I want to mainline wonder! Recommend me nonfiction books or films (science, nature, history, culture, the human mind) that will make me fall in love with the world we live in.
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posted by stuck on an island
on Apr 15, 2012 -
34 answers
Know of any interesting documentaries (or other sorts of videos) about cities freely available to watch online?
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posted by colinmarshall
on Mar 9, 2012 -
6 answers
I want to learn about major historical events through documentaries (not miniseries). What are your favorites? (I know, broad).
posted by sandmanwv
on Mar 5, 2012 -
22 answers
I've watched almost all of Terry Jones's history documentaries--what next? What I like about them and what I'm looking for is mainly the humor (enthusiastic but lighthearted, not taking itself too seriously) and the element of looking at things from a different angle. Many of Jones's docs look at the lives of "regular people" in periods of history where most people are familiar with the rich and famous, and others look at civilizations that are overlooked. Sort of the way Mythbusters approaches science, and I'm also a large fan of QI. Recommendations? (I'm looking especially but not exclusively for history.)
posted by sarahkeebs
on Feb 28, 2012 -
14 answers
Please recommend me some recent non-English language movies/documentaries that are uplifting/inspiring/funny/have happy endings.
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posted by misozaki
on Jan 12, 2012 -
12 answers
Over the past two nights I watched two great documentaries each focused on a single person:
Bill Cunningham: New York and
The Cruise. I would like to see more documentaries in this mode! Your suggestions, please.
posted by ocherdraco
on Oct 9, 2011 -
31 answers
I've been thinking about improving my (received) pronunciation by reading out loud in English. Need help finding materials online.
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posted by earthwormsleg
on Oct 8, 2011 -
5 answers
There's a piece of music always played in documentaries and other film clips usually to satirize the "age of mass production." It's a very peppy '50s bit, often with a guy talking in a stylized '50s radio announcer voice over it, accompanied by sped-up clips of factories rolling, women working, and the like. What is this music and how do I find it?
posted by mthomps00
on Sep 18, 2011 -
18 answers
I really enjoy great documentaries that span years and focus on individual development. For example, I found David Sutherland's
Country Boys or
The Farmer's Wife fascinating. I also really enjoyed
7 Up. Please share other docs like this with me.
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posted by fyrebelley
on Jun 26, 2011 -
20 answers
I teach ESL to new refugees and they have expressed a desire to see movies that tell them about or
show America. They want to know about the different landscapes, accents, lifestyles, etc. I'm looking for suggestions for simple, visually descriptive films that feature a wide variety of geographical locations and Americans. Can you think of any?
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posted by swingbraid
on Feb 24, 2011 -
26 answers
National Eating Disorders Week is coming up, and we're looking to hold a film screening at my college. What are some good (positive!) movies/documentaries that deal with body image, body acceptance and beauty ideals?
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posted by camcol
on Jan 8, 2011 -
16 answers
About a year or two ago, I saw this great website that provided a list of the top 50 influential documentaries ever made. (Including a video streaming of each documentary with a short written analysis of why it was so influential) Can you please help me find that site again?
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posted by dealing away
on Nov 2, 2010 -
5 answers
Who are the artistic heirs to documentary filmmaker
Frederick Wiseman? Which contemporary individuals/groups are making similar films, filming similar things, or documenting life in the U.S. (with or without film) in similar ways?
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posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj
on Sep 9, 2010 -
5 answers
Looking for some good documentaries on advertising, marketing, public relations & consumerism to help teach an undergraduate class! We have a list of possible documentaries already (we will show selected excerpts - not the entire thing) but were wondering if we were missing anything out and what the Hive Mind might suggest! Good "teaching moment" video clip suggestions based on Mad Men and other fictional advertising/marketing/PR/consumerism-themed films and TV shows are also welcome. Or perhaps there are even good relevant scenes from documentaries which are primarily about some other topic. Thanks for any help... it's much appreciated! Full list that we already have compiled inside...
