Videos Related to the World Views Topic at the Hatfield Library

Agamemnon. National Theatre of Great Britain production. (1983. 95 min.)
Call no: AV 3529

Part 1 of the Oresteia trilogy by Aeschylus.

Beginning with Homer's account of the Trojan War, this program re-creates the Greek world to provide insight into the daily lives of Greek citizens.From the Films for the Humanities and Sciences series, Ancient Civilizations.

"These illuminating programs, filmed on location across Greece, present the religion, architecture, art and customs of Greek culture which have survived throughout its 4,000 year history". Contents: v. 1. Art in ancient Greece ; Mining in ancient Greece -- v. 2. Bacchus, the god of wine; Firewalking in Greece.

David Gilman Romano, an archaeololgist with a background as an athlete and coach of track and field, gives a history, dating back to mythological times, of the origins of modern athletic competition, including triumphs, scandals and traditions of that time.

This pseudo-biography juxtaposes elements of Aristophanic plays with the activities of contemporaneous people to show how Aristophanes became the father of political satire and why his theatrical innovations are still staples of the contemporary theatre.

Documentary chronicling young sculptor Alan LeQuire's monumental Athena, a recreation of Phidias' lost 5th century statue, for the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee.

An exploration of Athens as the birthplace of democracy, and of the ways in which Athenian democracy differed from what we would now recognize in a democratic state. The program looks at the 19th-century origins of the idea that classical Greece saw the beginning of all Western civilization. It includes a speech by Demosthenes that illustrates the insecure status of women in Greek society.

Explores the ancient temples of Athens to try to discover the real purpose of these structures. Go behind the scenes with the people who are unearthing their mysteries and trace the story of how they were built and used.

In this program, a far-reaching philosophical ideas of Plato's star pupil are examined by Martha Nussbaum. Aristotle overcomes Plato's dualism of the intelligence and sensible worlds with his principle of the separate nature of eternal matter and form. The principles of potentiality and actuality are examined along with Aristotle's theory of the four causes - material, formal, efficient and final-which account for changes in all things.

The dialogues of Plato are analyzed in this program. Seeing Plato's ideas initially as extentions of those of his teacher, Socrates, Burnyeat explains the development and content of Plato's original doctrines of knowledge as virtue the immortality and tripartite division of the soul, and the theory of forms (ideas).

The program documents the construction of a full-sized replica of an Athenian trireme of the 5th century B.C. and shows how the Greeks of the period used their naval supremacy to protect their home bases while colonizing the furthest reaches of the Mediterranean and maintaining intimate contact with Athens itself.

An overview of military history in ancient Greece.

Part 3 of the Oresteia trilogy by Aeschylus.

Acquaints students with the variety of sports practiced by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

The program provides a fundamental understanding and appreciation of the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Describes how the myth of Oedipus, through Sigmund Freud, has more effect on us than it ever had on the Greeks.

Discusses the significance of Greek tragedies and how their legacy challenges our modern attitudes toward disasterous events. Also examines how the Greeks influenced Western architecture and whether we can hold on to those values as we build larger cities.

Explores the influence of ancient Greece on modern philosophy.

An illuminating look at the Greek gods. Explains why the ancient Greeks endowed their deities with human failings, and explores the significance of the most famous myths. Examines artworks portraying the gods, and the temples that were built in their names.

The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization.  (2000. 165 min. 2 tapes)
Call no: DF78 .G76 2000

"This series, narrated by Liam Neeson, recounts the rise, glory, demise, and legacy of the empire that marked the dawn of Western Civilizaton...The latest advances in computer and television technology rebuild the Acropolis, recreate the Battle of Marathon and restore the grandeur of the Academy, where Socrates, Plato and Aristotle forged the foundation of Western thought." Also see the companion book, also on Reserve (DF78 .C27 2000) & website.

