Now on DVD: The Spirit of Crazy Horse

The Spirit of Crazy Horse [DVD-1580]. 55 min. 1993, c1990.

A history of the century long effort by the Lakota Sioux to reclaim their land and culture. Events include; Little Big Horn (1876), Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890), Siege of Wounded Knee (1973) and the death in 1985 of Harry Crow Dog. Includes archival film. From PBS Connections series.

Classic movies now available on DVD

Romero [DVD-1586] 102 min. 2002, c1989.

Romero is a compelling and deeply moving look at the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who made the ultimate sacrifice in a passionate stand against social injustice and oppression in his country. This film chronicles the transformation of Romero from an apolitical, complacent priest to a committed leader of the Salvadoran people.

All Quiet on the Western Front [DVD-1581] 130 min. 1999, c1930.

A group of young World War I German recruits pass from idealism to disillusionment with war. Based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque.

Now on DVD: National Gallery of Art series

Twentieth Century European Art. [DVD-1536]. 126 min. 2006
Henri Rousseau: jungles in Paris (38 min.) -- Matisse in Nice (27 min.) -- Picasso: the Saltimbanques (29 min.) -- Picasso and the circus (7 min.) -- Henry Moore: a life in sculpture (25 min.).

Twentieth Century American Art. [DVD-1537]. 119 min. 2006.
Mobile by Alexander Calder (24 min.) -- David Smith, American sculptor, 1906-1965 (29 min.) -- Willem de Kooning: paintings (12 min.) -- The art of Romare Bearden (34 min.) -- Roy Lichtenstein: the art of the graphic image (20 min.).

Art from Asia. [DVD-1538]. 94 min. 2006.
Beyond the Yellow River: recent discoveries from ancient China (20 min.) -- Art of Indonesia (28 min.) -- Sacred art of Angkor (18 min.) -- Daimyo (28 min.).

Ancient Egyptian and Greek Art. [DVD-1539]. 86 min. 2006.
Of time, tombs, and treasure: the treasures of Tutankhamun (29 min.) -- The quest for immortality in ancient Egypt (28 min.) -- The quest for immortality (13 min.) -- The measure of all things (16 min.).

New World Archaeology. [DVD-1540]. 58 min. 2006
Olmec art of ancient Mexico (23 min.) -- Courtly art of the ancient Maya (28 min.).

Global Warming: The Rising Storm

Global Warming: The Rising Storm. 2007. 114 min.
DVD-1513 Disc 1: Warnings from a warming planet
DVD-1513 Disc 2: Predictions for a warmer planet

In the last half of the 20th century, scientists began understanding that industrialization and the effects of explosive population growth were affecting the fundamental structure and composition of earth's atmosphere. Man's ever-increasing thirst for energy, quenched by the burning of fossil fuels, has dramatically increased greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere. This 2-disc set examines and explains this phenomenon, and looks into the future where other, more deadly impacts are predicted to follow. In the first decade of the 21st century, we find ourselves at the precipice of a dangerous, rising storm.

New DVD series: Ancient History

America's Prehistoric Civilizations: Mound Builders. [DVD-1505]. 30 min. 2007.
Had they been made of stone, they would have been among the greatest wonders of the ancient world. These were the pyramids and effigy earthenworks by the Mound Building Cultures of the eastern half of the United States. This is the story of the 3000 year Native American tradition that culminated with the construction of cities rivaling any on the planet when Columbus landed in the New World.

The Incas. [DVD-1506]. 30 min. 2007.
Six hundred years ago, in less than a century, the Inca people, located in present day Peru, forged an empire equal to that of the Greeks and Romans. They built their empire, not by military conquest but by treaties, based on providing food for all the empire's citizens. In the process, the Incas built architectural wonders for all eternity. Theirs is a history of what 7 million people can accomplish when they all work toward a common goal. Today Machu Picchu stands as a glorious reminder of this once incredible empire.