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posted by zresearch
on Aug 20, 2010 -
18 answers
What are some great, informative TV series? Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Ken Burns's Jazz, Matthew Colling's This Is Modern Art, Robert Winston's The Human Body--what else is in this vein? I'd much rather a recommendation of a series, as opposed to a single one-off documentary. What should I watch that is captivating and teaches me something?
posted by surenoproblem
on Jul 26, 2010 -
72 answers
Looking for free, short online film, or preferably documentaries I can watch during my lunch break (i.e. no more than 30 minutes in length).
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posted by Skyanth
on Jul 14, 2010 -
15 answers
Do you know any sites with a wide variety of social documentaries that aren't overly partisan?
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posted by shinybaum
on Jun 29, 2010 -
11 answers
In bed, need some good documentaries that're available on-line. Not that interested in politics or nature. Must be viewable in Canada. Suggestions?
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posted by kmennie
on Jun 29, 2010 -
16 answers
Louis Theroux's documentaries - both the sillier earlier ones and the recent more solemn ones - are perhaps my very favourite things to watch. What other documentaries / shows might I enjoy?
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot
on Jun 8, 2010 -
15 answers
What are the best movies or documentaries about modern art??
posted by mortaddams
on Apr 25, 2010 -
27 answers
Where can I watch quality video online without needing to register, share files or download special software or media players?
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posted by Weng
on Apr 23, 2010 -
12 answers
What are some good, informative, and accurate documentaries and/or podcasts covering the various American presidencies?
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posted by Dreamcast
on Apr 19, 2010 -
4 answers
Please recommend some uplifting, inspiring, happy, fun movies/documentaries that will restore one's faith in humanity. The tone of Pixar's UP is perfect, though it need not be animated.
posted by desjardins
on Mar 16, 2010 -
85 answers
What are the best documentaries about b-movies, fandoms, and weird or niche interests which often involve a widespread community, such as zombies?
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posted by lhall
on Dec 23, 2009 -
22 answers
I am working on a PhD in music theory and cognition. I hate wasting time, but sometimes my brain needs a break from reading/writing/listening/analyzing. Help me create a list of films and documentaries that relate in some way to my field so that I can stare at a screen sometimes and still feel like I'm feeding my unquenchable desire to learn about music and mind.
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posted by nosila
on Nov 1, 2009 -
15 answers
Favourite psychedelic / drug / shaman / consciousness related books? My brother met a shaman in South American and has given me his credit card and asked me to order him a bunch of books. Think Terence McKenna, Alex Grey, Alexander Shulgin, Carlos Castaneda, DMT, Ayahuasca...
*Documentary/DVD recommendations welcome as well.
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posted by mjao
on Mar 10, 2009 -
36 answers
Where are the best places on the web for news, information — and, if available — streaming versions/trailers of new indie documentaries? (I'm interested in interviewing their directors on the radio and thus promote the films.)
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posted by colinmarshall
on Feb 11, 2009 -
4 answers
Is there anything like Salt or Duke's Center for Doc Studies in the Mid-Atlantic region?
posted by melodykramer
on Nov 10, 2008 -
2 answers
Looking for good documentaries that are truly informative (i.e. a kind of textbook in movie format). What are the best documentaries you've seen that left you much more informed about basic history and human knowledge?
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posted by the other side
on Oct 28, 2008 -
28 answers
I often download documentaries, and generally love them, and frequently feel like I want to give back to the director.
Monetarily-wise, that is, as perhaps I didn't pay for them.
What do you think of a service that allowed for paypal or such donation to individual directors? Could it work?
Alternately, directors of small films could set up a link on their websites, and one could spread the idea memetically.
I'm not looking to cash in on this, just to get feedback on an idea of how to assuage my guilt and help support those who make films worthy of support.
posted by aschwa5
on Aug 1, 2008 -
13 answers
