IAP 2015 Activities by Category - Film and Television

Victoria Gunning

Jan/24

Sat

07:00PM-05:00AM

26-100

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Fee: $8.00 for Admission

7:00 pm - WarGames
9:15 pm - Snowpiercer
11:30 pm - pizza break
11:45 pm - Forbidden Planet
2:00 am - a special surprise!
2:45 am - Jurassic Park III

Admission is $8, and drops to $5 after Snowpiercer.

The 2015 Marathon features four full-length films, one surprise feature, many short subjects, and a special selection of refreshments! Pizza pre-orders will be taken between WarGames and Snowpiercer for pickup before Forbidden Planet, and breakfast foods will be available before Jurassic Park III.

http://lsc.mit.edu/schedule/2015.1q/desc-marathon.shtml

 

Sponsor(s): LSC
Contact: Victoria Gunning, 617-253-3791, lsc@mit.edu

MIT Marauders, Quidditch Team

Jan/21

Wed

08:00PM-10:30PM

4-153

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Tonight we'll be watching excerpts from A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel, A Very Potter Senior Year and other fandom music, and singing along!

Because remember: we gotta get "back to witches and wizards and magical beasts, to goblins and gosts and to magical feasts"

Sponsor(s): MIT Quidditch
Contact: MIT Marauders, quidditch-execs@mit.edu

David Dufresne, Open Doc Lab Fellow

	Jan/14	Wed	10:00AM-05:00PM	E15-335
	Jan/15	Thu	10:00AM-05:00PM	E15-335, (continuation of Day 1, optional)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: second day is optional

In this 1-day workshop (with an optional 2nd day), join David Dufresne, award-winning interactive documentary storyteller and OpenDocLab fellow, in brainstorming and prototyping non-linear story writing tools.

The challenge: how to build a new tool to write and conceptualize non-linear stories in a way that directors, storytellers, designers and developers can understand and use for their work.

We need new tools for creating non-linear narratives. A word processor is poorly adapted to think in terms of fragmented narratives, database, and interactive research. Word or Google Docs are too linear in their design, Excel too boring and not inspiring. Scrivener is wonderful but for solo usage. Let's invent the right writing and producing tool for the new narratives!

In this workshop we will brainstorm and prototype tools for non-linear documentary writing and conception. Anyone with an interest in developing interactive documentary tools is welcome including but not limited to students, faculty and staff with skills in storytelling, design, programming, and game design and development.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: Sarah Wolozin, swolozin@mit.edu

Christopher Leighton, Assistant Professor, History

Jan/29

Thu

06:00PM-08:15PM

E51-275

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/27
Limited to 25 participants
Prereq: None

Over the last three decades, China's rapid growth has propelled millions out of poverty and captured the world's interest. Are there darker sides to this economic miracle?

Jia Zhangke, a director known for his documentary realism, takes up this topic in Touch of Sin (2013), which tells four interwined tales--all drawn from actual events--of China's contemporary gilded age. Censored in China, the bleak and ultra-violent movie shows a different vision of the "Chinese Dream" of prosperity recently invoked by President Xi.

Participants will watch and discuss the film over a shared Chinese meal. No prerequisites; all welcome.

Sponsor(s): History
Contact: Christopher Leighton, E51-288, 617 324-0541, CLEIGHT@MIT.EDU

Philip Tan, Research Scientist

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: None

The "Disney Fairies" series launched in 2005 with new novels based on the tales of Peter Pan. From the novels and plays of J.M. Barrie and the animated films by Walt Disney Productions, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine developed an elaborate mythology for the fairies of Neverland. The lead character, Tinker Bell, moved from "Disney Princess" marketing efforts into a separate franchise of chapter books, comics, and merchandise. Following Disney's purchase of Pixar, direct-to-DVD productions of Disney Fairies were restarted and debuted with the 3D computer-animated film "Tinker Bell" in 2008.

While visually consistent with Disney's earlier interpretations of Neverland, some may find the characterization and the tone of the films surprising. Barrie's century-old "common pots-and-pans fairy" is reinterpreted as a titular heroine with a unique talent for invention and engineering. Most of the films revolve around Tinker Bell's ability to construct incredible machines and her irrepressible drive to find and fix "lost things." The mostly-female cast is generally portrayed as being extremely competent and working collectively to solve problems, even as the films fall back on formulaic personality conflicts.