Ancient Pueblo: The Anasazi. [DVD-1507]. 30 min. 2007.
They stand today much as their builders left them 500 years ago. These are the cities of the Anasazi, the ancient Pueblo people of the four corners region of the western United States. Their history is the history how a civilization, against all odds, became so successful at agriculture they were able to produce a leisure society capable of not only building these incredible cities, but also producing some of the greatest pottery, rock art and trading networks the world has ever seen. How the Anasazi did this with a social organization not governed by kings or queens or other hierarchical rulers is one of the great mysteries of ancient history.

Ancient Britain: Stonehenge to Celtic Iron Age Hill Forts. [DVD-1508]. 30 min. 2007.
This DVD follows the incredible saga of a glorious 7000 year evolution of ancient Britain's people -- from the earliest Stone Age clans, to the builders of Stonehenge, to the formation of Bronze Age tribes and the founding of Iron Age hill forts, all leading to the castle building kings and queens and knights that we all recognize today.

Greek Accomplishments. [DVD-1509]. 30 min. 2007.
It has been said that all western art and science is but a footnote to ancient Greek accomplishments. In this program, the story is told of how Greek thinkers laid the foundation for architecture, painting, sculpture, history, philosophy, medicine, literature, zoology, botany, mathematics, astronomy, theater, and finally, the western scientific methodology. It is a history of a series of brilliant Greek thinkers from Homer in 700 B.C. to Ptolemy in 150 A.D.

The Greek City-State and Democracy. [DVD-1510]. 30 min. 2007.
During the golden age of the Greek city states 2500 years ago, the ancient Greeks gave to the world something much more valuable than architectural wonders or material wealth. It was the ideas of democracy, liberty, freedom of speech and the pursuit of truth for truth's sake. This DVD is the history of how a group of people invented self-rule based on citizenship, at a time when they were surrounded by tyrants and despots. The invention of these concepts of self rule and citizenship is the most improbable event in all of ancient history.

James Burke's Connections 1 Series

Connections 1 (Series). [302895-302899]. 100 min. each. 2007, c.1979. Now available on DVD, with closed captioning and educational performance rights.

This classic James Burke series explores the history of technology and civilization and highlights the social implications of various inventions from the plow to the computer.

To read individual program's contents, search the SDCOE Media Catalog for

"connections 1".

Available by request from our County Media Consortium (fill out a "Film Rental Request" at the Media Desk or email marty.armstrong@gcccd.edu)

Latest episodes in "Journey to Planet Earth" Series

The State of the Planet's Wildlife [DVD-1490]. Series: Journey to Planet Earth. 57 min. 2006.

Speculates that almost half of the world's wildlife species may become extinct in the next fifty years as a result of loss of habitat, climate change, predation by humans, and other human activities. Suggests possible strategies for averting such a catastrophe. Examines the situations of lowland gorillas in Africa and in the Bronx Zoo, grizzly bears in the Blackfoot River valley of Montana, migrating birds and wetlands habitat in the Florida everglades, and elephants in Zambia. Originally broadcast on PBS as an episode of the television program "Journey to Planet Earth" on Apr. 18th, 2006.

The State of the Ocean's Animals [DVD-1491]. Series: Journey to Planet Earth. 57 min. 2007.

Investigates why so many of our ocean's animals are disappearing. Case studies focus on global issues including climate change, sea-level rise, over-fishing and habitat destruction. Areas of focus include: Antarctica and the emperor penguin; Melbourne Beach, Florida and sea turtles; Klamath River, Oregon and salmon; Monterey Bay, California and sea otters. Originally broadcast as an episode of the television program "Journey to Planet Earth" in 2007.

Case Studies in Forensic Science

New Detectives Series. [DVD-1456 to DVD-1470, DVD-1473 to DVD-1474]. 53 min. each. 2007, c1997. Now on DVD.

