Serious Documentaries and Topics
by
Kristin Battestella
These
sophisticated, philosophical, and historical series and documentaries
aren't for younger audiences per se or casual viewing chill, yet they
provide plenty of emotion, analysis, and food for thought for
inquisitive viewers.
9/10:The Final Hours – Like millions of others near and far, I
saw the terrible terrorist events live on September 11, 2001 and like
many I'm sure, I have expressly avoided watching films,
documentaries, anniversaries programs, and shows that have returned
to that fateful footage. I know it's almost twenty years on, but for
me it's still just too soon. Every day at least twice a day there is
a chance I'll stop and think about that day again if I happen to see
the clock strike a somber 9:11. So I surprised myself when up sick at
two a.m. one night I found myself pressing play on this 2014 National
Geographic two hour special. Deep down I know I did so for one
reason: I don't remember what life was like before 9/11 anymore.
Relatable, tender interviews with staff from the Window on the World
restaurant once at the top of the World Trade Center, business
associates from Canter Fitzgerald tenants, network news anchors,
politicians, New York artists, and more eyewitnesses recreate the
normalcy of life then before twenty-four hours news tickers when
Chandra Levy was the big story. Still photographs and raw camera
footage set off the onscreen text while the slow, measured pace
counts down that innocuous but stormy and eerie Monday framing the
business meetings, family dinners, and memories of living and working
on top of the world before the subsequent sunny morning begat billows
of smoke and fire. They cried, I cried, anyone who sees this will
cry, and I'm sorry I didn't take many review notes but the narrative
speaks for itself. Rather than being a sensationalized conspiracy
account or an action packed fictional re-creation, this documentary
remains a cathartic viewing experience in which audiences can share –
whether you are old enough to recall when we did live in a different
world all those years ago or not.
Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy – This twenty-four episode
lecture from the Great Courses Series uses popular science fiction
films, fiction, and shows for fresh perspectives on contemporary
philosophy. From Inception defining music and art to The
Matrix and knowledge
versus free will, ignorance is bliss and the moral consequences of
Philip K. Dick and The Adjustment Bureau debate fate and the
appearance of choice. Carl Sagan's science and Plato's religion meet
at predestination as the irrationality of conspiracy theories and
UFOs are discussed honestly without mocking the viewer thanks to Star
Wars and 2001. There
are exceptions to every rule with time travel, Quantum Leap, wormholes, parallel
universes, and Sliders.
Memories and personal identity can be twisted like The
Prestige, and self awareness,
clones, and minds versus machines are debated alongside John Locke,
artificial intelligence, and who or what has a soul in Westworld.
Predictions of the future and Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics paved
the way for today's A.I. as well as our fear of robots overlords a
a la Skynet and Battlestar Galactica. Blade Runner and
Black Mirror parallels
question cyborgs,
living in a computer simulation, George Orwell, and the social
influence on the self. Why do we want to be perceived a certain way
rather than as we really are when knowledge should outweigh the
opinion of the masses at our fingertips? People voluntarily give up
privacy by consenting to overshare – mirroring the slave and master
morality of Nietzche, gaslighting, and Palpatine. Is the Rebellion
really just scheming terrorists against a lawfully elected official,
and yes, what about those innocent independent contractors working on
The Death Star? Democracy and government are better than anarchy,
war, violence, The Dark Side, and fascism, and the too close to home
satire of Starship Troopers
leads to gung-ho pro-militarism and actions causing what we sought to
prevent. Despite the Prime Directive to not interfere, our superior
Captain Kirk plays fast and loose on which savage societies need his
godly intervention – and the unintended consequences. It may
not be easy to watch all the referenced programs in between the
episodes here, however the tent pole SF provides enough information
alongside historical quotes and lesser known parallels. I confess,
model props of the Liberator and commentary on rebellion versus
politics with my absolute favorite show Blake's 7 makes
Professor David Kyle Johnson of King's College my new BFF. While not
political outright, this pop culture meets genre philosophy is
extremely timely as a mirror to nature on why people are saying and
behaving as they are in our current administration.
Fortunately, viewers can pick and choose episodes or topics for the
classroom or per interest, as the analysis here is fascinating and
friendly without being over the top or pretentious.
