E4: Blackfish

Blackfish (2013)—The story of Tilikum, a Killer Whale, kept in captivity who was responsible for at least three deaths

Discussion Questions:

• What are the benefits of keeping various types of animals in captivity?
• What are the down sides of keeping various animals in captivity?
• What is our responsibility to the animals we share the world with?
• How could captive animals be treated more humanely and still provide profit for the businesses that own them?
• What further training do "animal trainers" need to better work with their charges?
• Why shouldn't "wild" animals be treated the same way as "domestic" animals?
• Try to connect the ideas from the documentary (especially breeding in captivity) to the Siberian experiment in domesticating foxes (that National Geographic article we discussed at the beginning of the semester).

E4: How To Die In Oregon

NOTE: This is by far the most controversial of our documentaries. Students who are dealing with grief or potential grief are excused from these assignments. The purpose of watching and discussing each documentary is to make students think about how information is used, shared, and manipulated. Beyond these documentaries, how is the information you are taking in being managed (by addition or omission)?

Pre-Watching Questions

• Should terminally ill people have the ability to choose to end their lives early? Explain.
• What is the difference between Euthanasia and Death with Dignity? Explain.
• Why won't other states enact this law? Explain. 

Discussion Questions

• How has your understanding of terminal illnesses, their management and care, changed after watching How to Die in Oregon?
• How has your understanding of the Death With Dignity law changed after watching How to Die in Oregon?
• What impact did the opening scene have? How did it set the tone for the film? Explain.
• How does Cody Curtis' journey affect the viewers? Why do you think she was she the primary subject of the film?
• What elements are similar to the other documentaries?

E2: The Sandman Paragraphs (all)

"The Sandman" by E.T.A. Hoffman (1817)

• What are the monsters under your bed? What are you afraid of?
• After reading pgs 214-224: What kind of mythical creature is the Sandman? Why does everyone fear him?
• After reading pgs 224-233: How is Klara clearly smarter than Nathaniel? How is she more prepared for the world (even though she's an "uneducated" woman)?
• After reading pgs. 233-240: Why does Nathaniel fall for Olympia? What is wrong with her?
• When finished: What was "The Sandman" really about? Explain with examples.

E4: Google Me Discussion Questions

As always, you are welcome to write a paragraph analyzing the film instead of following the questions.

Pre:

• What kind of lives do you think people with your name have?
• How likely is it that you would be related to others with your name?
• What is Man's purpose?

Post:

• How is Google Me a passion project (what is a passion project)?
• What is Jim Killeen seeking to understand? Does he succeed?
• Were you surprised by which Jim Killeens were related?
• How did this differ from the other documentaries?
• What elements are similar to the other documentaries?

E2: Leaf by Niggle

Pre-reading Paragraph: Why do you get up in the morning? (If your folks/guardians weren't pushing you out of bed)

Read "Leaf by Niggle"

Post-reading Paragraphs:

• Who is Niggle? What is his journey? Why is he going on it?
• What is the story really about? How do you know?

E2: The Sandman

Notes: The Romantic Era
After the Industrial Revolution, questioning the existence of God, and generations of logical thinking people were ready for a little magic—They focused on what was possible in the universe; two movements within this period

• Light—nothing was inherently evil, original naturalists 
• Dark—evil was in everything, but can be influenced by outside elements

Common Romantic Tropes:

• Naive Hero: always a young man who has been sheltered and has an overactive imagination; he always has a best friend and his love interests are the best friend's sister/cousin and the mad scientist's daughter
• The Rational Love Interest: the girl who's left at home and is clearly smarter than anyone else even if she hides it
• The Best Friend: the voice of reason and rationality; tries to talk the NH down from whatever wackiness he has latched onto
• The Mad Scientist: a possibly harmless old man; a possibly dangerous old man; possibly the demon/devil; always has a "daughter"
• The Daughter: rarely speaks, hidden from the world, the perfect distraction/temptation for NH; rarely human (the only person who can't figure it out is NH)

Pre-reading Paragraph: What are the monsters under your bed? What do you fear?

Read "The Sandman"

Nathaniel to Lothar/Klara to Nathaniel Paragraph: What is the Sandman? Why is Nathaniel obsessed with him?

Post-reading Paragraphs: 

• Where does evil come from? 
• What is the story really about? How do you know?

E4: Food Inc Discussion Questions

Please remember, these questions are designed as starting points for discussions. Pick a few that go together and write a paragraph or two about content, bias, and general elements of film.

• What are the differences between farmers and ranchers? 
• What are the differences between family farms and corporate farms?
• Who is Food Inc meant for? How do you know?
• What information is Food Inc trying to convey? How do you know?
• How does the Robert Kenner (filmmaker) want the audience to feel about the topic? How do you know?
• What is the farming system? How has it developed? (Please make it obvious where your answers different from the film)
• What information was left out that should have been included?
• What was the most surprising piece of information? Why?