Hey Oles! Fall break may be over, but the urge to lay around and watch Netflix for hours on end hasn’t quite left my system yet. Watching documentaries always makes me feel a little better about wasting my time because at least I’m learning something – if you’re on the same boat as me, check out a few of my favorites below.
Miss Representation (2011)
We recently watched this film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom in my Media Studies class and I was blown away by its content and powerful message. The film’s tagline, “You can’t be what you can’t see,” presents Newsom’s thesis that young women need positive and realistic role models in their formative years, something that doesn’t seem to exist in the media these days. Insightful interviews from women like Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Nancy Pelosi and Rachel Maddow add depth and provide a fascinating look at the oppression they faced in their careers as women in positions of power.
Blackfish (2013)
Blackfish is a captivating documentary primarily focused on Tilikum, a killer whale captured off the coast of Iceland and trained at SeaWorld, where he was involved in the deaths of three individuals. While much of the film follows Tilikum’s life, it also covers the issues associated with holding whales in captivity, their living conditions in facilities like SeaWorld and the aggressive behavior that stems from these situations.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Disclaimer: Do not watch this documentary if you are hungry! Jiro Ono is an 85-year-old sushi master at Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin 3-star restaurant, and he is still working to perfect his craft before he turns over the establishment to his 50-year-old son. Ono’s passion for sushi is inspirational: he toils in the kitchen all day to produce a single plate of sushi, and if it is not up to his standards, he starts over. His dedication has paid off, with President Barack Obama claiming Ono’s sushi to be the best he has ever tasted.
Food, Inc. (2008)
While we’re on the subject of food, we can’t go without mentioning Food, Inc., a provocative documentary about corporate farming in the United States. The film is divided into various segments, each focused on different issues with agribusiness – from the unsustainability of industrial meat production to the economic and legal power major food companies hold. This will completely change the way you look at your meals and where your food comes from.
cover photo, miss representation, blackfish, sushi, food inc