Customer Reviews

Reading in the Reel World: Teaching Documentaries And Other Nonfiction Texts

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Thank you, John Golden, for writing this book on how to "read" non-fiction films. The need for this book was great since most students -- most Americans! -- naively believe that "reality TV" is real and that "real" documentaries are always objective. Teaching documentaries provides an engaging opportunity to teach critical thinking.

The selected list of nonfiction films is essential and wide-ranging -- from "Thin Blue Line," "Triumph of the Will" and "Night and Fog" to "Bowling for Columbine" and "Hoop Dreams." There are films for middle schoolers ("Mad Hot Ballroom" and "Spellbound") and more challenging fare for upperclassmen ("Born into Brothels" and Frederick Wiseman's "High School"). Each film is helpfully summarized and sequenced into viewing days with highlighted "Things to Notice" and topics for discussion.

Using "Reading in the Reel World" as my primary text, together with selected readings from "Documenting the Documentary" and other sources, the unit on nonfiction films has been the hit of my twelfth-grade "Language of Film" class this year.

Excellent read and highly informative work. Wonderfully informative for those seeking to gain a higher appreciation of a filmakers intentions and methods. Highly insightful, even for those not involved in teaching.