What did the movie or discussion prompt you to think about?  If you are interested in pursuing one as part of your research this semester for a class paper, check with the library.  You may want to start with the materials listed below (films, books, and databases of research articles).  I’ll also explain using subject-specific databases to improve your search results on a broad term, such as “justice.”

If you missed the movie, want to watch it again, or share with a classmate, you are welcome to check out the DVD on 4F.  Ask at the library desk.  We have a viewing room (bring your own headphones; sorry no popcorn allowed) in case your laptop doesn’t have a DVD player.  I know mine doesn’t; but it’s so much lighter than my last laptop!  You may also check with IT about their DVD player loan.

Continue reading →

Were you expecting the mini-series based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name?  Don’t worry, that DVD box is also available to watch in our viewing room on 4F.

Chai Jing felt she had to live under a dome in Beijing, inspired by King’s story.  She trained as a reporter, the skills you are learning at university.  She asked questions about her daily life.  In 2017, Anna Lora-Wainwright wrote a similar perspective for MIT Press: Resigned Activism: Living with Pollution in Rural China (on the shelf in the library at TD187.5.C6 L67 2017).  What questions do you have?

Deep thinking or Critical thinking takes time.  It evolves slowly rather than in 2-4 hours of writing a term paper.  Critical thinking builds upon skills librarians call information literacy.  There are six; let’s focus on two, Reseach is Inquiry and Scholarship is Conversation.

Continue reading →

The film, Wolf Warrior 2, is also available to watch in the library’s viewing room or check out for your own DVD player.  It presents a thrilling view of international development (sometimes called international aid) and peacekeeping.  My mind is still thinking about different perspectives on foreign policies and nationalism.  Some films for comparison include Operation Red Sea or We Come As Friends.  The latter may be less thrilling, but it is honest to local viewpoints, and a list of resources from We Come as Friends Film Friday in May 2018 is available.

In a university setting, debating comparative politics or US-China relations happens in journal articles.  An excellent example of one conversation over the years is published in International Security.

Continue reading →

Sociology and Linguistics combine in this film with social justice.  If this inspires your research, visit with a librarian or explore the resources below.

Learn more about African American English in this Great Courses (32 min) video.

Walt Wolfram is a highly esteemed scholar of linguistic diversity and sociolinguistic justice. You can keep up with his work online by visiting The Language and Life Project, a non-profit outreach education endeavor to document and celebrate dialects, languages, and cultures of the United States. You can also watch more videos and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Dr. Wolfram’s ebooks are available: The Development of African American English and Dialects at School: Educating Linguistically Diverse Students.     See additional books and articles below.

Continue reading →

Economics is a study of scarcity or distribution, often by weighing the costs and benefits of an action or inaction. If this documentary inspires you to research this topic more, the books below are a good place to start. Some are online; others are on 4F.

Make an appointment with a librarian to find additional resources.

If you missed the movie, the DVD lives on 4F where we have a movie viewing room. Bring your own headphones and ask at the desk.

Continue reading →