American Studies
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THE GOOD MOTHERWomen's Studies American Studies 2010 Directed by Women
Every year, mothers from all over America leave their families and homes behind (albeit briefly) to compete in the "Mother of the Year" pageant - in the hope of becoming the reigning representative of American motherhood. A surprising documentary that both explodes and reinforces feminist ideals.
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O'ER THE LANDAmerican Studies Sociology Media Studies 2009 Directed by Women
Taking its title from the last line in the first stanza of the National Anthem, O'er The Land is a haunting meditation on the connection between patriotism and violence in American culture. It raises timely questions about the hallowed concept of freedom, including how its evolved since 1776 and what it means to Americans today.
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WADE IN THE WATER, CHILDREN2009 Urban Studies Sociology Psychology & Psychiatry Media Studies Health Education Cinema Studies Anthropology American Studies African-American Studies Directed by Women
Through a passionate mixture of private videos, uncensored interviews and school-day adventures, the young children of Singleton Charter Middle School, the first school to open in New Orleans after Katrina, have created a revealing portrait of urban youth at the heart of an ongoing American crisis.
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AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOORCriminal & Law American Studies Latino Studies Religion & Spirituality Kartemquin Films 2009
An impassioned exploration of the legal and ethical issues surrounding capital punishment, this award-winning documentary looks at the death penalty through the eyes of Pastor Carroll Picket, who served 15 years as a death house chaplain in a notorious Texas penitentiary and presided over 95 executions.
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LA AMERICANALatino Studies Latin-American Studies Political Science Sociology American Studies Criminal & Law Labor Studies New York City 2009 Immigration
The story of a single mother forced to leave her ailing daughter in Bolivia
in order to provide her with a better life is woven into the current debate
over amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Winner of multiple awards at Latino
film festivals, La Americana puts a human face on this timely and controversial issue.
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A LIFE IN PRINTChicano Studies Latino Studies Media Studies Art History Latin-American Studies Labor Studies American Studies 2009
A rich historical record of Chicano art, life and culture since WWII,
A Life in Print profiles influential artist and printmaker Xavier Viramontes,
founding member of Galeria de la Raza, whose iconoclastic silkscreen poster
for the United Farmworkers rallied a nation and sparked the Chicano movement in art.
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THE LEAST OF THESELatino Studies Latin-American Studies Criminal & Law American Studies Political Science 2009 Immigration
A look at one of the most controversial aspects of American immigration policy:
family detention. The Least of These brings to light the troubling conditions
inside the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a former prison operated by a private
corporation that is being used to house immigrant families.
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THE NEW AMERICANS2009 Chicano Studies Kartemquin Films Political Science Latino Studies Latin-American Studies Anthropology American Studies African Studies African-American Studies Immigration
A landmark seven-hour documentary series, The New Americans follows the lives of a diverse group of contemporary immigrants - from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Nigeria and Palestine - to offer a kaleidoscopic picture of immigrant life in the U.S. Available for the first time in its entirety on DVD.
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SEX POSITIVELGBTQ American Studies AIDS Human Sexuality Health New York City Media Studies 2009
An electrifying new documentary that revisits the early days of the AIDS epidemic
and chronicles the little-known story of the birth of the safe sex movement.
Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Outfest.
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TAXI TO THE DARK SIDECultural Studies 2009 Terrorism Studies Academy Award Winners & Nominees Political Science Peace & Conflict Middle Eastern Studies Islamic Studies Criminal & Law American Studies
The educational version of the 2008 Academy AwardŽ winner for Best Documentary Feature, Taxi to the Dark Side is the definitive investigation into the introduction of torture as an interrogation technique in U.S. facilities and the role played by key figures of the Bush Administration in the process.
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THE AXE IN THE ATTICAfrican-American Studies Anthropology American Studies Political Science Cinema Studies Sociology 2008 Directed by Women
What does it mean to be exiled in your own country? In the aftermath of Katrina, two filmmakers embark on a road trip to meet displaced evacuees. An important American documentary, The Axe in the Attic tackles questions of race, class, and the breakdown of trust between a government and its citizens.
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THE GAME OF CHANGEAmerican Studies American History African-American Studies Urban Studies 2008
When the Loyola basketball team started four African-American players in 1963 they were suddenly thrust into the national spotlight. The Game of Change reaches far beyond sports, demonstrating this particular event's significance in the battle for race equality in a largely segregated country.
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THE ORDER OF MYTHSAfrican-American Studies American Studies American History Sociology 2008 Directed by Women
The first Mardi Gras in America was celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703. In 2008, it is still racially segregated. A fascinating investigation into our nation's history and traditions, this acclaimed, award-winning documentary illuminates the complexities of race relations in 21st century America.
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THE BATTLE OF LOCAL 5668American Studies Media Studies Labor Studies 2008
How a small labor dispute at the Ravenswood Aluminum Plant in Ravenswood, West Virginia erupted into a national boycott and media campaign that changed the way unions deal with management.
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THE UNFORESEENEnvironmental Studies Architecture American Studies Cinema Studies Economics Urban Studies Political Science 2008 Directed by Women
An urgent, beautifully crafted examination of urban sprawl and its impact on the environment, The Unforeseen is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning documentary from director Laura Dunn and executive producers Terrence Malick and Robert Redford.
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GIMME GREENEnvironmental Studies American Studies Health Sociology 2008
A social history of one of our most recognizable national symbols - the residential lawn. Humorous, but thought-provoking, Gimme Green considers the impact of this uniquely American obsession on the environment, our health, and our way of life.
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LADIES OF THE LANDBusiness American Studies Economics Environmental Studies Health Labor Studies Women's Studies 2008 Directed by Women
As small farms continue to disappear at an alarming rate, a growing number of women are venturing into this tradition-bound, male-dominated industry - and revitalizing it from within. Ladies of the Land explores the recent emergence of the woman farmer and its connection to the boom in organic agriculture.
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FRONTRUNNERSPolitical Science New York City Education American Studies Sociology Media Studies 2008 Directed by Women
It's hard to run for office - even in high school. Frontrunners follows the recent elections at the ultra-competitive Stuyvesant High School in New York City, and explores how politics works at its most nascent level.
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NEVER PERFECT2008 Women's Studies Sociology Psychology & Psychiatry Media Studies Health Asian-American Studies Asian Studies Anthropology American Studies Directed by Women
How are ideals of beauty influenced by race, history, and geopolitics? And how are these ideals reinforced in ethnic communities? With a rich selection of film clips and archival footage, Never Perfect examines the dramatic rise in popularity of cosmetic surgery among Asian-American women.
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MISS NAVAJOWomen's Studies Native American Studies Cultural Studies Anthropology American Studies 2008
For most of us, pageants conjure up smiling beauty-queen hopefuls parading around in bathing suits or glittery gowns. But most of us have never witnessed the Miss Navajo Nation competition - a unique pageant established in 1952 to celebrate women and tradition in Navajo culture.
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