Browse Exhibits (89 total)

12 programs, 1958, KUHT (Houston)

This groundbreaking series uses an all-black cast from the University of Houston to illustrate sociological concepts via dance.

From WNET:

"People are Taught to be Different is a series of films representing a new departure in educational telecasting. From anthropology, social psychology and sociology, it draws case materials that dramatically portray the different ways children are brought up and personality is shaped throughout the world. Against a stylized background of primitive village and modern American life, folkways of childbirth, child-rearing, puberty rituals, courtship behavior, marriage rituals, institutional development, religion, medicine and death rituals are interpreted through the medium of modern dance. The sets, dances and music, create specifically to complement the explanations of the various groups and topics, combine to give, the viewer a “you are there” perspective. The material is presented by Dr. Henry Allen Bullock, professor of sociology and Chairman of the Graduate Research at Texas Southern University. He explains how and why human beings are made into different kinds of persons in different parts of the world."

10 episodes, 1961, University of Michigan

From WNET:

"In 1941 Japan was our enemy. By 1951 she had become a staunch ally. Between 1861 and 1961 she made the leap from a Middle Ages culture to a modern one – a transformation that took most European countries four centuries to accomplish. Neither change occurred without tremendous political and social upheavals and enormous tensions and conflicts between the old and the new. In Japan: The Changing Years, these major changes and the resulting tensions are examined by experts who combine academic stature with first-hand knowledge of the country and the conditions they discuss. Films are used extensively to illustrate the points under consideration. These include historic footage shot in 1906 as well as a considerable amount of captured World War II film obtained from the U.S. Army or from the National Archives. Through the cooperation of the Japan Society, Inc., of New York (which shared the cost of producing the series with NETRC) antique prints and paintings and nineteen century photographs were obtained for use. Other still photographs were taken from the book We Japanese, published b Heibonsha of Tokyo. Much of the music was taken from Japanese radio broadcast tapes cleared for use by the Japan Society."

6 programs, 1961, KCTA-TV

From WNET:

"Alaska became the forty-ninth state in 1958; ninety-one years after Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of the territory from the Russians.  In many ways it has changed radically since 1867, and since 1958; in others, it remains as it was centuries ago.  To explore the many faces and facets of the largest and second newest state, KCTA-TV of St. Paul, Minnesota, sent a film crew to Alaska to prepare this series.  They and their cameras traveled from modern Anchorage to Point Hope, one of the oldest Eskimo villages in the state; they visited abandoned gold mines, Armey missile sites, the governor’s office, the new settlements of homesteaders, the factories and the farms that combine to make Alaska a state of excitement and vigorous activity.  The result is a series that portrays the state with the immediacy that can be achieved only by a blending of fine visual material and informed commentary."

13 episodes, 1960, University of Southern California

From WNET:

"'Patterns of life' has as its theme an explanation of the chemical bases of life, which remain constant whatever form the life itself may take. In its most simple and its most complicated forms, living matter is always based upon the same elementary chemical and physical reactions, explains Dr. Saltman: it is the purpose of this series to describe those reactions, how that are produced, and what substances go into the construction of cells and enzymes, vitamins and viruses – the elements of life. Using visual aids such as scale models, diagrams, and even rare views through electronic microscope, Dr. Saltman analyzes in layman’s terms the complicated and fascinating chemical systems which weave together into the “Patterns of Life.” The series was produced for NET by the Department of Cinema of the University of Southern California. The series consists solely of lectures and demonstrations by Dr. Saltman."

8 episodes, 1953, WQED (Pittsburgh)

From WNET:

"This series offers the general audience a chance to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the development of the actor and his medium. Included are various style of theatrical presentation with the contributing forces present in a given area. The styles and eras covered are: classic theatre, romantic theatre, realistic theatre, and the twentieth century theatre. Arnold Moss and John Gassner appear on alternate programs outlining the broad basis for the understanding of the theatrical style, discussing style and acting in the context of its audience, its architecture, design, literature, etc. The series was produced by WQED, Pittsburgh."