with the 54th Medical Company Air Ambulance Team, as well as tension-filled scenes with soldiers patrolling what is considered the most dangerous road in the world: the five-mile highway from the Baghdad Airport to the CHS.

Greece: Urbanization and the Environment

Agency for Instructional Technology

The legacy of ancient cities can inform modern urban challenges and a culture's response to them. This program explores the Greek cities of Patras, Delphi, and Athens, looking at how each one formed, grew, and changed over time. Focusing on Athens as a living, evolving metropolis rather than simply an archaeological site, the video examines the city's answers to its pollution and traffic-congestion problems and how it prepared for the 2004 Olympics. A viewable/printable instructor's guide-including geographical background information, extension activities, vocabulary handouts, and more-is available online. Correlates to National Geography Standards. (25 minutes)

Elie Wiesel: Dead Stars, Dead Eyes

Deutsche Grammophon GmbH

In this powerful program narrated by William Hurt, Elie Wiesel shares his innermost beliefs as he talks about his commitment to Holocaust awareness, his ongoing fight against anti-Semitism, and his tireless efforts to help the weak. From his birthplace in the town of Sighet and back again via Auschwitz, postwar Paris, Jerusalem, and New York City, the iconic humanitarian talks about the things that matter most to him: family, Judaism, human rights, and, most of all, the duty to remember. Footage of Wiesel at Boston University captures the Nobel Laureate in a teaching moment, while passages from his acclaimed memoir Night, read by Hurt, articulate the surreal horror of living in a death camp. (58 minutes)

Unstable Utopias: The Global Spread of Socialism

Team Sound & Vision

At the end of the 19th century, socialism was an idyllic dream among intellectuals. Sixty years later it had become a reality for much of the world. This program describes the expansion of socialist and Communist rule into Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and western Europe-showing the weaknesses that developed in the practice of socialism even as it reached the apex of its popularity. Documenting the ascendancy of Clement Atlee in Britain and the challenges of democratic socialism, the program also surveys Mao's brutal reign in China, Julius Nyerere's slide into dictatorship in Tanzania, and a problematic socialist experiment in Israel. (58 minutes)

Tearing Down the Wall: The Decline of Socialism

Team Sound & Vision

Did the Soviet Union collapse under external pressure or its own weight? What enabled free market forces to assert themselves in China? Is socialism dead, or has it simply evolved? This program addresses these and other questions, focusing on the political, cultural, and economic factors behind the fall of the iron curtain regimes. Outlining the Cultural Revolution and its consequences, the emergence of the Reagan and Thatcher administrations, and the backfiring of the Soviet coup in 1991, the program demonstrates in detail how governments across the world abandoned socialism-some entirely, while others have maintained a tenuous facade. (58 minutes)

When Journalism Gets a Black Eye: Scandals and the Fourth Estate

Nightline

What are the long-term effects of journalism scandals? When the public's trust is damaged, what can the Fourth Estate do to repair it? And how is technology affecting journalism in the 21st century? To speak to those points, this ABC News program turns to recent cases such as the notorious 60 Minutes Wednesday incident involving George W. Bush's national guard record. Two related journalistic issues are also discussed: the growing influence of new media (it was a blog that first questioned the authenticity of the anti-Bush documents) and the opportunism of right-wing media, which accused CBS of pursuing a political agenda in reporting such a story at the height of the 2004 presidential campaign. (22 minutes)

Global Jihad

Nightline

To better understand the forces behind Islamic terrorism, students need to look beyond the Middle East. This ABC News program examines the rise of al Qaeda-style fundamentalism in Southeast Asia, the institutions that support it, and the threats to America that it represents. Investigating the organization known as Jemaah Islamiyah-and an Indonesian boarding school that is, essentially, the group's West Point-the video sorts through one of the most troubling paradoxes of the war on terror: how militant Islam appears to be supported by a unified global network while regional and national groups carry out their own, independent brands of jihad. (22 minutes)

Talk Fast: Pitching a Screenplay in Two Minutes

DeauxBoy Productions

What if an aspiring screenwriter could get just two minutes of face time with a major Hollywood exec to make a pitch? Welcome to Pitchmart. In this reality-based program, five people with five big ideas express their passions and frustrations as they spend a week with Ken Rotcop to polish their presentations—and then two precious minutes with the decision makers who could transform their scripts into box-office bonanzas. Rotcop, Pitchmart’s founder, is an award-winning screenwriter and author of the best-selling The Perfect Pitch. An honest and insightful scrutiny of parlaying a script into a movie deal. (53 minutes)