Ancient Civilizations of North America, Ancient Mesoamerica Revealed, and Lost Worlds of South America –
These three twenty-four episode lecture series from the Great Course
Signature Collection educate one and all on everything you ever
wanted to know about the ancient Americas – from Olmecs, Pueblos,
Inca, Maya, and Mississippi Mound builders to astronomy, mathematics,
intercontinental trade routes, architecture, and archaeological
evidence beyond the famous long count calendar. Professor Edwin
Barnhart of the Maya Exploration Center explains complex mythologies,
artwork, rituals, timelines, and maps without talking down to
audience, breaking down each culture's agriculture, hierarchies, and
sports with graphics, onscreen notations, photos, and even on
location experiences. Doctor Barnhart doesn't shy away from what is
known or unknown – sharing all sides of the questions,
controversies, and his own theories when disagreeing with established
archaeology. New discoveries change the accepted but not necessarily
accurate dating methods, and it's important to ask why ancient
civilizations did what they did and how do we know for sure? Tender
and taboo subject matters such as slavery, war, disease, massacres,
and tragedies are handled with honesty and respect alongside a
pronounced effort to use proper Mesoamerican and First Nation
terminology. The history and science here help dispel lingering myths
from the Anasazi to Machu Picchu and banishes the notion that all
these cultures are gone – because their descendants are still here
with plenty of haplogroup proof. Trade routes and material evidence
reveal a fascinating bigger picture with items from South America
going to Mesoamerica before trading with the American South West in
more cross continental contact then we thought was possible several
thousand years ago. Even as an adult far removed from long term
academia, I found these series captivating and informative thanks to
the chronological format with room for spotlight lectures and
provocative possibilities. Just because there's an absence of
evidence doesn't mean it wasn't there. These lectures are great for a
learned scholar digging deeper or the younger classroom looking for a
supplemental focus. This is an informative and entertaining trilogy
both easy to marathon because you want to learn more but also super
pause worthy as you're inspired to look up the resources and read
more.
A
Lighthearted Alternative
All About Cats – This two hour documentary found under numerous
titles seems to be a composite block consisting of Joanna Lumley's
(Absolutely Fabulous) intimate Catwoman special
tossed together with an older, more generic piece on feline science.
Despite the inexplicable juxtaposition in tone, jumpy camerawork,
uneven on location sound, and a meandering rather than chronological
pace, the peculiar personality here is evident thanks to our beloved
but revered and feared four legged friends. From past worship
in Thebes and adoration in Ancient Mexico to black cat superstitions
and burning festivals – feline goddesses, shape shifting mythology,
and divisive cat attitudes are explored. Artifacts in Cairo, Great
Pyramid tours, and Maya Temples tie human history into the cat
narrative before jaguar legends and a night time jungle quest to see
the elusive big cats. Whimsical music matches the modern cat shows,
contemporary bling, and Chicago cat circus alongside detailed but no
less fun anatomy, x-rays, and jumping analysis. Primarily used for
hunting and pest control over the centuries, one often wonders why
such solitary predators ever moved in to this relatively recent,
unneeded partnership with people in the first place. Cats may do
tricks, rings bells, or catch balls if the reward suits them,
however, the spoiled rotten often choose not to do so. Fortunately
amid our pet cams and fur salons, cats can be trained for programs
with disabled children or as therapy animals. The comforting,
purring, and soft predator sitting in your lap has been proven to
lower blood pressure, and new technologies let us experience cat
senses such as unique whisker sensitivity and vision that's six times
more sensitive to light than humans. This isn't all fluff though –
serious questions on the rights and wrongs of modern breeding, cat
varieties, crossbred mutations, and declawing methods are also
presented alongside the pros and cons of captivity, forest preserve
tours, and a look inside Tippi Hedron's (The Birds) big cat
refuge with lions, ligers, and leopards rescued from questionable
black market trading, cat hoarding, and more human irresponsibility.
Up close, hands on big cat conservation work with cheetahs in Namibia
and playing with six week old kittens reiterate how similar but
different wild versus domestic cats are – and how it is a privilege
to associate with both. Unusual presentation hodgepodge aside, these
documentaries are tender, respectful, informative, and friendly for
the whole family.
More
Great Courses programs I and my family have watched but was too
caught up in enjoying the subject and researching alongside the
viewing to take proper review notes yet indubitably recommend
include:
Big
History of Civilizations
The
Celtic World
Cities
of the Ancient World
Gnosticism
Introduction
to Botany
Medical
School for Everyone
Remarkable
Science of Ancient Astronomy
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