FILM, VIDEO, DVD: ALPHABETICAL LISTINGS
A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Film, Video, DVD: W
Waffles ED-196
11 min / color / 1985 / CF / VHS
Elementary school through adult
While watching a cooking show on television, a young girl falls asleep and dreams that she is preparing waffles. When she runs out of eggs, she goes to the farmyard across the way and brings back a hen. She feeds the chicken colored breakfast cereal; it lays colored eggs. When she runs out of milk, she returns with a cow. When the waffles are ready, the table is set, and the chicken, the cow, the little girl, and her dog take seats for breakfast.
Suggested Classroom Activity: Have students make up an imaginary meal where the foods that are served are colored differently than they usually are (i.e., pink mashed potatoes, blue egg yolks); ask students if they think that different colored foods taste different, and how color might affect our other senses.
A Walk Through series
8 parts / 1998-2003 / VHS
College through adult
This acclaimed Channel 13/WNET series presents walking tours through
famous sections of New York and New Jersey with co-hosts actor
David Hartman and architectural historian Barry Lewis. The two
congenially discuss four centuries of history and geography so
profoundly rich with American culture, heritage, industry, entertainment,
buildings, and people.
-
A Walk Down 42nd St. 60 min WALK-1
A Walk Through Harlem 90 min WALK-2
A Walk Up Broadway 75 min WALK-3
A Walk Around Brooklyn 120 min WALK-4
A Walk Through Central Park 120 min WALK-5
A Walk In Greenwich Village 120 min WALK-6
A Walk Through Hoboken 60 min WALK-7
A Walk Through Newark 70 min WALK-8
Walks with an Architect: Brasilia AR-8
26 min / 2004 / DVD
High school through adult
The official capital of Brazil was a masterpiece of collaboration
between town planner Lucio Costa and the visionary modernist architect
Oscar Neimeyer. Here, architect Yannis Tsiomis tours the city
outlining the achievements and failures of this grand undertaking
that ranks among the most significant architectural achievements
of the mid-20th century. (French, dubbed)
Walks with an Architect: Dubai, Manama, Doha AR-9
26 min / 2004 / DVD
High school through adult
The early 21st century heralded a building boom in the Mid East
Gulf States. Architect Roueida Ayache tours the capital cities
of Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE where ambitious architecture and
engineering projects are transforming once-quiet fishing towns
into spectacular international showpieces. (French, dubbed)
Walking ED-90
5 min / color / 1970 / LCA / 16mm
Elementary school through adult
Ryan Larkin’s delightful animated drawings and watercolor sketches capture the humor and individuality of different styles of walking and the different personalities of the walkers. The lively drawings are accented by a rock-music score, which is the sole “commentary” of the film. (Note: Some of the subjects are nude, though tastefully done.)
Waltzing Matilda ED-256
8 min / color / 1988 / AIMS / 16mm
Elementary school through adult
“And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong / ‘Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?’” A chorus of animated clay animals of the Australian bush-kangaroos, koalas, emus, goannas, and many others-amusingly sing and enact the famous Australian folk song based on the poem by A.B. Paterson. Produced by the South Australian Film Commission, the film is an effective stimulus for creative expression in language, music, and cultural studies.
Warty the Toad ED-57
13 min / color / 1973 / CORF / 16mm
Elementary school through adult
In a whimisical twist of an old theme, Warty is vain about his ugliness and feels sorry for animals who aren’t as ugly. But when the butterfly, together with turtle, grasshopper, and frog save him from the hog-nose snake, Warty learns that there are things more important than how you look.
The Washington Colorists WA-383
37 min / color / 1986 / PBS / VHS
High school through adult
During the 1950s and early 1960s, Washington, D.C., witnessed the emergence of a talented group of artists who would have a profound effect on Modern art. Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Paul Reed, Gene Davis, Howard Mehring, and Tom Downing had a common interest in emphasizing color as the integral part of painting, which led them to be known as “The Washington Color School.” Interviews with some of the artists, art experts, and art critics along with beautiful photography of the works of the Washington Colorists, make this striking program a pleasure for all art lovers.
Washington National Cathedral ED-534
60 min / 1993 / VHS
Middle school through adult
Almost 100 years old now, the Washington National Cathedral-the
6th largest in the world--represents a magnificent achievement.
This PBS documentary focuses on the Cathedral that stands as
a testament to the people who helped build it and who worship
there. It combines breathtaking cinematography and archival film
footage with sacred hymns and secular music, poignant stories
by and interviews with national leaders, theologians, architectural
experts, and master craftsmen.