The Appalachians: A Culture of Survival

Evening Star Productions

This program examines the 20th-century history of Appalachia through the prisms of economic hardship, spiritual perseverance, and the region's rich musical heritage. Showcasing the power of the traditional string band, the video chronicles the rise of modern country music by way of the radio and phonograph. It also highlights the resonance of long-standing church traditions and documents the Appalachian experience in connection with major historical events and forces: the Great Depression, the New Deal, the WPA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, World War II, strip mining, the postwar migration of mountain people to the mid-West, and LBJ's War on Poverty. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (53 minutes)

Global Capital Market: Risks and Rewards

Films for the Humanities & Sciences

What are the mechanisms that drive international finance? Does worldwide capital mobility destabilize the global economy? Do the benefits to investors outweigh the potential for monetary crises? This program illustrates the flow of international capital, analyzes the risks it presents to banking and currency systems, and studies international political structures created to address those risks. The video presents the pros and cons of financial globalization, in the process explaining the concepts of inter-temporal trade, portfolio diversification, income inequality, and capital inflow and outflow. Recounting fiscal catastrophes that provoked international alarm-including the 1995 Mexican peso crisis and the 1997 implosion of Asian economies that impacted nations across the world-the program draws parallels between our current investment climate and the so-called First Age of Globalization in the late 19th century. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. (33 minutes)

War of the Sexes: Language

Filmoption International

Why do girls demonstrate greater reading and writing ability than boys? Is the female brain hardwired for faster verbal development? Should men let women do the talking? This program studies language differences between the sexes and explores the possibility that many communication skills are gender-specific. Following two teams of well-educated adults as they undergo a crash course in broadcast journalism, the program documents wide variations between male and female abilities to verbally multitask, and examines distinctions in physical interaction, eye contact, and other behavioral factors. Clinical evidence regarding the significance of testosterone levels is also explored. (45 minutes)

Portraits in Human Sexuality: Meeting, Dating, and Maintaining Relationships

Mary Ann Watson

This program looks at aspects of how relationships are formed and sustained. Interview segments include a couple who talk about connecting online through Match.com; a diverse group of young Muslim women who discuss the liberating effects of physical modesty and Islamic approaches to courting and marriage; and a couple who describe how they met and demonstrates how PREP relationship enhancement classes have strengthened their marriage. (35 minutes)

Soldiers Fight at the Battle of Verdun ca. 1916

British Pathe

The bitter battle between the French and Germans over the French fortress of Verdun from February 1916 until November 1916 is considered the greatest battle of World War I. Characterized by the massive use of artillery, the Battle of Verdun incurred high casualties - over 400,000 French and German soldiers each. The French, led by General Philippe Petain, ultimately held the region. This clip shows German soldiers preparing to rush the French lines at Verdun. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

President John F. Kennedy Orders Naval Quarantine of Cuba During the Cuban Missile Crisis ca. 1962

The WPA Film Library

The United States and the Soviet Union came to the brink of war during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, during which time the United States demanded that the Soviet Union remove nuclear missiles positioned in Cuba that were capable of striking American cities. On October 22, President John F. Kennedy announced that U.S. warships would begin a naval "quarantine" of Cuba, and turn back any ships that were found to be carrying weapons. The administration chose to label the measure a "quarantine" rather than a blockade because the latter was considered an act of war. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Chicago Police Apprehend Suspected Anarchists During the Palmer Raids ca. 1920

British Pathe

In the wake of World War I, some radical labor unions and communists agitated for a socialist revolution in the United States. In addition to labor strikes, some activists resorted to violent measures, such as sending bombs to prominent officials. Revolutionaries sent one such bomb to Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, though it exploded harmlessly on his doorstep. In response, Palmer conducted massive arrests of suspected "Bolsheviks" in 33 U.S. cities. Although police arrested more than 4,000 supposed anarchists, they only confiscated three pistols and recovered no bombs. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Swirl Like a Leaf

Doctoroff Media Group

Poetry offers a way for individuals to make sense of themselves, understand their motivations and fears, gain insight into their past and their future. As this program shows, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Robert Bly, and Marilyn Chin have all found routes to self-discovery and personal reconciliation through writing. Filmed at the Biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. (58 minutes)

