Thunderbirds & Cousteau
We are what we watch
We are what we watch, or better yet, we can be what we can see.
What we see shapes us. I do not want to get into a dystopian dialogue as this can naturally veer in various directions. Instead, let's focus on the power of film as a catalyst for possibility. Two distinct viewing experiences from my youth set me on a path to my own potential future(s). A child of the 1970s, I'm forever grateful to the culture-makers and curators of my youth who gifted me with the TV series Thunderbirds and the films of Jacques Cousteau.
I vividly recall the visceral reaction I had to my first exposure to both of these series and what they hard-wired into me at age 7. I sat on the shag carpet, inching closer and closer to the screen to get a close look at how the puppets were manipulated in Thunderbirds and to immerse myself in the aquatic world alongside Cousteau. It's no mystery then that I spent a significant portion of my twenties as a diver and that one of my initial forays into the world of film had me puppeteering an iron to fly as if possessed. At age 7, I knew what I wanted to pursue in my future, and every decision thereafter brought me closer to the magic of Thunderbirds and Cousteau.
Culture is both created and curated.
Understanding one's cultural context is a lifelong journey, and exploring the cultural influences that shaped us is an invaluable lesson to bring into the classroom. Today, I recommend Beeban Kidron's timeless TED Talk, "The Shared Wonder of Film" (2012). This talk delves into the human condition and the profound impact of film. While its effects are considerably weightier than my childhood love for Thunderbirds and Cousteau, the significance remains the same: the importance of the act of viewing cannot be underestimated.
In my discussions with students after watching Kidron's talk, I emphasize the concept of truth. Picasso is credited with having stated something to the effect that art is a lie that reveals the truth. We understand that film is a construct, it is, in effect, not real, yet it evokes reality and possibility, sparking thought-provoking discussions. Kidron eloquently dissects this concept on the TED stage.
3 Questions you can take into the classroom after watching The Shared Wonder of Film
How significant is the medium of film in educating people about the past?
What level of responsibility do filmmakers hold in portraying events accurately?
To what extent can a sense of truth be achieved through watching a film?
Feel free to recommend a film in the comments
I am convinced that Wes Anderson must have been raised in a cultural sphere similar to my own, and ingeniously blended Thunderbirds and Cousteau in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004).