Wassily Kandinsky: Invisible Shapes WA-620
33 min / 1994 / VHS, DVD
High school through adult
Seemingly contradictory in his approach to painting, the enigmatic
Kandinsky was interested in color, shape, line, motion, music,
art and pure abstraction as well as spirituality, representation,
and symbolism. This giant of the art world was a lightning rod
for the exciting experimentations going on in early 20th century
art and had few equals. One of his most noted works, "Yellow-Red-Blue"
is analyzed in detail.
Water Garden WA-192
28 min / color / 1984 / AMON / 16mm
Middle school through adult
Located at the edge of a fast-paced business district, Fort Worth’s Water Garden provides a unique haven, as both a successful public park and an artistic triumph. It was designed and completed in 1974 by world-renowned architect Philip Johnson. The Water Garden both encapsulates the best of Johnson’s processional architecture and expresses his playful sense of space and form. Johnson shares with us his delight in this project as he recalls influences from Walt Disney, Lewis Carroll, and medieval architecture.
The Way Things Go ED-279
31 min / color / 1987 / FRI / VHS
Middle school through adult
This work by Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss is a 30-minute visual record of 100 feet of sequential physical interactions, chemical reactions, and precisely timed chaos worthy of Rube Goldberg or Alfred Hitchcock! The sequence begins harmlessly enough with a suspended garbage bag unwinding around and around until it nudges a tire, which rolls into a ladder. Eventually corks pop and knock over objects that spill chemicals that fizz and fill up containers that in turn spill and set off explosives. It is fun to anticipate what might happen next and to explain the principles that cause the different effects. (Note: A warning may be appropriate to younger students about the hazards of mixing chemicals and using fire outside a controlled environment.)
Wayne Thiebaud WA-66
15 min / b&w / 1967 / IU / 16mm
Middle school through adult
In this film, Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud is shown painting in his studio and teaching in the classroom. Thiebaud discusses his personal philosophy and ideas about teaching art.
Wayne Thiebaud: Line AT-51
30 min / color / 1992 / GPN / DVD /VHS
Elementary school through adult
When is a line not a line? When it’s volume, shape, movement, and feeling. At first glance, the lines in Wayne Thiebaud’s drawing look simple. Gradually, the line becomes more complex as the linear structure of a portrait of an ice cream cone is revealed. Hosted by the comedy team Penn and Teller, this program is designed to instill creative and critical thinking skills in children through the exploration of the visual and performing arts.
Weaving with Looms You Can Make AT-11
16 min / color / 1974 / ACI / 16mm
Middle school through adult
This is a “how-to” film on weaving. Not only does it demonstrate how to make simple backstrap and frame looms, but it is also filled with diverse examples of what can be made on these looms. The principles of weaving are explained, technical terms are defined, and design methods are stressed. After watching this film, one would be prepared to make a handwoven textile from a loom of original design.
Wegman’s World
WA-590
59 min / 1997 / VHS
High school through adult
How does William Wegman do it? This documentary reveals his working methods and the fun of making the famous posed photos of his Weimaraner dogs-Batty, Crooky, Chundo, and Chip. In addition, we are given a rare chance to observe Wegman creating his paintings. Shot at his picturesque summerhouse in Maine.
Welcome to the Water Planet WA-376
31 min / color / 1990 / SHP / VHS
High school through adult
This program documents the creation of artist James Rosenquist’s ambitious mixed-media project Welcome to the Water Planet at the renowned New York printmaking workshop Tyler Graphics Ltd. The artist and workshop endeavored for a year and a half to create 10 rich, handmade, hand-colored paper works with lithographic collage elements. The title Water Planet, as Rosenquist points out, is our familiar Earth revealed from a new perspective-as seen from outer space. In the Water Planet series, Rosenquist visually explores his ideas about the fate of our planet as we near the end of the century.
What a Picture!
30 min each / color / 1985 / FI / VHS
High school through adult
We accompany John Hedgecoe, professor of photography at London’s Royal College of Art, on a variety of photographic assignments in Europe, Africa, and America. The purpose of this 8-part series is to remove the mystique surrounding the taking of good photographs.
- 1. Making a Picture WAP-1
The setting is a small family circus. Hedgecoe introduces the viewer to the working principles of the camera, and encourages an understanding of the basic elements of light, shape, form, and pattern.
2. The Vital Moment WAP-2
This program explains the importance of precision and timing in action photography. From the raw excitement of wrestling in Madison Square Garden to the spectacular thunder of white-water canoeing, Hedgecoe extracts lessons in anticipation and perception of the fleeting moment.
