See and hear : the journal on audio-visual learning (1945)

Despotism was produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films in consultation with Professor Harold Lasswell, the noted political scientist. This film, again a short one, suggests ways of identifying despotic characteristics within any social or community group. It is usually shown in connection with a companion film produced by the same source and entitled Democracy. Boundary Lines was produced by Julien Bryan of the International Film Foundation, Inc., and was conceived and drawn by Philip Stapp. This production employs experimental art work and unusual music "to cause an individual to give serious thought to the unnecessary and undesirable boundary lines which divide people from each other." It, too, runs approximately ten minutes. Public Showings and Open Discussion Because of an evident wide-spread interest in these films arising from the hearings, the school administra- tion decided to arrange public showings at which mem- bers of the community might become acquainted with the films in question and compare them with certain others used in the schools. News releases about the show- ings appeared in both of the local papers. Under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Robert S. Gil- christ, plans for these presentations were developed. In order to allow ample time for public reactions and dis- cussion, two showings were scheduled. It was arranged for each film to have a brief factual introduction by someone thoroughly acquainted with it. Plans called for reaction slips to be passed out to the audience after each film so that evaluations could be obtained. After all films were shown and reaction slips collected, it was planned for a panel to be introduced, with questions from the audience taken up and answered. The net result of this procedure was to allow for informative exhibition of the films, audience evaluation, and dis- cussion. The first exhibition was held on the evening of Fri- day, December 1, 1950; films shown were Brotherhood of Man, Despotism and its companion film Democracy. .Approximately 1400 people attended this showing. With Assistant Superintendent Gilchrist presiding, Mrs. Jane Hood, Curriculum Coordinator, introduced Brotherhood of Man and Mr. Edward Anderson, Assist- Francis Noel, California's state audio- visual bureau chief, was a panel member. ant Coordinator, introduced Despotism and Democracy, each in a brief factual manner. The panel which fol- lowed was led by Dr. William Jack Stone of the Los Angeles County Project on Human Relations and par- ticipated in by Mr. Francis W. Noel, Chief, California State Bureau of Audio-Visual Education; Mr. Harry H. Haworth, Pasadena Head Supervisor of Audio-Visual Service; Miss Vesperella Ott, high school social studies teacher; and Mr. Armen Sarafian, teacher at John Muir College, Pasadena. Another important participant in the panel was Mr. Paul Cox, Western Repre.sentative of En- cyclopaedia Britannica Films. Discussion by the panel aimed at answering audience questions about how these films were used in the classroom, what sort of prepara- tion was made for their showing, and how they affected students. Second Showing Attended by 700 The second showing was held on Wednesday evening, December 13, 1950, and featured Boundary Lines, Bill of Rights and Human Growth. The latter two films were shown in addition to Boundary Lines in order to give the audience a broader idea of the kind of films (continued on the following pages) Scenes from "Despotism" below I left to right) illus- trate how the influence of political "bosses"; of the irresponsible publisher who fires his editor contrasts with the shared power of the secret ballot at an election. The Audio-Visual Journal