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The Ad and the Id:
Sex, Death, and Subliminal Advertising Each day we are exposed to hundreds of advertisements. We are exposed to them, but we don't really see them or pay attention to them. This provocative documentary shows how advertisers use powerful "subliminal" images to influence and motivate consumers to buy. |
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Fender Philosophers In an era when entire political platforms are boiled down into 30-second sound bites, bumper stickers offer a unique forum for Americans to express their most fervent opinions with unrivaled speed, wit, and audacity. This lively and often humorous documentary explores the power and diversity of bumper stickers and shows their importance to American popular culture. |
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Gender and
Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior
This provocative and richly discussible video explores the impact that gender has on both verbal messages as well as the nonverbal channels of communication such as vocal paralanguage, haptics, kinesics, proxemics and other "unwritten" languages. |
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The Human Body:
Appearance, Shape and Self-Image This often poignant and always compelling new video, by the noted producer, Prof. Dane Archer, examines with sensitivity and cross-cultural insight the variety, meaning, and importance of the bodies we inhabit. It explores 12 different facets of the human body, each of which impacts our preferences, our ideals, our attitudes, and -- perhaps most important -- our self-images. |
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The Human Face: Emotions,
Identities and Masks The face is one of our most important and expressive means of communication. This outstanding video, by the noted producer, Prof. Dane Archer, explores the expressive power of the human face. It examines a wide variety of facial properties and demonstrates the importance of each. |
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The Human Voice: Exploring
Vocal Paralanguage Every time we speak, our voice reveals our gender, age, geographic background, level of education, native birth, emotional state, and our relationship with the person spoken to. This acclaimed video, by the noted producer, Prof. Dane Archer, explores the power and importance of "vocal paralanguage" -- the thousands of ways in which any given words can be said. |
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The Interpersonal
Perception Task Unlike most videos, this study of nonverbal communication and social perception allows viewers to participate. It shows 30 brief scenes of common social interactions. Each is followed by a multiple-choice question, giving the viewer the chance to "decode" something important about the interaction. By Prof. Dane Archer and Prof. Mark Costanzo. |
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The IPT-15 This version of The Interpersonal Perception Task (above) shows 15 of the 30 scenes shown in the complete video. Includes a revised facilitator's guide. |
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The
Nonverbal Communication Series of Dane Archer This widely acclaimed and best-selling video series by noted producer Dane Archer consists of the following titles: Gender and Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior, The Human Body: Appearance, Shape and Self-Image, The Human Face: Emotions, Identities and Masks, The Human Voice: Exploring Vocal Paralanguage, The Interpersonal Perception Task (co-produced with Mark Costanzo), The IPT-15, Personal Space: Exploring Human Proxemics, A World of Differences: Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication, A World of Food: Tastes and Taboos in Different Cultures, and A World of Gestures. |
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Personal Space:
Exploring Human Proxemics Space is a silent language, and we all "speak" it, whether consciously or not. This fascinating and frequently funny video portrays the effects of space on everyday human behavior in an engaging and dramatic manner. Students from a variety of cultural backgrounds vividly demonstrate how our culture defines our use of space, territory, and touching. |
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Sexism in Language:
Thief of Honor, Shaper of Lies Designed for use in a broad range of educational settings and disciplines, this lively and provocative video analyzes the gender bias that permeates our everyday language. |
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Slippery
Blisses This delightful and fascinating new documentary blends science, sensuality, history, and provocative speculation to probe two deceptively simple-sounding questions: What is a kiss? And what makes it magical? |
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A World of Differences:
Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication When we encounter people from other societies or cultures, we may fail to understand them for many reasons, including differences in language, values, gestures, emotional expression, norms, rituals, rules, expectations, family background, and life experiences. This extraordinary video, by the noted producer, Prof. Dane Archer, shows that cross-cultural communication can be successful if we manage to understand the powerful differences that separate people who come from differing cultures. |
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A World