3. Lighting and Composition WAP-3
The principles of composition are explained through the selection and arrangement of still-life subjects in a controlled studio situation. In the gardens of a Normandy château, the concept of depth-of-focus is demonstrated, and the viewer learns to rise to the challenge of photographing a wedding in a picturesque English village church.
4. Faces and Figures WAP-4
Hedgecoe travels across Europe and America, exploring the world of the professional photographer. He demonstrates how light can be controlled to flatter the human face and body, and how to create images of the nude figure that are both erotic and romantic.
5. Landscape and Light WAP-5
While traveling around Europe, Hedgecoe reveals how to capture mood and atmosphere; investigates viewpoint, composition, and the quality of light; and offers practical insights into the art of landscape photography.
6. Perspectives of Space WAP-6
Architectural photography is demonstrated in visits to the châteaux of Normandy and the canyons of New York. The problems of perspective and scale are explained, as are ways to introduce point of view and humor into a photograph.
7. Imagination and Technique WAP-7
Photographs can involve fantasy, imagination, humor, and wit. Hedgecoe explains simple but effective techniques that enable a photographer to conjure up on celluloid almost anything the mind’s eye can see-and perhaps images it can’t.
8. Traveling Light WAP-8
Hedgecoe visits Egypt to put into practice the lessons and ideas already demonstrated. This program is about holiday photography, memories, surprises, disappointments, and triumphs, but most of all it is about those moments when pictorial elements, composition, mood, and the technical skill of the photographer combine to produce quality pictures.
What Color is Black…African American Art
and The David C. Driskell Collection VM-4
30 min / 2001 / VM / VHS/ DVD
High school through adult
This thought-provoking video addresses the questions: What is Black Art? What has its role been historically, and in the 20th century? And how will it change in the future? It was produced on the occasion of the exhibition Narratives of African American Art and Identity: The David C. Driskell Collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts surveying African American art from 1870-1997.
Contains works by Edward Bannister, Charles Ethan Porter, Robert Scott Duncanson, Aaron Douglas, Romare Bearden, James van der Zee, Michael Harris, Jerome Meadows, and Stephanie Pogue. Narrated by Daphne Maxwell Reid of New Millennium Studios.
What Happened ED-341
2 min / color / 1991 / WI / VHS
Elementary school through adult
This stop-action animation is a collaborative experimental film by Elizabeth King and Richard Kizu-Blair. It depicts in intimate close-up shots the private ruminative gestures of a small, surpassingly lifelike articulated figure. Sculpted by Ms. King, the figure is one-third of life size and made of jointed wood and porcelain, with movable glass eyes. The motions of the figure slip in and out of linkage with a brief spoken narrative, the story of a life in 14 sentences.
What is American Colonial American Architecture? Building a New Nation AR-2
16 min / 2002 / LUC / VHS
Middle school through adult
From thatched Jamestown huts to ornate palaces, American Colonial architecture has many looks. Andrea Palladio and his Pantheon in ancient Rome primarily inspired the style. It was called “Georgian” as in England but “Federal” after the American Revolution. It was meant to reflect the democratic ideals of ancient Greece and included Greek Revival and was used extensively by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Latrobe in his reconstruction of the U.S. Capitol building. A glossary of terms is provided at the end.
What Is Impressionism? WA-394
12 min / color / 1990 / FMC / VHS
Middle school through adult
This beautifully illustrated program explains the artistic movement known as Impressionism from its beginning, how the style developed, and the variations of the style. The video examines the artists’ techniques, their use of color, and their choice of subject matter. It also explores why Impressionism was viewed as shocking and unacceptable in the 19th century, yet today is one of the most popular movements in art history. Works in the program are taken from the collections of the Carnegie Museum of Art (Pittsburgh), the Minneapolis Museum of Arts, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City), the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Toledo Museum of Art.
What Is Music? WA-328
58 min / color / 1990 / PBSV / VHS
High school through adult
Follow musicians and scientists from concert halls to sound laboratories and to the Australian bush in the quest for the answer to this enigmatic question. In Paris, researchers demonstrate how computers can be programmed to replicate the human voice singing opera; they also attempt to explain how our bodies respond physically and emotionally to sound. In one demonstration, a violin maker attempts to discover the secrets that Stradivari used in the 18th century to create unsurpassed instruments. This program explores the universal qualities of music as a method of communication between individuals and cultures, as a powerful stimulus to the emotions, and as a valuable sound record of the past.