The History of the Parthenon:  Celebrating a Nashville Legacy.  (199?. 23 min.)
Call no: N586 .H47 1990

Tells the story of how an exact replica of the Parthenon was constructed in Nashville, Tennessee. Includes interviews with authors and historians on the role of Athena in Greek mythology and the significance of the great temple built in her honor.n

Part 2 of the Oresteia trilogy by Aeschylus.

From Ice Age figurines to the legendary love story of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, this film explores the rules, values, and myths of love and sexual customs in the ancient world.

Film retelling of Lysistrata who convinced the women they could prevent war by withholding sexual favors from their husbands. Adaptation by Yiannis Negrepontis. Modern Greek dialog with English subtitles.

1999 production performed at Willamette University.

"This in-depth look into the cultural history of Macedonia features all of the museums and excavations the cities of the ancient Kingdom and focuses on the reign of Philip II and Alexander the Great." Contents: v. 1. pt. 1. Aiani: the birthplace of the Macedonians ; pt. 2. Aiges (Vergina): the necropolis of the Macedonian kings ; pt. 3. Dion: the holy city of the Mecedonians ; pt. 4. Pella: the capital of ancient Macedonia (120 min.) -- v. 2. pt. 5. Amphipolis: the Macedonian city of gold ; pt. 6. Philippi: the holy city of Saint Paul ; pt. 7. Thessaloniki: the eternal city (90 min.).

Covers the origins of the myth of the Marathon messenger unraveling truth from legend, shows the drama and excitement of the first marathon in the 1896 Olympics, tells the fascinating stories of other Olympic marathons, and explores the phenomenon of today's marathons in major cities of the world.

Bill Moyers interviews philosopher Martha Nussbaum, who relates how the lessons of the ancient Greeks can be applied to our present-day living.

Mystery of the Parthenon (2001. 52 min.)
Call no: DF287.P3 M97 2001

Documentary about an amazing journey back to ancient Greece to examine its most astounding landmark, the Parthenon, from conception to completion. Also, learn how the structure was built and revisit the lives of the men who built it and those who destroyed it.

Myth, Man, and Metal:  Bronze Sculpture of Ancient Greece and Rome. (1996. 31 min.)
Call no: NB140 .M97 1996

Beginning with tales of Hephaistos, god of metalworking, Prof. Mattusch uses myth, archaeology and science to recreate the flourishing industry of bronze casting in ancient Greece and Rome. Provides close-up views of bronze statues on exhibit, scenes of conservation scientists in their laboratory, and a glimpse into a modern foundry bring the past to life. Contents: The myth of Hephaistos -- Bronze : a preferred medium -- Pandora's legacy -- Puzzles from the past -- Seeing ghosts.

Examines the roles of women in the Greek classical period through a study of the art and myth from that period. Contents: Introduction -- Aidos and Sophrosyne-modesty and dignity -- Gesture and gaze -- The wedding -- Containers as metaphors for women -- Women and the metaphor of wild animals -- Mythical women as images of apprehension -- Conclusion.

Tells about the first snake-worshipping inhabitants of the acropolis, the devastation wrought by the Persians, etc., and focuses on the Parthenon as a lasting symbol of the Greek contribution to Western civilization. Contents: Pt. 1. The acropolis (12 min.) -- pt. 2. The parthenon (10 min.).

Parthenon: Design and Architecture (2002. 52 min.)
Call no: NA281 .P374 2002

Discusses the building techniques of the ancient Greeks, from the quarrying of huge blocks of marble to the intricate carvings adorning the Parthenon.

Secrets of Delphi.  (1996. 50 min.)
Call no: DF261 .D35 S4 1996

Explores the ancient Greek city, site of the powerful oracle and sacred to Apollo and Dionysus.

Identifies the physical parts of the acting space and, using the Oresteia as an example, shows how plays would have been staged in Aeschylus' time.

A film anatomy and analysis of the 27-year Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.

Tape 3, program 5. From darkness to light : the mystery religions of ancient Greece.