of Food: Tastes and Taboos in Different Cultures This delectably engaging video explores the extraordinary variety of food likes, food dislikes, food taboos, and food rules around the world. It features frequently humorous and always compelling testimony from people representing a wide array of cultures. |
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A World of Gestures
This often humorous and always entertaining video explores gestures from cultures around the world. Viewers are guaranteed a greatly enhanced appreciation of cultural diversity and richness. In-depth instructor's guide included. By the noted producer, Prof. Dane Archer. |
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The Ad and the Id: Sex, Death, and Subliminal Advertising |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Parallax Pictures 28 min. Color 1992 Catalog #38152 Sale: video $250, Rental: video $50 |
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A fascinating look at the most controversial aspect of advertising. Once you've seen this compelling video, you'll never look at advertising in the same way again. -- Jean Kilbourne, creator of Killing Us Softly |
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Fender Philosophers |
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| In an era when entire political platforms are boiled down into 30-second sound bites,
bumper stickers offer a unique forum for Americans to express their most fervent
opinions with unrivaled speed, wit, and audacity. This lively and often humorous
documentary explores the power and diversity of bumper stickers, perhaps our most
populist and ubiquitous form of public expression -- a veritable town hall meeting
on wheels, with everyone having an equal opportunity to sound off. The video introduces a wide variety of people who create, produce, sell, and display bumper sitckers -- liberals and conservatives; environmentalists and ranchers; hippies, surfers, cynics, and conspiracy theorists; as well as entrepreneurs and impassioned activists across the entire political and social spectrum. The film shows that bumper stickers are not only a medium for the expression of opinions. They also serve as important selling devices for candidates and products, tools for advocating radical social change, insider codes for minority groups and organizations, and a key barometer of public opinion. This fascinating video will stimulate discussion in a wide variety of courses in popular culture, sociology, social psychology, American studies, and communication. It was produced by Lisa Leeman in association with KPBS Television. 27 min. Color 1998 Catalog #38434 Sale: video $175, Rental: video $60 |
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 A provocative study that retrieves bumper stickers from the wastebasket of American pop culture and reveals their significance to political speech and self-expression. A valuable addition to any class in which American popular culture is a topic. -- Barbara Osborne, Prof. of Journalism, California State Univ., Northridge Demonstrates in a fast-paced and clever style how ordinary citizens use popular culture to make political and cultural meaning in their lives. This engaging look at the underexamined medium of bumper stickers is a welcome addition to classes on popular culture, speech communication, and American Studies.. -- Prof. Marita Sturken, Annenberg School for Communication, USC Bumper stickers are a surprisingly accurate reflection of the state of our popular culture at any given time. Fender Philosophers is a visual treat that will stimulate useful discussion in the classroom. -- Jeffrey J. Gordon, Assoc. Prof. of Geography, Bowling Green State Univ.  Natl. Educational Film Festival Award Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival honoree Natl. Social Science Assn. honoree "Best Documentary 1998," San Diego Press Club Awards |
| Gender and Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC This provocative and richly discussible video explores the impact that gender has on both verbal messages (including speech, language, and vocabulary) as well as the nonverbal channels of communication such as vocal paralanguage, haptics (touch), kinesics (movement, gestures, and posture), proxemics (spatial behavior) and other "unwritten" languages. "Gender and Communication" examines a variety of fascinating topics that will engage students' interest. These include interruptions in conversations, gender bias in vocabulary and language, patterns of inequality in speech and conversation, cultural images of men and women, male-female differences in movement and kinesics, the intriguing communication changes needed by individuals who change from one gender to another, and how gender affects communication patterns in different ways in cultures around the world. "Gender and Communication" is thoughtful, compelling, powerful, and frequently outrageous. The many topics covered are significant, controversial, and of crucial importance to anyone interested in communication, social interactions, or gender differences. The video is unique in its scope, and it illustrates many gendered forms of both verbal and nonverbal behavior. As just one example, students will never forget the video's radical exploration of the imagery produced by the fashion and advertising industries. "Gender and Communication" carves new territory in its examination of
the impact of gender on key areas of speech, language, social interactions,
and nonverbal behavior. This landmark work will become a "must see"
for students in a wide array of disciplines. It was produced by Prof.