What’s Wrong with This Building? WA-372
28 min / color / 1989 / CG / VHS
High school through adult
In 1966, when the new building for the Whitney Museum of American Art was opened, architect Marcel Breuer’s innovative design was hailed as an important work of Modern architecture. In 1985, the Whitney announced plans for an addition to be made to the original building. A design by Post-Modernist architect Michael Graves was accepted by the Whitney, but was seriously challenged and eventually halted by protest from the architectural community. This documentary examines the problems involved in adding to a landmark building, architecture as art, the responsibility of art museums to the public, and the role of the architect. Especially recommended for classes in architecture and urban planning.
Where the Wild Things Are ED-189
11 min / color / 1983 / WW / 16mm, VHS
Preschool through adult
Max, a small boy who has been making mischief in his wolf suit, is sent to his room without supper. There he sails to a world inhabited by weird and horrible creatures, which he tames and rules over as king. His yearning for the safe, warm place he left behind, however, leads him back to reality. The film is based on the popular children’s book by Maurice Sendak.
Suggested Classroom Activities: Have students draw their own Wild Things; have students present their drawings to the class, explaining what their Wild Thing eats, where it lives, how it moves, and what noises it makes.
Where the Wild Things Are: A Fantasy Opera PE-22
40 min / color / 1985 / FI / VHS
Elementary school through adult
Oliver Knussen, a young British composer, collaborated with American artist and author Maurice Sendak to create a very special form of operatic theater. This film is an effective vehicle for introducing opera to young children, and is also of interest to students of music, literature, and art, as well as to general audiences.
Suggested Classroom Activities: Show the animated version of Where the Wild Things Are; have students compare the 2 and discuss the possibilities of different approaches to making a film version of a book.
Whistler WA-595
50 min / 2000 / KUL / VHS
College through adult
This video is a biographical analysis of the development of James Whistler’s painting style. The tempestuous American moved to Europe after studying art at West Point Military Academy. He settled eventually in London where his technique matured into his brand of romantic realism influenced in part by, Leonardo da Vinci, Valasquez, Courbet, and the Pre-Raphaelites including Millet and Rossetti. A bit headstrong, Whistler bankrupted himself in a lawsuit against an art critic.
Whistler: An American in Europe WA-533
27 min / color / 1998 / FFH / VHS
High school through adult
The American expatriate artist, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, painted works that stand as some of America’s greatest contributions to the world of modern art. In his lifetime, Whistler was thought of as a dandy, a publicity seeker, and an artist with more imagination than substantive talent. This program explores Whistler’s life in nineteenth-century Paris from his early studies of light and form to his historic court battle with the English art critic, John Ruskin. Featured in this video are many of Whistler’s early works: White Girl, Symphony in White, Homage to Delacroix, and Arrangement in Black and Grey (Whistler’s Mother). The film ends with a study of Whistler’s dark, dream-like Nocturnes and the many works he completed that were inspired by Japanese art.
Whistler: The Gentle Art of Making Enemies NEW!
50 min /1994/ VHS
Middle school through adult
Often described as the first modern painter, James Abbott MacNeill Whistler was also one of the most misunderstood artists of the 19th century. A leader in the philosophy of “art for art’s sake,” Whistler’s approach irked a number of critics culminating in his lawsuit against one, John Ruskin. This left the artist bankrupt and disillusioned. Whistler’s life and career are examined beginning in his tumultuous days at the United States Military Academy at WestPoint through his contentious years in Paris and London. Experts also recreate Whistler’s studio techniques.
The White Heron ED-72
26 min / color / 1979 / LCOA / 16mm
Elementary school through adult
Filmmaker Jane Morrison captured on film the essence of The White Heron, a book by Sarah Orne Jewett. It is the story of Sylvy, a young girl living in Maine at the turn of the century. Sylvy meets a young hunter who is in search of the white heron. Sylvy knows the forest well and must decide whether to reveal the bird’s whereabouts. This is a beautifully photographed, sensitive film about a girl on the verge of womanhood who must make a very important decision.
With Heart and Hand: The Restoration of the Gamble House ED-535 NEW!
58 min/2006/ DVD
High school through adult
Built in Pasadena, CA for David Gamble, heir to the Proctor and Gamble soap fortune, by the brothers Charles and Henry Greene in 1908, this architectural masterpiece exemplifies an American Arts and Crafts residence in all its beauty and functionality. This video documents the painstaking restoration of the house finally finished in 2004.