Arthur Rimbaud

ONOMA International

His incendiary poetry assaulted the constraints of European society, helped to define the Symbolist movement, and influenced generations of later writers-including many Surrealists, Beat poets, and even rockers like Jim Morrison. This program combines a stunning visual biography of Arthur Rimbaud with excerpts from key texts, forging a unique study of the poet's personality and examining his relationship with his mother and with Paul Verlaine. Images and footage of the settings in which Rimbaud grew up, worked, loved, traveled, and lived out his final years provide a dynamic backdrop for readings from "Le bateau ivre," Une Saison en Enfer, and several other works and letters. (59 minutes)

Our Own Private Bin Laden-Educator's Edition

Chaste Films

Would the collapse of the Soviet Union have been possible without American sponsorship of Islamic fundamentalism? Did U.S. policies pave the way for 9/11? Does the American media help sustain Osama Bin Laden’s popularity? This documentary examines those questions, studying the machinations of key players—the CIA, Bin Laden, Afghani mujahideen and opium traders, Presidents Carter and Reagan, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, and others—as the Cold War morphed into the War on Terror. Presenting a wide range of opinions, the program features eye-opening interviews with high-level leaders and renowned political analysts—including Milton Bearden, former CIA station chief in Pakistan; Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan; and scholar and activist Noam Chomsky. Also notable is Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor and architect of the Carter administration’s plan to draw the Soviet Union into a Vietnam-style conflict in Afghanistan. Contains extensive bonus interview material (DVD only). (63 minutes + 102 minutes of bonus material)

Javier Perez de Cuellar: UN Secretary-General, 1982-1991

Lagardere Studio Distribution

During his two terms as United Nations Secretary-General, Javier Peréz de Cuéllar encountered and made use of several opportunities for international conflict resolution. He helmed the organization through the aftermath of the Falklands War and promoted the Contadora Group as a force for Central American peace and stability. Under Peréz de Cuéllar, the UN was also engaged in the negotiation process for Namibian independence and many issues affecting Africa and the Mediterranean region. In this program, the Peruvian statesman contemplates his term as Secretary-General and its relationship to previous and subsequent global developments. (27 minutes)

Bottled Up: Repackaging the Brand

Digital Rights Group Limited

The decision to develop a new squeezable Marmite bottle means altering a container style that had gone unchanged for 103 years. This program follows the process from prototype to final design and the emergence of a brand-new product which the design team hopes will revitalize the Marmite business. Confronting the technical challenges arising from Marmite's thick consistency, the team enlists the help of a renowned package-design guru and, after a harrowing test period, eventually commissions a line of squeeze-bottles from a large German manufacturer. Meanwhile, the marketing director and a graphic designer work out a new concept for the bottle's label. (25 minutes)

The Sephardic Legacy of Segovia, Spain: Pentimento of the Past

KATHLEEN REGAN

Jewish culture has been present in Spain for centuries, but it is not always visible. In the ancient city of Segovia, layers of urban development have largely concealed a rich Sephardic heritage. This program explores that legacy and documents recovery and restoration efforts in Segovia's Jewish quarter. Combining interviews with scholars, historians, and residents with footage of medieval architectural features, the film vividly illustrates the long-term influence of the city's age-old Jewish community. Special attention is given to the cultural impact of the Edict of Expulsion in 1492-an event that interrupted but did not erase the Sephardic tradition in Spain. (Portions in Spanish with English subtitles, 33 minutes)

Loaded Weapon

NewsHour Productions

The Irish experience reflects two language traditions, English and Gaelic. This classic PBS program shows how English was first established in Ireland in the 17th century and how, in cases of violent cultural conflict, language can function as a weapon. Exploring the west of Ireland today, the program identifies traces of Irish Celtic culture, despite the historical decline of the Gaelic tongue. Typical Irish accents in Cork are examined, with examples containing strong echoes of Elizabethan speech. The impact of Cromwell's rule and the catastrophic famines of the 1840s-both of which forced many Irish into exile, further distancing them from their native language-is also studied. (59 minutes)

The Empire Strikes Back

NewsHour Productions

Will standard English, as it was known in the 20th century, disappear? Will English continue as the global tongue, or will its numerous varieties become, as offshoots of Latin did, a host of mutually unintelligible languages? This classic PBS program features new varieties of English that have transcended British and American influence. The program focuses on some of the most successful examples of "New English," including Jamaican creole, the English of India, and the pidgin of Melanesia, brought to Papua New Guinea by maritime trade. The program concludes with the possibility that the world's first global language will endure alongside its unrecognizable descendants. (59 minutes)

