Nature Documentaries for Discussion

1. Break into 4 groups

2. Watch 5 minutes of video

3. Discuss questions in group

4. Present your results and show a little of the video in front of class 

5. All discuss differences between documentaries at the end

Discussion Questions

1. Era: What signs tell you the era?

2. Style: What makes it interesting?

   1. Storytelling devices

A. Audio: who narrates, music style, rythym of audio (fast, slow, peaceful, angry, etc)

B. Visual: opening image does it engage, how quick are the cuts (lots, little and linger on topic), panning, titling, zooming in, close ups, wide angle, what is used and is it effective?

3. Ideology: 

A. What does it say about nature (and the culture who made it)? 

B. What discourse best suits this documentary 

domination of nature, progress myth, aesthetics and wonder, nature takes its revenge

4. Affect: 

A. How does it make you feel?  

B. What action does it want you to take? (What does the picture want)?

Check out Aether a free online journal that was in production 2007 through about 2011.  All issues are on Dr. Lukinbeal's academia.edu page linked below.  First edition is to the left where we asked the editorial board to each do a short essay on what is media geography.