Who Is Red Grooms? WA-210
30 min / color / 1985 / WHYY / VHS
College through adult
In this program we look at the creations of one of the most innovative and inventive American artists. It examines the late Red Grooms’s works through his own eyes and with the help of Judith Stein, curator of the exhibition Red Grooms: A Retrospective 1956-1984. Included are many works by Grooms: major environmental walk-in pieces, sculptures, paintings, drawings, and films.
Who is the Artist? series
25 min / 2000 / CRYS / VHS
Late elementary school through adult
In each program, 24 masterworks of three artists are shown plus many details of each. After the host introduces the viewers to each of the artist’s paintings, they are shown other paintings by the same artists and asked to identify “Who is the Artist?” Throughout the program, viewers are also asked to interact with the paintings as they are presented.
-
1. Impressionists WT-1
Works include Edgar Degas’ The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage, Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Ball at the Moulin de la Galette, and Mary Cassatt’s Little Girl in a Blue Armchair.
2. Post-Impressionists WT-2
Works include Paul Cezanne’s Mont Sainte-Victoire, Vincent van Gogh’s Wheatfield and Cyresses, and Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
Why Man Creates ED-28
25 min / color / 1968 / PFP / 16mm, 3/4"vc (captioned), VHS
Elementary school through adult
Kaiser Corporation commissioned filmmaker Saul Bass to prepare a film that explores the creative process and shows how it both resembles and differs from ordinary experience. The result is a highly original collection of episodes that are both thought-provoking and hilarious.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears ED-187
10 min / color / 1985 / WW / 16mm, VHS
Elementary school through adult
This masterpiece of children’s folklore possesses the rhythmic continuity of a tribal dance. When Mosquito tells Iguana a tall tale and Iguana plugs his ears, a chain reaction is set off that leads to jungle disaster. King Lion calls a meeting where all is set right-all, that is, except Mosquito’s last, fatal bad habit. The animation in the film is inspired by traditional African batiks and woodcuts, while the music and narration are reminiscent of African village storytelling.
Why the Coyote Howls ED-359
12 min / color / 1991 / CTC / VHS
Preschool through adult
Texas storyteller Finley Stewart introduces the viewers to a rabbit, a bull, a bear, and a very lazy coyote in his rendition of this wonderful Native American folktale. A master of mimicry, Stewart creates a world where animals work, talk, and draw pictures of themselves to make the constellations in the sky. All except coyote, who tries to get out of doing the work, and later howls at the results.
Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky ED-237
11 min / color / 1970 / AIMS / 16mm
Elementary school through adult
An authentic legend of eastern Nigeria is told through collage animation. Long ago, when the Sun and Moon lived on land, they invited their friend, the Water, to visit them. The Water warned them that he would bring his relatives, who were numerous, so Sun and Moon built a big new house for the party. When Water arrived with his entourage, which included fish, alligators, and many strange creatures, they flooded out the Sun and Moon, who had to take refuge in the sky.
Suggested Classroom Activities: Have students create masks that represent natural things (plants, animals, water, fire, etc.); have them use these masks to tell a tale of their own.
William Blake WA-513
52 min / color / 1996 / FFHS / VHS/DVD
High school through adult
Peter Ackroyd, William Blake’s latest biographer, is the guide as this program explores late-Georgian London: a world of political ferment and religious dispute, where the winds of revolution were blowing across the sea from America and France and a mad king sat on the throne of England. Within this context, the program examines Blake’s artistic achievements and continuing appeal.
William Wegman: Selected Video Works 1970-78; Dog Baseball, 1986 WA-570
25 min / 1994 / WEGMAN / VHS
College through adult
A collection of Wegman’s best-known short, conceptual video works (1970-86) that span from the whimsical to the absurd. Many of these vignettes star his Weimaraner dogs, Man Ray, Fay Ray, and her offspring. In b&w and color.
Wilton Art Appreciation Programs
Varied time lengths/ 1981-1998/ VHS
Elementary through middle school
These videos were developed specifically for the very young students to early teenage. Some are instructional, “how-tos” and others make art history very clear and at a level that children can understand. Narration is simple and direct while graphic illustration and animation make it enjoyable and stimulating. They are designed to solicit response and participation.