1950s Film Depicts Scenes of Domestic Life in the United States ca. 1955

The WPA Film Library

Following World War II, many American women left the workplace to return to their traditional roles as homemakers. In the midst of cold war tension with the Soviet Union, much of American popular culture focused on the security and prosperity of traditional family life. Popular television shows such as Father Knows Best reinforced the notion of males as the family's primary breadwinner. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Supporters of Women's Voting Rights Protest President Woodrow Wilson ca. 1916

British Pathe

At first, President Woodrow Wilson refused to support suffrage for women. However, a steady barrage of protest directed by Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party forced Wilson to change his mind, and in 1918, he urged Congress to pass the Nineteenth Amendment. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Are Convicted of Espionage ca. 1953

The WPA Film Library

In 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Shortly thereafter, both Rosenbergs were executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York State. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

American Women Work Dangerous Jobs During Wartime ca. 1940s

British Pathe

During World War II, the large need for labor in the United States led the government to recruit women into industries that typically employed only men. A popular image from this time was of "Rosie the Riveter" which came to symbolize the wartime contribution of many women who worked in jobs that were often dangerous or physically challenging. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Independence Leads to the Congo Crisis ca. 1960

British Pathe

The Congo Crisis of 1960 followed Belgium's grant of independence to its former colony, which became known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The failure of United Nations (UN) peacekeepers to restore order to the country led Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba to seek assistance from the Soviet Union, which inflamed cold war tensions with the United States. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Argentina Mourns Eva Peron ca. 1952

The WPA Film Library

As the wife of president Juan Peron, Eva Peron championed labor rights and voting rights for women. She became a hero to Argentina's working class, and her funeral in 1952 drew thousands of mourners. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Bill Moyers Journal: Buying the War

Doctoroff Media Group

The Bush administration marketed and sold the war in Iraq to the American people. How and why did the press buy it, and what does that say about the role of journalists in helping the public sort out fact from propaganda? In this program, veteran journalist Bill Moyers, award-winning producer Kathleen Hughes, and their investigative team piece together the reporting and political spin that shaped the public mind prior to, during, and following the 2003 invasion. Exposing the disappearance of a watchdog mentality in mainstream newspaper and TV journalism, the documentary also highlights the work of intrepid Knight Ridder reporters who dug beneath the surface of administration claims—only to be drowned out by the drums of war. Further insight comes from journalists Dan Rather, former anchor of CBS Evening News; Tim Russert of NBC’s Meet the Press; Bob Simon of 60 Minutes; and Walter Isaacson, former chairman of CNN. (87 minutes)

Dancing in Moccasins: Keeping Native American Traditions Alive

KMBC TV

For the nearly two million Native Americans, representing 500 Indian nations, life in the U.S. today is a frustrating struggle to retain their ancient ways while functioning in the modern world, to carve out an identity in an overwhelmingly non-Indian culture. This program examines the needs and problems of today's Native Americans, both those who live on the reservation and those who have chosen the mainstream. The conclusion focuses on celebration and survival as reflected in the continuing tradition of the Powwow. (49 minutes)

The Jason Voyage: The Quest for the Golden Fleece

Jane Balfour Films

During the Age of Heroes, Jason and his band set out from Greece in search of the Golden Fleece. Their boat, the first in Western history whose name is known, was Argo, "the finest of all ships that braved the sea with oars." En route, the Argonauts encountered the terrors of the classical world-Harpies, the Clashing Rocks, the entrance to Hades-as they rowed to the ends of the earth to find the kingdom of Princess Medea. Recreating a 20-oar replica of a Bronze Age galley, the producers rowed the grueling 1,500-mile-long journey in the wake of the legend, experiencing the same hardships as their ancient predecessors and finding in the voyage and the geography realistic explanations for many of the elements of the Jason legend. (54 minutes)

Ravi Shankar: The Man and His Music

F Productions

This loving portrait of Ravi Shankar shows us the totality of Shankar’s art, the inner peace from which the fiery dexterity emerges, the philosophy that underlies the shape of raga, and the characteristics of the sitar, tabla, santur, sarod, and sarangi. We see and hear him play and talk: in Europe and America, with Yehudi Menuhin, Zubin Mehta, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and George Harrison, and at home, in India, with his students and his wife. (60 minutes)

The Education of a Singer at the Beijing Opera

F Productions

It took seven years for Wang Runqing to get his diploma from the Conservatory of the Beijing National Opera. Descended from a family of actors, he had no illusions about the hardships that awaited him. This program follows his rigorous training in a variety of the arts besides singing and acting. His story is all the more interesting because it took place while traditional opera-which had been banned and replaced by politically correct works during the Cultural Revolution-was being restored to its ancient role in the cultural life of China. (54 minutes)

