Movies
Two times during the semester, we will be discussing films. Students are required to watch these before coming to class. The films are:
1) Sputnik Mania (2007), 92 minutes [also called Sputnik Fever]
You can watch a relatively low quality version of this documentary at this link.
You can also stream a high quality version directly from Amazon from this link (which is what I recommend).
We will be discussing this documentary on Tuesday, October 20.
Questions to consider while you are watching the documentary
- What social event in the American south is cited in the movie as the backdrop to the Sputnik launch? Can you find some more details & background? Why is this event important?
- What is President Eisenhower's initial reaction to the launch of Sputnik??
- What is the media's role? Can you provide a specific example?
- What is the public's general reaction? Provide an example.
- How does the response to Sputnik change over time?
- How does it affect the U.S. space program? Can you provide an example?
- Can you think of some long-term effects of Sputnik in American society in terms of education, commitment to scientific research, space program? What do some of the experts quoted in the documentary say?
2) An episode from the mini-series From the Earth to the Moon
Episode 4 ("1968"), 60 minutes
We will be discussing this documentary on Tuesday, November 10.
You can watch this episode at this link.
Two times during the semester, we will be discussing films. Students are required to watch these before coming to class. The films are:
1) Sputnik Mania (2007), 92 minutes [also called Sputnik Fever]
You can watch a relatively low quality version of this documentary at this link.
You can also stream a high quality version directly from Amazon from this link (which is what I recommend).
We will be discussing this documentary on Tuesday, October 20.
Questions to consider while you are watching the documentary
- What social event in the American south is cited in the movie as the backdrop to the Sputnik launch? Can you find some more details & background? Why is this event important?
- What is President Eisenhower's initial reaction to the launch of Sputnik??
- What is the media's role? Can you provide a specific example?
- What is the public's general reaction? Provide an example.
- How does the response to Sputnik change over time?
- How does it affect the U.S. space program? Can you provide an example?
- Can you think of some long-term effects of Sputnik in American society in terms of education, commitment to scientific research, space program? What do some of the experts quoted in the documentary say?
2) An episode from the mini-series From the Earth to the Moon
Episode 4 ("1968"), 60 minutes
We will be discussing this documentary on Tuesday, November 10.
You can watch this episode at this link.