Films on Latin America

peculiar triumph and tragedy. In December WNET aired Calcutta, Louis Malle's stark documentary view oflife in Bengal, that helped my students and myselfbetter understand some of the factors behind the headlines that were appearing in the newspapers. Since the first ofthe year, their Film Odyssey series has presented classic feature films too numerous to mention here, many on historical themes and with historical significance. As one surveys the possibilities that the media ofthe 1970's provide for learning experiences and cultural enrichment, he becomes quickly aware that public television is the only network to have even scratched the surface and that WNET is setting an example that even the rest ofthe public system should try to follow more closely. Notes (1)Wiseman was interviewed for Newsweek; Oct. 4, 1971, page 99. (2)Donald E. McWilliams, "Frederick Wiseman", Film Quarterly, Fall 1970, page 24. (3)Ibid., page 25. (4)Fred W. Friendly, Due To Circumstances Beyond Our Control, (New York, 1967) page 43. (5)See Junius Eddy in the New York Times, Jan. 23, 1972. Wiseman's films are available from: Zipporah Films 54 Lewis Wharf Boston, Massachusetts 021 10 Several of the See It Now broadcasts and other CBS documentaries are available in 1 6mm from McGraw Hill. Otherwise refer to: Murray Benson CBS Education and Publishing Group 383 Madison Ave. New York, N.Y. 10017 The editors welcome contributions to thisjournal. Articles, reviews offilms or books or comments related to history andfilm will be gratefully received andgiven careful consideration FILMS ON LATIN AMERICA A project by Lewis Hanke and Jane M. Loy. While traditionally many college history departments have offered courses which deal with Latin America, only recently have they experimented with developing a basic "Columbus to Castro" survey course at the freshman or sophomore level. At the same time the content and objectives ofthis course are being restudied to make it useful for a 11 broad range of students who will not necessarily become Latin American specialists but who would find the study ofthis region a valuable part oftheir general education. Since these new courses involve larger class enrollments, there is a pressing need to develop effective teaching techniques designed to acquaint large groups of students with an historically fascinating but unfamiliar region. As instructors of European History have discovered, slides, films, and records can dramatically illustrate important aspects ofWestern Civilization. In the case of Latin America, however, such materials are difficult to locate, frequently far too costly for the average instructor and too often geared to high school and elementary audiences. In an effort to surmount these difficulties, Professors Lewis Hanke and Jane Loy ofthe History Department ofthe University ofMassachusetts have received a grant from the regional research program ofthe Office ofEducation to prepare a "Guide to Audio-Visual Aids for Courses on the History of Latin American Civilization in Higher Education Institutions." The Guide, slated for completion by the fall of 1972, will include in addition to sections about records and slide collections itemized description of available films, noting location and cost, and an evaluative statement on the quality ofthe material for college audiences. The Guide will also provide an annotated bibliography of selected publications, which will give background to film topics. Preliminary arrangements have been made with the Consortium on Latin American Studies Programs for the publication ofthe Guide as one ofits service publications. As with any such project, the chief difficulty lies not so much in the location of materials as in their evaluation once found. In order to establish some criteria of film excellence, the investigators have canvassed members of the Conference on Latin American History, the main body ofteachers in this field, inviting them to report their experience on the most effective visual aides they have used in their own classes. The mail response to date has been encouraging, yielding enthusiastic support for the proposed Guide, many specific suggestions ofaudio-visual materials and various cautionary comments. To sample more directly faculty, opinion, a workshop has been planned for Saturday, April 15, 1972, in which teachers from colleges in the New England area will be invited to view selected films and to discuss them critically. Student reaction to films is also important...