Originally broadcast as episodes of the television program 'The New Detectives," this 18-part series covers the topics of ballistics ("Deadly Target"), forensic photography ("Camera Clues"), fingerprinting ("Death Grip"), serial bombers ("Short Fuse"), handwriting samples ("Signed in Blood"), murder victims ("Dead Men Do Talk"), forensic artists ("Faces of Tragedy"), osteology ("Burning Evidence"), poisonings ("Deadly Chemistry"), forensic geology and botany ("Seeds of Destruction"), DNA ("Double Helix"), evidence ("Bodies of Evidence"), fibers ("Shreds of Evidence"), serial killers ("Fatal Compulsion"), criminal profilers ("Mind Hunters"), insects ("Web of Clues"), missing persons ("Without a Trace"), and soldiers killed in battle ("Soldier Stories.").

Physics and Chemistry of Water

Physics and Chemistry of Water. [DVD-1472]. 21 min. 2007, c1967. Now on DVD.

Shows how the nature of the water molecule determines the physical properties of water. Points out that life is dependent on some of the unusual properties of water--its slow rate of evaporation, its high surface tension, its powers of solution, and the fact that it is heavier in the liquid than the solid form--and expains that all of these properties are determined by the nature and function of the hydrogen bond in water.

Legendary Black Singers

Wild Women Don't Have the Blues. [DVD-1455]. 58 min. 2007, c1989. Now on DVD.

Through historic performances and recordings, captures the spirit of such pioneering blues women as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, and others.

Poverty in America

Poverty in America Series. Born with a Wooden Spoon: Welcome to Poverty U.S.A. and The 51st State: America's working poor[DVD-1471]. 60 min. 2007.

One in eight Americans, approximately 37 million people, live below the poverty line although the United States is still the richest country in the world. This program looks at the various factors that contribute to this problem and what can be done to break the cycle of multigenerational poverty.

Applying Fair Use in Higher Education

Applying Fair Use in Higher Education: Clearing Up the Confusion. [CD-1241]. 60 min. 2008.

Interested in increasing your understanding of copyright? You're invited to listen to this one-hour audio conference on applying fair use in higher education, led by Laura N. Gasaway, an expert in the field. Topics include: Fair Use in the Classroom: What's Allowable? Applying Fair Use to Print, Analog & Digital Materials; Fair Use Liability Issues for Colleges & Universities.

The Fates of Human Societies

Guns, Germs, and Steel. [DVD-1077]. 2 discs, 165 min. 2005.

"A passionate, whirlwind tour through 13,000 years of history on all continents--a short history of everything about everybody. ...A convincing explanation for the differing developments of human societies on different continents." (Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford University.) An epic detective story that offers a gripping expose on why the world is so unequal. Professor Jared Diamond traveled the globe for over 30 years trying to answer this question. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? Diamond dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for history's broadest patterns.

Interested in World History videos?

Engineering an Empire [DVD-1423 to DVD-1426]. 141 min. each. 2007.

The History Channels presents episodes on Greece, the Age of Alexander, the Aztecs, Carthage, China, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, the Persians, the Maya, Napoleon, the Byzantines, and Da Vinci’s world.

Fox News: "Fair and Balanced" or Strong Conservative Bias?

Outfoxed : Rupert Murdoch's war on journalism .
DVD-1415. 78 min. 2004.

This documentary contends that the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News Channel (FNC) has a strong conservative bias in its news reporting practices. Includes interviews with former Fox News employees: anchors, analysts, producers, public relation specialists, and segment graphic designers; examines some of the inter-office memos these former employees provide. Also includes many clips from Fox News broadcasts.

Terrorism and National Security

Liberty and Security in the Age of Terrorism (302841) 58 min. 2003.

This Fred Friendly Seminar, produced as part of Columbia University's 250th Anniversary, explores the balance between national security and civil liberties in the post-9/11 world. The panelists discuss the implications of the USA PATRIOT Act, surveillance of suspects, closed detention hearings, demands for student information, and just what constitutes an unlawful enemy combatant.

