history

Documentary Review Project

This project is designed to challenge students to critically analyze a historical documentary dealing with any topic covered within the class (closely related to American history from Reconstruction through the end of the Cold War). You are to view at least one documentary, or episode of a documentary, and write a response paper. The documentary must be at least one hour in length (55 minutes is okay, but any shorter and the student needs to view another episode). Students may choose any documentary from the list below. Many of these documentaries can either be streamed through the TCC Library webpage, or rented as a DVD/Blu-ray copy from the TCC NW Library. Instructor approval is required for any documentary not listed below (approval can be attained by emailing me or visiting me during my office hours, with the following information: general bibliographic information, running time, and where I can find it). I have selected a wide variety of documentaries to encapsulate the themes of this course—race, gender, socio-economics, politics, warfare, individuals, culture, and religion. Try to choose something that interests you!

After viewing the documentary, the student will write a critical response paper. Your job is to evaluate the documentary for its effectiveness and accuracy. Crucial to evaluating the program’s accuracy is to compare the content of the documentary with class lectures and readings.

Here are a few questions that MUST be addressed in your paper:

1. What was the documentary about? Provide a brief summary of the documentary. You should provide enough summary to fully convey what the documentary was about, including important contextual details. However, the summary portion should not make up the bulk of the assignment.

2. Was there any discernable bias? Do you feel that this documentary accurately portrays its content? You should analyze whether or not the documentary ‘tells the whole story’. A crucial aspect to this is to analyze the veracity and credentials of the historians presenting information in the documentary. A simple google search on the documentary’s participants should be enough to inform you of their credentials.

3. How does the documentary compare to what you learned from class lectures and readings? Are there any contradictions? This is one of the most important elements of the assignment and is pretty straightforward. Keep in mind that if you choose a documentary about a subject that will not be covered before the due date, or one on a topic we do not cover in great detail in class, you should use the textbook for a comparison.

4. Was the documentary entertaining as well as informative? Why or why not? How could it be improved, if at all? In this portion, you will analyze the entertainment value of the documentary and input the ways in which you believe it could be improved. Remember not to use first person, and keep in mind that many of these documentaries are dealing with topics that may be less than exciting. Obviously, you cannot compare them to a Hollywood blockbuster, so pass judgement with due consideration.

5. Would you recommend this documentary? Why or why not? Remember not to use first person.

Please refer to the syllabus for this assignment’s due date. You must submit your assignment to Turnitin, located on Blackboard. Failure to submit the assignment properly will result in a 0 for the assignment. Because these documentaries cover varying time periods, it would be prudent to view your chosen documentary around the same time we cover that topic in class and then write your paper while it is still fresh in your mind. For instance, if you choose the documentary on the Dustbowl, you should watch it when we cover the Great Depression in class. This will help strengthen your analysis.

The paper is to be at least 750 words.

The student will clearly indicate which documentary was viewed at the top of the paper in this format:

Documentary Title. “Episode Title if a Single Episode.” Directed by Director’s Name if Available. Producer. (note the producer for most of the approved documentaries is PBS)

Ken Burns: The Civil War. “Valley of the Shadow of Death (1863).” Directed by Ken Burns. PBS.

Recommended methods for acquiring approved documentaries:

Most of the documentaries listed below are available through the TCC Library webpage, or in person at the TCC NW Library. Keep in mind, some documentaries may be listed by episode titles rather than series titles. Others may be found on YouTube, but be sure to match the publisher/producer with the one given on the list below.

Available recommended documentaries include (roughly organized in chronological order):

The West [episodes 4-8 only] (PBS and Ken Burns); The African Americans Collection: Many Rivers to Cross [make sure you keep within our time period]; Black Indians: An American Story (Rich-Heape Films); The Jewish Americans: A Series by David Grubin [make sure you keep within our time period] (PBS and David Grubin); The Italian Americans [make sure you keep within our time period] (PBS); Home From the Eastern Sea: The Story of Asian Immigration to America (Stourwater Pictures); The Latino Americans [episodes 2-6] (PBS – American Experience); God In America [make sure you keep within our time period] (PBS); Baseball (PBS and Ken Burns) [DVD copy at library]; Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America (PBS); The Klondike Gold Rush (PBS); The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (PBS and Ken Burns); The Brooklyn Bridge (PBS and Ken Burns); Mark Twain (PBS and Ken Burns); Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (PBS and Ken Burns); Panama Canal (PBS – American Experience); Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony (PBS and Ken Burns); Woodrow Wilson (PBS – American Experience); Edison: The Father of Invention (PBS – American Experience); The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (PBS and Ken Burns); Prohibition (PBS and Ken Burns); The Dust Bowl (PBS and Ken Burns); Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (PBS and Ken Burns); Scottsboro: An American Tragedy (PBS – American Experience); The War [Covers America in WWII] (PBS and Ken Burns); Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP (PBS); Freedom Riders (PBS – American Experience); Silicon Valley (PBS – American Experience); Superheroes: A Never Ending Battle – Truth, Justice, and the American Way (PBS); Changing Our Minds: The Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker (Frameline); Stonewall Uprising (PBS - American Experience); JFK & LBJ: A Time for Greatness (PBS); 1964 (PBS – American Experience); The Vietnam War (PBS – Ken Burns) On Two Fronts: Latinos and Vietnam (PBS); Dick Cavett’s Vietnam (PBS); Last Days in Vietnam (PBS – American Experience); Makers: Women in War (PBS); Makers: Women in Politics (PBS); Makers: Women in Hollywood (PBS); Earth Days (PBS – American Experience).

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