Dane Archer, of UC Santa Cruz, and is filled with the same characteristic
zest, vibrancy, and instructional savvy that have brought widespread acclaim
to all of his best-selling videos on nonverbal behavior, cultural differences,
and communication. Also like his other titles, this one is accompanied
by an outstanding and effective Instructor's Guide. |
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 "Students will love this video, and once you discover it, you won't want to teach your classes without it. This delightful work breaks new ground and covers some 20 extremely important topics. I was particularly impressed by the focus on both spoken language (e.g., interruptions, interaction work, tag questions, etc.) and nonverbal behaviors (e.g., smiling, touching, spacial proximity, kinesics, and vocal paralanguage). These two domains of human communication occur in context, and this new video explores both. The field has needed a compelling introduction to the impact of gender on both language and nonverbal behavior. I predict that Gender and Communication will become a classic teaching tool in numerous disciplines, including psychology, social psychology, sociology, communication, women's studies, linguistics, and anthropology." -- Elizabeth J. Aries, Prof. of Psychology, Amherst College, author of Men and Women in Interaction (Oxford Univ. Press) |
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The Human Body: Appearance, Shape and Self-Image |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC The Human Body is perhaps the most moving and deeply emotional of all the videos on nonverbal behavior and communication produced by Prof. Dane Archer, Prof. of Sociology, UC Santa Cruz. It is also imbued with the same zest and humor that have made his earlier works, such as A World of Gestures, The Human Voice, and A World of Differences: Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication, so popular in classrooms worldwide. In-depth instructor's guide included. In this video, Archer continues his exploration of the world of nonverbal behavior. The video deals sensitively and in a thought- provoking manner with body image and our personal relation to our body. His use of candid interviews remains an excellent way for the viewer to identify personally, thus intensifying the impact and allowing a wide range of responses. The video touches on numerous topics that are important in today's society and does so in a way that is sure to stimulate very profitable in-class discussion as well as personal insight. The video is emotionally compelling and it engages the empathy of the viewer. The women who talked about eating disorders really got to me, and I marvel at how Archer can get people to be so real and frank in front of the camera. -- Judith Hall, Prof. of Psychology, Northeastern Univ. 37 min. Color 1998 Catalog #38428 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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 A fantastic teaching tool! After showing the video to a class of more than 100 students, we had a provocative discussion that was both emotional and academic. This is a superb introduction to a variety of social and personal issues that confront young people today. Showing the video is a wonderful way to begin a discussion of the many ways that gender is linked to self-image, self-presentation, deviance, conformity, and social control. The film does a masterful job of illustrating how unrealistic beauty ideals at the societal level are linked to eating disorders at the individual level and how people struggle to overcome them. Perhaps most important, the film gives students a first-hand look at how beauty standards differ across cultures. It is ideal for use in courses on gender, social psychology, socialization, and popular culture. -- Scott Coltrane, Prof. of Sociology, Univ. of California, Riverside In clear, concise, and sometimes poignant ways, this video lays bare the many facets of our culture's preoccupation with, and effects of, physical appearance. Students cannot watch this video without wanting to discuss and debate the issues it raises. It is that good, that compelling. And the more matters such as weight discrimination, eating disorders, and other excesses in the name of youth and beauty are discussed, the greater the chances we will deal more sensibly with such matters in the future. -- Mark L. Knapp, Jones Centennial Prof. in Communication, Univ. of Texas |
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The Human Face: Emotions, Identities and Masks |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 38 min. Color 1995 Catalog #38325 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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 Students will love this video! They'll laugh and be entertained; they'll argue and be intellectually stimulated. It bears the stamp of Dane Archer, a master scholar and communicator. The video is original, instructive, funny, inclusive, unobtrusively scholarly, and characteristically cross-cultural. It will be widely used in courses in psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, communication, theater, and criminal justice. Its wise classroom use is greatly facilitated by the valuable Instructor's Guide. - Robert Rosenthal, Edgar Pierce Prof. of Psychology, Harvard University Dane Archer has done it again! The Human Face is just as exciting, witty, creative, and thought-provoking as his earlier videos. These videos are so popular with my students that they ask for them by name: "Can we see another Dane Archer video?" Now I'm glad to be able to answer: "Yes, here's The Human Face." And here's a tip: Don't miss the last 30 seconds; they are hilarious. - Robin Akert, Prof. of Psychology, Wellesley College A powerful teaching tool. It is engaging, witty, and funny. Students will love it! The narration is informative without becoming a lecture. One learns a lot without realizing that learning is taking place. The accompanying Instructor's Guide offers interesting suggestions for class demonstrations. In summary, an excellent job. - Miron Zuckerman, Prof. of Psychology, University of Rochester Western Psychological Assn. honoree American Psychological Assn. honoree |