To read program details, search the SDCOE Media Catalog

Available by from our County Media Consortium (fill out a "Film Rental Request" at the Media Desk or email marty.armstrong@gcccd.edu).

Strategies for Managing Global Warming

Be Prepared for Global Warming (302817) 51 min. 2005.

According to many scientists, global warming is irreversible—but its progress can be slowed, its impact managed. This program examines strategies, many of them in operation, designed to protect land and populations made vulnerable by rapidly rising worldwide temperatures.

To read program details, search the SDCOE Media Catalog

Available by request from our County Media Consortium (fill out a "Film Rental Request" at the Media Desk or email marty.armstrong@gcccd.edu).

Blogs, and Rethinking the News

If you can't beat 'em blog 'em

[DVD-1427]. 2005. 20 min.

The rise of the blog as a form of serious news reporting means that conventional journalists must become familiar with the blog format and rethink typical journalistic approaches. This ABC News program examines the blogger "community," reviews major news stories that were broken by bloggers, and demonstrates ways in which blogging differs from traditional reporting methods.

Christian Youths, Evangelical Christianity, and the "Jesus Camp"

Jesus Camp

[DVD-1453]. 2006. 93 min.

A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement. The film follows Levi, Rachael, and Tory to Pastor Becky Fischer's 'Kids on Fire' summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where kids as young as 6 years-old are taught to become dedicated soldiers in 'God's army'. The film follows these children as they hone their 'prophetic gifts' and are schooled in how to 'take back America for Christ'

Immigration and the U.S. Border Crisis

De nadie (No One)

[DVD-1421]. 2005. 80 min.

Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival, 2006; Best Feature Documentary, Mexican Academy Awards 2006.

The impoverished Central Americans who leave their countries in hopes of a better life in the United States have a rough road ahead of them. De Nadie shows how, during their perilous 2500-mile journey through Mexico, they put their last money, dignity, health and life on the line. Mexican filmmaker Tin Dirdamal follows a number of refugees in a South-Mexican refugee centre, from where they hitch illegal rides on freight trains to the northern border. Apart from the Mexican immigration service and police, the illegal aliens are threatened by the security service of the railroad companies, the criminal La Mara Salvatrucha gang and the train itself. 16-year-old Jos from Honduras lost an arm when he fell under a train; young Adolfo witnessed the murder of his parents by La Mara. Protagonist Maria, whose house was destroyed in Hurricane Mitch, barely survived an encounter with the violent gang. Contorted with fear and worries, her face speaks volumes. Director Dirdamal visits Maria's relatives who stayed behind in a Honduran slum. The horror stories of refugees, filmed with a handheld camera, are alternated with interviews with employees of the railroad, the immigration service and a relief organisation, and complemented by factual background information. The only hope along the way comes from a volunteer organisation near the railroad tracks that hands out food to passing refugees, as they board a train towards an uncertain future.

Nutrition, Disease, and the Future of Food

Diet and Disease in Modern Society
[DVD-1349]. 2004. 36 min.


Investigates the relationship between diet and a number of frequently inter-related diseases and conditions, including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Topics covered include lipoproteins, fats, fiber, electrolyte minerals, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

The Future of Food
[DVD-1422]. 2004. 88 min.

Documents the trend of unlabeled genetically-modified foods which have become increasingly prevalent in grocery stores. Unravels the complex web of market and political forces that are changing the nature of what we eat. Explores organic and sustainable agriculture as alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture.


Nutrition and Exercise
[DVD-1359] 2003. 24 min.

When diabetes forced Yvonne to take her health seriously, she enlisted the help of a registerd dietician and started exercising. By looking at Yvonne and others, this program details how the right foods combined with an adequate amount of exercise can help you avoid certain diseases and cope with existing medical conditions. Basic exercise tips and fitness assessment pointers are combined with suggested daily diets, especially the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, as explained by Dr. John Cook, director of Vascular Medicine at Stanford Medical School and author of the "Cardiovascular Cure."