-
Series 100: Color
WAA-1; Elements of Art WAA-2; Artists at WAA-3; Work Art Adventure WAA-4
Series 200: Portraits and Still Lifes WAA-5; People Doing Things WAA-6; Landscapes and More People WAA-7
Series 300: Horses and Rivers and the Sea WAA-8; Self-Portraits and Sports & Games WAA-9 / Animals in Art: Horses WAA-10; Art History WAA-11; Two Illustrators WAA-12; Artists Today WAA-13
Windcarver WA-367
28 min / color / 1991 / AA / VHS
Middle school through adult
“Anyone can get a shape to move in the air, but it’s the complicated interrelationships, the compound movement, that interest me in designing for the air currents.” Former architect T. Merrill Prentice carefully measures the slightest current of air, and designs and handcrafts common materials into delightful, ever-changing kinetic sculptures. Prentice is seen in the creative process and, with humorous anecdotes, discusses his philosophies of public and private art. This is an enlightening experience for any art student!
Winslow Homer: The Nature of the Artist WA-489
24 min / color / 1986 / FI / VHS
High school through adult
The art of Winslow Homer is examined in this profile of the American artist, from his early illustrations of the Civil War and his picturesque scenes of the country and shore, to the powerful images of nature that characterize his mature and late work. Commentary by the eminent historian of American art, John Wilmerding, provides a guide to Homer’s artistic progress and to his achievements, particularly his transformation of the watercolor medium from the purely descriptive into a highly expressive vehicle. Included in this video are works created during Homer’s visit to Petersburg, Virginia.
With Hand and Heart AT-47
28 min / color / 1986 / NDV / VHS
Middle school through adult
This poignant film bridges the cultural gap between nomadic Indians who peopled America nearly 2,000 years ago and those who today continue an art cultivated by the land and its forces. Filmed entirely in Indian communities in New Mexico and Arizona, the program not only reveals the history of Southwestern art, but also the history of its people who today practice lessons passed down through generations by storytellers. Viewers see the carefully executed art of Indian pottery and weaving, and experience the balance of nature and man as these artists practice an art preserved in ceremony as a spiritual response to life.
The Wizard of Speed and Time ED-110
3 min / color / 1980 / PFP / 16mm
Middle school through adult
From out of his mountain cave blasts the Green Wizard, moving at breakneck speed on his trip through Hollywood and around the world. Slipping on a banana peel, he crashes headlong into a movie studio, only to resurrect magically every piece of equipment for a sparkling musical finale with marching tripods, dancing cameras, bouncing lights, and hundreds of animated film cans. This creative explosion of energy and imagination features the filmmaker himself, Mike Jittlov, in the title role.
Women and Architecture: Public Space, Public Work ED-479
25 min / 1991 / VHS
College through adult
Of all the visual arts, architecture is the one least often associated
with women. This program sheds light on the substantial contribution
women have made to the realm of designing public buildings and
public space. Among others, the following esteemed architects
are discussed: Louise Bethune, Julia Morgan, Denise Scott Brown,
Wendy Foster, Zaha Hadid, and the British firm, Aiton & Scott.
Women Artists WA-455
23 min / color / 1994 / Lucerne / VHS
Elementary school through adult
Traditionally, art historians have not acknowledged women as serious artists. In this minisurvey, however, works of art by women, representing every major era and artistic style, are discussed. These exceptional painters, sculptors, and graphic artists have been producing art at the highest level for centuries and continue to do so in today’s energetic art world. Interviews with a dynamic group of contemporary artists, including Janet Fish and Deborah Butterfield, give inspiration to all aspiring young artists.
Women’s Work PE-51
27 min / color / 1995 / VM / VHS
Middle school through adult
Since 1984 the Urban Bush Women dance group has been internationally acclaimed for creating performances that celebrate the heritage of African Americans. In April 1995, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts brought the Urban Bush Women to Richmond for a residency. For 7 days, the group worked with area schools, churches, and community centers to raise the awareness of the African-American experience. This video documents that residency program through one of its participants, Pofina Williams, a dance student from Virginia Commonwealth University who took part in all aspects of the week-long program.
Wonders of the African World series
3 videos, 2 parts on each video, 60 min ea part/ 1999 / PBS / VHS/ DVD
High school through adult
Noted author and Harvard University professor, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., takes a fresh look at the history of the African continent. In very engaging manner, Gates takes the viewer on a personal journey seeking great civilizations and cities and centers of learning established long ago before the arrival of Europeans, he reveals an Africa most people never knew existed.
-
Part 1: Black Kingdoms of the Nile WAW-1
Egypt and Sudan in search of ancient Nubia.
Part 2: The Swahili Coast
Kenya and Tanzania to the legendary island of Zanzibar.
