Analyzes the representation of race and ethnicity in two films, "Dangerous Minds" and "Suture." Examines how Whiteness must be theorized and discussed as an historical, cultural, and political construction. (SK)

Describes a strategy that uses the analysis of movie plots to reveal the importance of biological issues to students. Concludes that pointing out the role of biology in familiar and popular cultural phenomena proved effective in reaching students who might otherwise have been intimidated by or prejudiced against science. (JRH)

Examines "Ghost World," a Hollywood film about youth, friendship, alienation, and survival, critically investigating how popular representations of youth signal a particular crisis of the social through a discourse of privatization, which fails to locate youth and problems they face within the related geographies of the social and political. The…

Examines the film, "The Harder They Come," asserting that narratives constituting the supposedly subversive representation of Jamaican society contribute to mis-recognition of the white Jamaican ruling class and its dominating role that the film portrays. This movie helped mobilize a nationalist political process that included black,…

Describes a high school advanced composition course which uses films and the metaphor of stellar constellations (a writer finding or imposing order and meaning in a chaos of ideas). Notes that most students understood this approach to criticism by the end of the course. (RS)

This first in a planned five-part series on the videodisc as an instructional tool provides a basic introduction to videodisc technology and highlights features that make it a desirable educational medium. Videodiscs are compared to slide projectors, films, and videotapes, and two basic videodisc formats are explained. (LRW)

Categorizes attempts to account for how viewers garner meanings from motion pictures as either semiotic, realist, or conventionalist. Proposes an alternative explanation based on J. J. Gibson's ecological theory of perception. Offers his concept of "affordances" as the key to an explanation of how meanings in motion pictures are…

Notes that film has no clear set of rules, unlike all languages, which are deductive systems interpreted according to clear sets of rules. Suggests that film is an inductive system whose interpretation is based on a general understanding of events depicted as modified by production variables such as lighting, camera angles, and the context of…

Shows fundamental interconnections between video art and the history of avant-garde abstractionism during the 20th century; for example, as reflected in the work of experimental filmmakers like Stan Brakhage. Maintains that a specific body of film and video works has explored the issue of abstraction as a means to define their respective media.…

Argues that Spike Lee, in his film "Do the Right Thing," used a form similar to classical Greek drama in order to embed inconsistent themes into the film. Suggest implications in relation to the functions served by narrative rhetoric and a polysemic critical practice. (SR)

Describes the use of Spike Lee's film "Jungle Fever" in an introductory communication theory class. Demonstrates how the film can be used to help students understand four metatheoretical perspectives: laws, rules, systems, and critical approaches. Discusses when and how to use the film in class. (SR)

Describes how the film "The Dream Team" can be used in a small group communication course as a visual case study, presenting clearly and in detail many of the most central group development processes, including cohesiveness, norms, roles, leadership, and group development. (SR)

Investigates the use and perceived effectiveness of strategies for coping with scary films, coping style, and two dimensions of empathy. Confirms evidence that "blunting" is characterized by distraction or reinterpretation of scary events, whereas "monitoring" is characterized by attention to threat cues. Interprets gender differences in coping as…

Provides an overview of material offered at seminars put on by the Video Education for Libraries Project. Discussion covers all aspects of collection development and video services policy including copyright considerations. The importance of independent film works for collections is emphasized. (EA)

Examines the history of the cultural imperialism debate. Reviews international questions raised concerning the role and influence of the still-popular Hollywood products. Examines changing ownership patterns in Hollywood (buyouts by major foreign interests). Notes important trends, and suggests areas for critical research. (SR)