Children with adult supervision are welcome. Each screening will be followed by an optional, moderated discussion with participants, which may venture into playful, activist, academic or headcanon topics.

This event aims to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: Philip Tan, 26-149, 617 324-9129, PHILIP@MIT.EDU

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Screening times

	Jan/07	Wed	02:00PM-03:30PM	2-105, Tinker Bell
	Jan/09	Fri	02:00PM-03:30PM	2-105, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
	Jan/12	Mon	02:00PM-03:30PM	2-105, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
	Jan/14	Wed	02:00PM-03:30PM	2-105, Pixie Hollow Games & Secret of the Wings
	Jan/16	Fri	02:00PM-03:30PM	2-105, The Pirate Fairy

Children are welcome to the screenings (with adult supervision, please!)

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Optional Discussion

	Jan/07	Wed	03:30PM-04:30PM	2-105
	Jan/09	Fri	03:30PM-04:30PM	2-105
	Jan/12	Mon	03:30PM-04:30PM	2-105
	Jan/14	Wed	03:30PM-04:30PM	2-105
	Jan/16	Fri	03:30PM-04:30PM	2-105

A moderated discussion and critique of the themes, representation, development, marketing, problems and solutions presented by the Tinker Bell films and media franchise. The session will start after a 10-minute intermission after the screening. Participation in the discussion is completely optional.

Renee Blackburn

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Like a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, gender stereotypes of women in car films should be broken. The dominant stereotype of gender in car films centers on a beautiful woman with little or no knowledge of cars who plays the eye candy or prize to be won of the dominant male “car guy.”  During this IAP series we will examine this portrayal of gender in car films and challenge its validity as a stereotype. After each film, we will discuss questions such as: What is “car culture” and how is it portrayed in the film? What gender stereotypes were present? What are the major themes of the film? How are minorities portrayed? Do these films break any barriers or stereotypes about gender and cars?

During this short series we will watch four films.

Heart Like a Wheel (1983)

Christine (1983)

Disney's Cars (2006)

Trucker (2008) 

 

Snacks will be provided. The website for the series, with additional content and the required registration form to sign up for each film, is availabe here:

http://iapfullthrottle.weebly.com

 

Please note that this is taking place in 3-310, the Margaret Cheney Room, MIT's Women's Community Center. Usually a women's only space, for this series the main community room will be open to the entire MIT community regardless of gender.

Sponsor(s): Student Activities Office, Women's and Gender Studies, Science, Technology, and Society
Contact: Renee Blackburn, RMBLACK@MIT.EDU

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Heart Like a Wheel (1983)

Jan/20

Tue

05:00PM-08:00PM

3-310

Shirley Muldowney is determined to be a top-fuel drag racer, although no woman has ever raced them before. Despite the high risks of this kind of racing and the burden it places on her family life, she perseveres in her dream. From IMDB

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Christine (1983)

Jan/22

Thu

05:00PM-08:00PM

3-310

A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it. From IMDB

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Disney's Cars (2006)

Jan/26

Mon

05:00PM-08:00PM

3-310

A hot-shot race-car named Lightning McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family. From IMDB

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Trucker (2008)

Jan/28

Wed

05:00PM-08:00PM

3-310

A trucker, leading a life free of depth and on the way to nowhere, is forced to make a decision about her aggressive loner 11-year-old son whom she openly deserted ten years previously. From IMDB

Note: movie is rated R for reasons including a scene involving a sexual assault.

MIT Marauders, Quidditch team

Jan/29

Thu

07:00PM-10:00PM

26-152 (TEAL room)

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Don't you wish you could rewatch all 8 Harry Potter movies without it taking 17h29min (without counting food and bathroom breaks)!

The Quidditch team is once again running a movie mash to solve that problem. What's that? Exactly what it sounds like.

We'll be playing all 8 movies at once on different screens, and you can watch whichever one (or two or three) have something interesting happening at that moment. Last year we found some cool coincidences between movies, and we hope you can help us find more!

Dinner (and snacks) will be provided

Sponsor(s): MIT Quidditch
Contact: MIT Marauders, quidditch-execs@mit.edu

Amanda Rothschild, PhD Student Political Science

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/14
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Are the Harry Potter books just a fictional account of a fantastical wizarding world, or do the books offer a more nuanced political commentary on current and past international events? This course explores the political implications of the Harry Potter series, with a particular focus on parallels to World War II and the War on Terror. Topics explored include the sorting process, minority persecution, resistance movements, historical parallels to Death Eaters, and similarities between violence in the Harry Potter series and terrorism today. All students are welcome, but ideally students would have read all seven books or be familiar with the films. Wizarding robes are optional, but encouraged.
 

