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August 2000, Week 3

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Subject:
From:
Thomas Morsch <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 18 Aug 2000 13:22:14 +0100
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Dear all,

as a teacher at a german university, it is interesting for me to follow
this discussion and to learn about the differences concerning teaching.
Actually, I was surprised by the fact, that american teachers have to
take such issues into consideration while planning a course.
Concerning this issue I would take  a strong stand for academic freedom.
No one is forced to join my courses and all students ar grown-ups - so I
see no reason to restrict my choice of films to PG-rated movies.
Especially, this would make impossible to teach anything about
pornography, horror or similar genres. And it would also exclude films by
Carolee Schneeman, Kenneth Anger, Nagisa Oshima, etc.

Actually, a student who complains about including films into a course
that display graphic violence, nudity or that contain explicit language
(the majority of movies beloning to one category or the other) seems to
be the equivalent to a medical student who refuses to treat burnt
victims, because it is "too gross". This would be ridiculous.

This may sound a bit naive and it certainly shows that, up to now, I have
been largely unconcerned with this issue. But I would like to hear other
opinions advocating a greater sensibility concerning these issues.

Thomas Morsch
Film Dept.
Freie Universitaet Berlin
Germany

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