Stories of the Dreamtime

NRS Group

Nganampa Anwernekenhe is a cultural series made by Aboriginal people for both Aboriginal and mainstream television audiences. It tells three stories from the Central Australian region: "Bushtucker" shows the traditional way of cooking the Perentie, the giant monitor lizard; "Uluru Story" (Ayers Rock) illustrates the cooperation between Park and Wildlife Rangers and the traditional owners of the Rock in caring for the environment; and "Traditional Story" is the story of Emus, told in the traditional Aboriginal way. (48 minutes)

In the Name of Liberation: Freedom by Any Means

3BM Television

This program analyzes terrorism used in the name of national liberation through studies of covert wars for independence in British Palestine, British Malaya, French Algeria, apartheid South Africa, and Northern Ireland. Bruce Hoffman, co-author of Countering the New Terrorism, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu offer their insights, while former Irgun commander Shraga Alis; former Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng; former FLN commander Yacef Saadi; Milk Bar Cafe bomber Zohra Drif; retired French military officers Paul Aussaresses and Pierre-Alban Thomas; former ANC bomber Robert McBride; and former IRA member Patrick Magee-the Brighton Bomber-reflect on the parts they played in terror and counter-terror actions. (47 minutes)

In the Name of the State: When Might Makes Right

3BM Television

This program profiles cases of Iranian-sponsored terrorism via the Hezbollah and the PLO as well as Argentina's dirty war, when the government used terror tactics against its own people. U.S.-backed insurgency in Nicaragua via the Contras is also analyzed. Joseph Kennedy II; Duane Clarridge, former chief of the CIA's Latin American division; and Bayardo Izaba, of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, are spotlighted, as are retired General Martin Balza, former head of Argentina's armed forces; former interrogator Hector Vergez; Estela Barnes de Carlotto, president of the Association of Grandmothers of the May Square; and forensic anthropologist Luis Fondebrider, who is committed to identifying remains of the disappeared. (47 minutes)

A Personal Journey with Gish Jen, Author

Doctoroff Media Group

Born and raised in the United States, Gish Jen has become a leading literary voice of the Chinese American experience. In this program, Bill Moyers talks with the critically acclaimed writer, whose novels and short stories are known for their humorous and incisive edge. (15 minutes)

Substance Misuse

Health Education Video

"Seductive" and "intriguing" are two words that describe the effects of a wide range of dangerous substances. So are "addictive" and "lethal." This program examines some of the most commonly abused substances, explaining their effects and the problems they can cause. The substances covered include stimulants (MDMA, cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine, and caffeine), depressants (barbiturates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and solvents); hallucinogens (LSD, cannabis, and "magic mushrooms"); and opiates (heroin and morphine). (30 minutes)

God and the Constitution

Doctoroff Media Group

Dr. Martin Marty, a professor of the history of modern Christianity at the University of Chicago, and Leonard Levy, editor of The Encyclopedia of the American Constitution and a professor of humanities and history at the Claremont Graduate School in California, examine the legality of school prayer. The program also explores the issues of religious symbols on municipal property as well as tax-exempt status for religious institutions. (60 minutes)

The Simple Acts of Life

Doctoroff Media Group

This program was filmed at the Biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, where poets gather every two years to read and discuss their work with large audiences of students and fellow poets. In this program, poets Robert Bly, Galway Kinnell, Sharon Olds, Octavio Paz, and William Stafford read and discuss their work. As Robert Bly observes: "Suppose you only knew 15 words. You could still make great poetry out of that, if you really felt those words." (60 minutes)

The Truth About Lies

Doctoroff Media Group

The public mind is often deceived by those who manipulate it, and it deceives itself, as well. This program examines how deception has influenced some of the major events of our recent past and how self-deception shapes our personal lives and the public mind. Why do trusted people in public life lie to us and to themselves? Can a society die from too many lies? Do our institutions demand loyalty at the expense of the truth? The program explores such events as Watergate, the war in Vietnam, and the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, and reveals the pressures that led to the denial of truth and the distortion of reality. Among those interviewed are John Dean, former counsel to President Nixon, and Roger Boisjoly, a Morton Thiokol engineer who tried to postpone the launch of the Challenger. (60 minutes)