Part 3: The Slave Kingdoms WAW-2
Asante and Dahomey in modern Ghana and Benin
Part 4: The Holy Land
Ethiopia and on to Aksum
Part 5: The Road to Timbuktu WAW-3
Mali and the Sahara Desert
Part 6: Lost Cities of the South
The new South Africa to Zimbabwe
The Woodcuts of Antonio Frasconi ED-280
25 min / color / 1985 / AFA / 16mm
High school through college
In 1945, Antonio Frasconi left Uraguay and came to the United States to study art and find out more about American jazz. For the past 40 years, he has created woodblock prints reflecting the political and social turmoil he left behind. Here, Frasconi’s son Pablo presents the evolution and breadth of his father’s art, chronicling a life devoted to expressing political principles. The camera records Frasconi in creating a large wood-block print. Recommended for students of South American history, as well as those learning wood-block printing.
The Works of Calder WA-40
20 min / color / 1950 / MOMA / 16mm, VHS
Elementary school through adult
A poetic, abstract interpretation of Alexander Calder’s mobile sculpture, this film draws parallels between the sculptures and familiar forms and movements in nature. The Works of Calder is an excellent film, not only for sculpture classes but also for students of dance.
The World Began at Ile-Ife: Meaning and Function in Yoruba Art WA-415
17 min / color / 1989 / AIC / VHS
Middle school through adult
Produced in conjunction with the exhibition Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought by the Center for African Art, New York, this program examines the Yoruba culture from its rise in the 11th century to the present. Through their art, religion, rituals, and ceremonies, the Yoruba people display their belief that individuals are both the creators of and created by their culture. An array of objects-divinity platters, wooden figures, woven images in cloth, headdresses, and masks-symbolize the richness of the Yoruba cosmos and are expressions of the sacred art.
World Drums PE-41
59 min / color / 1986 / BF / VHS
Vancouver’s Expo ’86 saw one of the most remarkable premiers in musical history, World Drums. World Drums was a collaboration of 250 of the world’s greatest percussionists brought together to perform a new work by Canadian composer John Wyre. Performers range from African tribal drummers to rock drummer Steve Gadd from New York; Gamelan orchestras from Indonesia to a military drum corps from England. Wyre forms the dramatic center of this whirlwind, masterminding and coordinating the massive undertaking. Recommended for social studies, music classes, performing arts, and the creative process.
A World Inscribed: The Illuminated Manuscript WA-561
24 min / 2000 / FFH / VHS
High school through adult
This video presents a concise history of the illuminated manuscript and monastery libraries, and depicts the workings of a scriptorium and the arduous art of copying and illustrating. The everyday lives of the writers, scribes, and illustrators are described. The best known are highlighted: Einhard, biographer of Charlemagne; Gerald of Wales; the Abbot of Wearmouth Jarrow; St. Thomas Aquinas; and the husband and wife team, Ricart and Jeanne De Montbaston. The program ends with a discussion of the printing press and its impact on manuscript illumination.
The World Is a Dangerous Place WA-345
13 min / color / 1990 / CPSNA / VHS
High school through adult
What do television programs such as He-Man, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and She-Ra, Princess of Power teach children about the world? Do the evil, power-hungry foreigners portrayed in these cartoons bear any resemblance to the “Red under every bed” of the 1940s and 1950s? This videotape provides an insightful examination of the political socialization offered by war cartoons so popular with young children today. Produced by Harvard University’s Center for Psychological Studies in the Nuclear Age, the program is especially appropriate for classes in mass communication, graphic design, animation, social studies, and psychology.
A World of Architecture WA-459
15 min / color / 1994 / Lucerne / VHS
Elementary school through adult
In this brief overview of the history of architecture, major styles and periods are identified for the beginning student. Starting at the Egyptian pyramids and continuing through the Greek temples, the Roman Parthenon, Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, and the magnificence of the Renaissance structures, viewers gain an understanding of the importance of these buildings. Twentieth-century architecture is also examined and compared with that of the past.
A World of Gestures ED-357
28 min / color / 1991 / UC / VHS
High school through adult
This humorous and entertaining video explores gestures from cultures around the world. It shows people from dozens of countries performing gestures that are by turns powerful, provocative, poignant-and sometimes outrageous. Many types of gestures are illustrated, including those for beauty, sexual behavior, suicide, aggression, and love. The video also examines the meaning and function of gestures as a form of nonverbal communication and studies their origins and emotional significance. Viewers are guaranteed a greatly enhanced appreciation of cultural diversity and richness. Recommended for classes in anthropology, psychology, world cultures, and English as a second language.
