Currently, we are offering three very interesting and informative films that span a broad range of subject matter. Each is a carefully crafted look at a unique topic.

HIS OWN BEST SUBJECT: A VISIT TO B.F. SKINNER'S BASEMENT

With Julie Vargas, Ph.D.

B.F. Skinner applied his unique behavioral principles to his own life. In this film, his daughter, Julie Vargas, gives us a tour of the basement study in which he wrote many of his books and articles. Skinner developed wonderfully ingenious gadgets designed to enhance his workspace, and he created clever ways of organizing the writing that was the central focus of the last decades of his life.

Dr. Vargas and her sister also share fond memories of their father, who was a very involved and loving parent, happily setting aside his writing goals to be available to them. 

Subjects covered:

• B.F Skinner as a creator inventor

• Skinner's work habits and how he monitored them

• Skinner's role as a loving parent

(2000) 20 minutes $85.

ISBN: 1-891340-72-7    

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I HAVE A DREAM: THE NATURE OF GREAT SPEAKING

With Michael Osborn, Ph.D.

How do we explain extraordinary accomplishment in public speaking? Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is the foremost contemporary example of such greatness. In this film, Dr. Michael Osborn, Professor of Communication at Memphis State University, and past-president of SCA, delineates the five characteristics that contribute to the excellence of this landmark speech.

This fascinating film analyzes why Martin Luther King's extraordinary 1963 speech was so effective. The film combines film sequences from the speech, historical photos from the Civil Rights movement, and graphics with an appreciative and probing examination of King's use of words and images.

Dr. Osborn draws heavily on the work of the Roman writer, Longinus, augmenting classical theory to enhance our current understanding of the impact of King's oration. Illustrated with archival news clips, photos and other contemporary film, and with commentary by Dr. Osborne, theory is tied to practice in a manner that promotes thoughtful discussion of one of the most widely studied speeches of our time. This film is an excellent resource for all public speaking classes, courses in rhetorical theory and criticism. For students of American history or the Classics, the film serves as a vital link between disciplines.

Subjects covered:

• The classical analysis of oratory

• The importance of King's moral authority for the speech's effectiveness

• Effective use of metaphor and alliteration

• Visuals of the Civil Rights movement

(1994) 25 minutes $85.

ISBN: 1-891340-63-8    

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MORALITY: JUDGMENT AND ACTIONS

With Elliot Turiel, Ph.D.

Thoughtful humans have always been deeply concerned with the moral nature of their actions and recent historical events have further widened the scope of this interest. It is only within the last hundred years, however, that we have systematically examined factors involved in moral behavior.

This video reviews some of the basic work of Piaget, Kohlberg and Milgram and investigates current research into the domain theory of Dr. Turiel and his associates. Factors that lead us to act on our judgments, or not, are critically examined using issues important to today’s students.

(2002)  32 minutes  $250.

[Film Review]

"Elliot Turiel’s video on morality is informative, compelling, and engaging.  I have used it 4 or 5 times in my courses already, and I plan to use it every semester.  The narrative is easy to follow, and brings an important academic area of scholarship to life.  The video covers research on children’s and adolescents’ social and moral development. It covers how children acquire morality, and the distinctions that they are able to make early on regarding their knowledge about different types of rules in everyday, familiar settings, such as playgrounds and classrooms.  My students read much of the material covered in the film prior to viewing it and they marveled at how comprehensive, and at the same time, compelling it was to listen to the narrative and watch the testimonies from the individuals in the film.  In addition, the students found it very helpful to see how the interview methodology is actually carried out.  The film shows interviewers asking children, adolescents, and adults to make moral judgments about a range of social issues.  These vignettes gave a reality to the methodology that was less obvious to the students when they read the materials.  Moreover, the examples from a range of cultures are very timely, and significant in this era of globality, mobility, and multi-culturalism. Rather than just drawing on middle-class U.S. children, the film displays children and families from all over the world.  Interviews are conducted with individuals from different parts of the globe, and my students and I greatly appreciated this type of inclusive approach.  Surprisingly, it is rare to find academic films with this type of breadth, candor, and scholarship. Morality: Judgments and Action is a must for any course that touches on morality, ethics, social development, and culture."  

View a short clip from this film.  Go to the complete discussion of this film.

Visit our Support Materials section to view or download the Learning Guide and Discussion Topics for this film.

ISBN: 1-891340-74-3      

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