E4: The Story of India (nr)

The Story of India (2007)—Explores the history of India from the major religions, to its influence on other cultures, to its colonization and independence.

Discussion Questions

• What are the two religions "born" in India? What do you know about them?
• What three products dominated trade with India? How do you know?
• Who is credited with helping the people of India gain their independence? How do you know?
• What do the greatest thinkers of India have in common? Explain.
• What did the film maker expect the viewers to already know?
• What was Ghandi's ultimate goal? Why didn't it work out (think Pakistan)?
• How did India's history with the Greeks, the Romans, and the Huns affect their reaction to British rule (rebellions)?

E2: Jabberwocky/Mimsy Were The Borogoves/The Last Mimsy

"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll (1871)
Remember, three sentence minimum for answers.

1. What is "Jabberwocky" really about?
2. What is a vorpal blade?
3. Try to describe the following creatures: jubjub birds, bandersnatches, jabberwocks. Where did your descriptions come from?
4. What does beamish describe?
5. What do Wonderland and Underland represent?  

"Mimsy Were The Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett (1943)

• What issues were families facing in 1940's America? How do you know?
• What are three differences between Victorian England and 1940's America (besides one is England and one is America)? Explain.
• What are three differences between 1940's America and 21st century America? Explain.
• After reading the story:
• Where is the box of toys from? How do you know?
• What is the purpose of the toys? How do you know?
• Why couldn't Alice, Lewis Carroll, or the parents figure out how to really use the toys? How do you know?
• What is the story really about? How do you know?

Clips from The Last Mimzy (2007)

• How does this movie mirror "Mimsy Were the Borogoves"? Explain.
• How do the filmmakers make the story cheesier (exaggerate the dangers and differences)? Explain.
• How do the filmmakers make the story more "dangerous"? Explain.
• If "Jabberwocky" is a warning about what's behind a pretty package and "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" is about the dangers of conformity, what is the warning in "The Last Mimzy"?

E4: Hillsborough

30 for 30: Hillsborough (2013)—In the news on April 15, 1989, one of the lead stories was about a riot in a soccer stadium that killed nearly 100 people; originally, the deaths were blamed on rowdy fans. The truth is a little different.

Discussion Questions:

• Why did it take 25 years between the events in Hillsborough and a documentary about it? Best Guess (amend your answer after the movie)
• Why do these deaths matter? Explain.
• Were the deaths in Hillsborough preventable? How?
• Who was ultimately responsible for how wrong things went? Explain.
• What was the purpose of this film? How do you know?
• Should the film maker have used more graphic imagery? Explain.
• Can you think of any other situations where families have had to fight so hard or wait so long for justice/compensation? Explain.
• What impact on sport stadiums and crowd control worldwide are evident based on the events of Hillsborough? Explain.

E4: Hawaiian Documentary

30 for 30: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau (2013)—follows the life of lifeguard, surfer, and adventurer Eddie Aikua who disappeared at sea in 1978

Discussion Questions:

• What does it take to be a hero? Explain.
• How do you inspire others? Good or Bad.
• Who inspires you? How?
• What qualities made others listen to Eddie Aikau?
• Why did people latch on to the tagline "Eddie Would Go"? How does it represent part of Eddie Aikau's legacy?
• What made Eddie Aikau insist on becoming the first North Shore lifeguard? What did it say about him as a person?
• Why did the film maker choose to "re-enact" certain events? What impact did that have on the way you reacted to the film?
• What was the purpose of this film? How do you know?

E2: Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes: Flowers for Algernon (1959)

• Pre-reading
• What is it like to have a learning disability? (Guess if you don't know)
• Why is it wrong to make fun of someone who does not understand he or she is being made fun of?
• Is it better to know how to figure things out/know how to find information or to have good grades? Explain.
• Progress Reports 1-4
• How does Charlie's work ethic and willingness to learn help him become part of the experiment? What makes Charlie different from other people who are severely handicapped in some way?
• Progress Reports 5-10 (through April 20)
• Are the people at the factory really Charlie's friends? How do you know?
• Do you think hypnopedia (sleep learning) really works? Explain fully.
• What does Miss Kinnian figure out from reading Charlie's Progress Reports? Why do you think she doesn't explain it to Charlie?
• Progress Reports 11 and 12 (through April 30) 
• What events make Charlie start to distrust the people around him?
• Did Burt (the guy who gives the Rorshach Test) give Charlie the same instructions each time? Explain your reasoning.
• Why do the people at the factory really want Charlie gone? How do you know?
• Progress Reports 12 and 13 (through June 30)
• How has the operation made Charlie's life just as lonely/lonelier? Why are other people scared of him (factory workers/the doctors/Miss Kinnian)?
• Why is Charlie so upset with himself after the incident with the dishwasher? What does Charlie remember/learn about himself through this?
• In what ways is Charlie connected to Algernon? What's the foreshadowing?
• After finishing the novella, answer the following questions:
• How does the knowledge he will lose his intelligence affect Charlie? How does the actual loss affect Charlie
• Why does Charlie leave?

E2: The Star (1897) and The Star (1955)

As always, answer each question with a paragraph (answer, example, explanation, connection).

"The Star" by H.G. Wells (1897)

• If you knew the earth was to be hit by an "extintion-level asteroid" within the next six months, how would you live your life? Explain.
• After reading: How important is humanity in the universe? Explain.

"The Star" by Arthur C. Clarke (1955) 

• Can a belief in the accuracy of science and a belief in a god exist together? Explain.
• What message of H.G. Wells did Arthur C. Clarke disagree with? Explain.

E2: Reason (1941)

"Reason" by Isaac Asimov (1941)
Clips:

• Three Laws
• Trask
• Origin of Cylons (Caprica) and Coming Home (BSG)
• H+ #13 and H+ #1

Pre-reading Discussion [write a paragraph on one or all of the following]:

• What are common fears about technology? How do Asimov's "Three Laws" try to address those fears?
• Why do people need something to believe in?
• Why are technology and religion seemingly at odds?
• Why do people fear religion? Technology? How does religion start?

Post-reading Paragraphs:

• Why does Asimov use Islam as the template for QT-1's robotic religion? Explain.
• Do QT-1's views on humanity make sense in the context of its world? Explain.
• What fears about technology does "Reason" address? Explain.