The World of Joseph Campbell
Varied; see below / color / 1989 / FI / VHS
College through adult
Joseph Campbell (1904-1988) was hailed as the man with a thousand stories, a masterful spinner of yarns and teller of tales. In The World of Joseph Campbell, this legendary, contemporary philosopher explores the myths and symbols that have shaped our world and given us what he called “the experience of being alive.” This series spotlights the famous mythologist, speaking directly to the camera. “A wonderful life force comes through when Joe speaks,” proclaims George Lucas, writer and director of Star Wars. Recommended for classes in art, literature, social studies, philosophy, and theology.
- Introduction: The Hero’s Journey (57 min) WJC-1
This introduction to the series portrays the development of Campbell’s thought and how it was influenced by significant events in his life. Drawing on rare footage, this program gives viewers an opportunity to identify their own creative forces with the remarkably fertile and creative processes of Joseph Campbell.
Volume I: The Soul of the Ancients WJC-2
1. In the Beginning: Origins of Myth and Man (59 min)
Birth. Growing up. Rites of passage. The myths of early peoples dealt with the inevitable aspects of being human, and they still speak to us today. Campbell delves into our evolutionary development and how we confront the existence of forces greater than ourselves.
2. Where People Live Legends:
American Indian Myths (59 min)
Campbell points out that “when mythology is alive, you don’t have to tell anyone what it means.” A myth that is alive works like a picture. In telling an archetypal Navajo myth, Campbell brings to life the landscape in which all aspects of the land and the life force are infused with sacred meaning.
The World of Tomorrow ED-208
84 min / color / 1985 / DC / 16mm, VHS
Middle school through adult
Was there ever truly an Emerald City? The World of Tomorrow looks back at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and the more than 40 million people who glimpsed the future there. The film uses home movies, newsreels, cartoons, photographs, and vintage graphics to evoke that fragile moment when the world stood poised between black-and-white and color, between the Great Depression and the Second World War. Aided by a team of scholars, the filmmakers have created a look at the Art Deco extravaganza of the Fair that speaks not only to those who remember 1939 but also to those who know it only as history.
The Wrong Stuff: American Architecture WA-146
27 min / color / 1967 / BFA / 16mm, VHS
Middle school through adult
CBS correspondent Morley Safer discusses contemporary American architecture with social critic and humorist Tom Wolfe, who looks at many examples of corporate buildings and doesn’t have anything good to say about them. Reminding us that architecture is representative of an entire society, he bemoans the fact that, in this century of the “robust, full-blooded American,” we have adopted a European architectural style that “prohibits any display of animal energy, grandeur, wealth, or power.”
A Wyeth Hurd Original: Peter de La Fuente NEW!
52 min/2005/ DVD
College through adult
Peter de La Fuente is the most recent artist to gain notoriety from the family that produced Peter Hurd and Andrew Wyeth. La Fuente himself explains his inspirations in the southwestern U.S. landside and how the advice and support of his family influences his artwork. He also demonstrates his family’s traditional egg tempera methods and has a conversation with his great-uncle, Andrew Wyeth.
The Wyeth Phenomenon WA-63
27 min / color / 1967 / BFA / 16mm
Middle school through adult
Produced by CBS News, this film relates the life of American artist Andrew Wyeth to his paintings. Narrated by Harry Reasoner, the film explores possible reasons for Wyeth’s extraordinary popularity.
The Wyeths: A Father and His Family WA-265
58 min / color / 1986 / WETA / VHS
High school through adult
This is a film portrait of American painter and illustrator Newell Converse Wyeth (1882-1945), better known to many by his initials, N.C. The character of the ebullient Wyeth is described by his sons and daughters: painters Andrew, Carolyn, and Henriette, the composer Ann, and the engineer Nathaniel. They evoke a man who felt that being alive and being creative were one and the same thing, a man who wanted to paint true, solid American subjects, a man who brought many classic tales to life through his powerful illustrations.
Wynn Bullock: Photographer WA-145
24 min / color / 1978 / PFI / 16mm
High school through adult
Wynn Bullock received international acclaim for his work as a photographer and as a technical and aesthetic pioneer in photography. Using footage gathered in the last 6 months of his life, this film interweaves Bullock’s personal reflections on his creative search as an artist with the struggle that he and his family faced in dealing with his terminal cancer. Many of Bullock’s finest photographs are dramatically displayed by means of a computerized animation technique that was developed expressly for this film.
This way to Y listings
This way to Educational Resources