The Broken Cord: Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris

Doctoroff Media Group

In this program with Bill Moyers, authors Louise Erdrich and the late Michael Dorris explain how traditions of spirit and memory weave through the lives of many Native Americans and how alcoholism and despair have shattered so many other lives. The devastating effect of fetal alcohol syndrome on their adopted son and on the Native American community as a whole is also discussed. The issues discussed in the program are underscored by the tragedy of Dorris’s untimely death. (30 minutes)

E. L. Doctorow: The Uncomfortable Truth

Doctoroff Media Group

For over five decades the FBI kept intelligence files on dozens of American writers. Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Pearl Buck, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Norman Mailer, and many others had come under suspicion of subversion, espionage, or immorality. Yet not one was ever convicted of a crime. In this program with Bill Moyers, novelist E. L. Doctorow, author of Ragtime and the Book of Daniel, comments that the best writers are a nuisance to society because, he says, they prefer the uncomfortable truth to the comfortable lie. Never reluctant to address the controversial issues, Doctorow has searched for meaning in modern American history, mingling reality and myth to reveal hidden corners of the American experience. (30 minutes)

Victim of Two Cultures: Richard Rodriguez

Doctoroff Media Group

Richard Rodriguez, the son of Mexican immigrants, calls himself "a comic victim of two cultures." He started out speaking nothing but Spanish, and now argues for education in nothing but English. A Fulbright scholar with degrees from Stanford and Columbia, he suddenly walked away from a promising career in academia; despite his ambition to teach, he rebelled against job offers that, he says, came to him just because of his Hispanic surname. Condemned by some for having forsaken his roots and for his negative views of affirmative action and bilingual education, he has been praised by many others for his intimate understanding of the impact of language on life. In this program with Bill Moyers, Rodriguez explains his opposition to bilingual education and talks about his experience growing up in America as the son of immigrants; he also discusses the differences between Mexican and American cultures. (52 minutes)

Mary Shelley: The Birth of Frankenstein

BBC Worldwide Learning

Her father was philosopher William Godwin. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was feminism’s founder. By pedigree and experience, Mary Shelley was uncannily equipped to write the gothic masterpiece Frankenstein. This program offers a fresh exploration of her novel, focusing on how Shelley’s personal life influenced the book and mirrored it afterwards. Along with reenactments of scenes from her classic and dramatizations of her life, the program draws from a wealth of primary sources, including readings from her mother’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and Mary Shelley’s personal letters, as well as those of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and of Lord Byron. A BBCW Production. (60 minutes)

The Arts, Audiovisual Technology & Communications

Cambridge Educational

Here’s a place where your students can turn their creativity into a career. This program looks at opportunities to design, produce, exhibit, perform, write, or publish in a variety of media, including theater, film, textiles, newspapers, radio, and television. Real-world insights into this cluster are provided through interviews with a cable TV broadcast engineer, newspaper reporter, professional actor, commercial artist, and a TV director/producer. Correlates to the National Standards for Life Work. A Cambridge Educational Production. Part of the series The Complete Career Clusters. (24 minutes)

Gay Marriage and the Constitution

Nightline

This ABC News program looks at the constitutional controversy over gay marriage as it exploded in both Massachusetts and California in February 2004. Is it a matter of civil rights or human rights? Should it be addressed at a state level or a federal level? Ted Koppel moderates a debate about gay marriage and its legal ramifications with Representative Barney Frank, conservative political activist Gary Bauer, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who arranged for the issuance of marriage licenses to eligible same-sex couples because the California Family Code is allegedly in violation of the state's constitution in the matter of gay marriage. (22 minutes)

Henry David Thoreau: In His Own Words

James Bride

Filmed on location in and around Concord, Cambridge, and Cape Cod, this delightful program brings Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and "Civil Disobedience" to life through the captivating delivery of Thoreau impersonator Jeffrey Hyatt. Long passages, as expressed by Hyatt, capture the energy and intensity of Thoreau’s words, while presenter James H. Bride II and Thoreau specialists Lawrence Buell, Robert Richardson, and Joel Myerson provide commentary on the works, Thoreau’s life, and the times in which he lived. (32 minutes)

Drawing: Perspectives on Line and Form

Lagardere Studio Distribution

This program concentrates on the importance of drawing to the different artistic disciplines as it addresses ongoing debates surrounding the representation of space. Drawing tools and materials are presented, and special attention is given to the application of geometry, the principal science of image construction. Classical and Renaissance theories of perspective are considered, as is the progressive disintegration of these theories by artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. (27 minutes)