Sponsor(s): Political Science
Contact: Amanda Rothschild, rothscaa@mit.edu

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The Sorting & the Series, Moral Courage

Jan/27

Tue

05:45PM-07:15PM

E53-482

The series begins & ends with significant emphasis on the sorting process. How does Rowling define courage? What does Dumbledore mean when he says that we must choose between what is right and what is easy? Why do readers assume Hufflepuffs are not as capable as others? Why is ambition the quality associated with the darkest house and what are the implications of that association?
 

Amanda Rothschild - PhD Student Political Science

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Persecuted Minorities, WWII & Holocaust

Jan/28

Wed

05:45PM-07:15PM

E53-482

We discuss parallels between Muggle-borns & other persecuted minorities with a focus on the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust. Topics include the Muggle-born registry, racial purity in the series, Grindelwald and the greater good, racially derogatory terminology in the series, Snatchers and the Gestapo, Death Eaters and the Nazi Party, the treatment of House-elves, discrimination against Werewolves.
 
 

Amanda Rothschild - PhD Student Political Science

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Death Eaters, Terrorism, War on Terror

Jan/29

Thu

05:45PM-07:15PM

E53-482

Are the Death Eaters axioms similar to terrorist organizations? How does the Ministry of Magics response to the return of Lord Voldemort, parallel the response of governments to terrorist attacks? What does it mean to value courage, fairness, wit, or ambition most? Is it correct that we are defined not by our abilities, but by our choices? How do we apply this lesson to our life at MIT and beyond?
 

Amanda Rothschild - PhD Student Political Science

John Tirman, Executive Director, Center for International Studies

Jan/30

Fri

12:00PM-01:30PM

E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 50 participants

"A Forgotten Crime"   (Elli Safari, Remmelt Lukkien, The Netherlands, 2014, color)

 

Film screening and discussion with John Tirman, executive director and principal research scientist, MIT Center for International Studies. Author of Deaths of Others, and many other books and publications.

 

During the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) Saddam Hussein bombarded Iran with chemical weapons, while the world looked on without interfering. In "A Forgotten Crime" political and military leaders, medical experts and contaminated people relate how this drama was experienced in isolated Iran. The film irresistibly drags the viewer into the ever increasing humanitarian, military and political drama of this chemical warfare, which has determined Iran’s position in the international political arena until this very day. Former UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar and Joost Hiltermann, author of A Poisonous Affair provide additional information. Contains unique archive material. Mostly filmed in Iran. - See more at: http://www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/project.aspx?id=2958897d-386d-4dbf-9b60-d1b4e37ca0fd&tab=dfs#sthash.7Hq3K5Ff.dpuf

 

Light refreshments will be served.

Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies
Contact: Michelle Nhuch, starrforum@mit.edu

John Tirman, Executive Director, CIS

Jan/23

Fri

12:00PM-02:00PM

E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 50 participants

"Hearts and Minds"  (Peter Davis, USA. 1974)

Film screening and discussion with John Tirman, executive director and principal research scientist, MIT Center for International Studies. Author of Deaths of Others, and many other books and publications.

Hearts and Minds is a documentary film about the Vietnam War. The film's title is based on a quote from President Lyndon B. Johnson: "the ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there".  The movie was chosen as Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 47th Academy Awards presented in 1975.

The film premiered at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival.

Light refreshments will be served.

Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies
Contact: Michelle Nhuch, starrforum@mit.edu

Ruth T. Davis, Manager, Recycling and Materials Management, Joel Dashnaw/Keeley Rafter, Green Committee Co-chairs

Jan/27

Tue

05:00PM-07:00PM

56-114

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: N/A

The Clean Bin Project is a home competition between live in partners about their waste and consumption. In this fun, multi-award winning indie documentary, a Canadian couple challenges themselves to live completely zero-waste for a whole year. Running time: 76 minutes

Sponsor(s): Department of Facilities
Contact: Ruth Davis, 4-038, 617 253-7299, RTDAVIS@MIT.EDU