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The Human Voice: Exploring Vocal Paralanguage |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC The voice is an extraordinary human instrument. Every time we speak, our voice reveals our gender, age, geographic background, level of education, native birth, emotional state, and our relationship with the person spoken to. All these clues (and many more) are contained in even small fragments of speech, and other people can "read" our voices with remarkable accuracy. When we speak, we "encode" important information about ourselves; when we listen to others, we "decode" important information about them. This remarkable video explores the power and importance of "vocal paralanguage." Spoken language contains two distinct types of communication. Text (the words themselves) is whatever can be typed on a page. Vocal paralanguage is everything else - the thousands of ways in which any given words can be said. The Human Voice examines twelve different types of "clues" that are contained in vocal paralanguage. These include clues to our biography and background, our identity and uniqueness, our use of standard or nonstandard speech, our regional and national accents, our emotions and true feelings, our voices when we speak to children, our ability to perform and recognize sarcasm, our efforts to tell if others are telling the truth, and our response to dialects and other variations in vocal paralanguage. The Human Voice comes with an in-depth Instructor's Guide that provides
suggested uses of the video, classroom demonstrations designed to show the power
of the voice and our ability to read vocal paralanguage, and reference materials
on the voice and nonverbal communication. The video was produced by Dane Archer,
Prof. of Sociology, UC Santa Cruz. |
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Dane Archer has done it again! What he did for the study of gestures with his video A World of Gestures he has now done for tone of voice. It's a wonderful job! -- Robert Rosenthal, Prof. of Psychology, Harvard Univ. I am simply delighted. This is an exciting and comprehensive video, and its style is highly interactive and very engaging. Like A World of Gestures, this video is highly entertaining, involving, and witty: an excellent tool for promoting class discussion. Students will love this video! Dane Archer has created another hit and instant classic - this is the Gold Standard for videos on nonverbal communication. - Robin M. Akert, Prof. of Psychology, Wellesley College Western Psychological Assn. Award of Merit American Psychological Assn. honoree |
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The Interpersonal Perception Task |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 40 min. Color 1987 Catalog #37399 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $60 |
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American Psychological Assn. honoree Western Psychological Assn. honoree Intl. Visual Sociology Assn. honoree |
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The IPT-15 |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 20 min. Color 1993 Catalog #38244 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $50 |
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The Nonverbal Communication Series of Dane Archer |
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| This widely acclaimed and best-selling video
series by noted producer Dane Archer consists of the following titles: Gender
and Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior,
The Human Body: Appearance, Shape and Self-Image,
The Human Face: Emotions, Identities and Masks,
The Human Voice: Exploring Vocal Paralanguage,
The Interpersonal Perception Task (co-produced
with Mark Costanzo), The IPT-15, Personal
Space: Exploring Human Proxemics, A
World of Differences: Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication,
and A World of Gestures. Note: Those interested in nonverbal behavior and communication may also wish to visit Prof. Dane Archer's own web site, which is devoted to the topic. |
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Personal Space: Exploring Human Proxemics |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC The video does a masterful job of blending student testimony and often amusing field experiments to illuminate the use of space, territory, and touching in virtually every facet of life -- where we live, work, play, eat, and even go to the bathroom. Topics covered in the video include people's reactions to invasions of their personal space, powerful cultural differences and strong habitual patterns in how individuals use space, family spatial arrangements, how spatial factors affect our perceptions of relationships, hierarchical space in organizations, rank and spatial "deference," the spatial bases of successful architecture, and intriguing spatial behavior in places as diverse as university classrooms and public restrooms. This is part of the widely acclaimed series on nonverbal communication produced by Prof. Dane Archer, of UC Santa Cruz. Like all of Prof. Archer's videos, "Personal Space: Exploring Human Proxemics" is both delightful and instructional and includes an exemplary Instructor's Guide. 28 min. Color 1999 Catalog #38457 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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"Add this new work to your video library! It is a must for any course that explores the intracacies of human behavior and/or the nature of culture. As always, Prof. Archer did a great job on this video. It is educational, entertaining, and stamped with his delightful sense of humor." -- Mark L. Knapp, Jones Centennial Prof. in Communication and Distinguished Teaching Prof., Univ. of Texas "Dane Archer's new video entertains viewers as it teaches them about concepts related to the study and understanding of personal space. Interviews and staged incidents illustrate basic concepts in proxemics and haptics, such as territorial markers, defense tactics, interpersonal spacing, and differences between contact and non-contact cultures. In addition, an architect describes 'heroic spaces' in architecture. This video will be especially useful as a stimulus for class discussion. In the spirit of 'Candid Camera,' the video amusingly reveals what happens when one's space is invaded by a stranger or strangers. Unlike 'Candid Camera,' the event is placed within a conceptual framework and viewers are allowed to listen to the 'invadees' describe their experience. As such, the video will be useful for courses in communications, social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. It also will be useful in orientation sessions for students preparing to live in a different culture." ---Lawrence T. White, Prof. of Psychology, Beloit College "Another clear-as-a-bell and memorable set of video demonstrations from Dane Archer's Nonverbal Workshop. Students will easily understand and relate to these examples of the unspoken rules and the cultural influences that define personal space. We can only thank Prof. Archer for his continuing contributions to the teaching of social psychology." -- David Myers, Prof. of Psychology, Hope College, author of "Social Psychology" "Instructors teaching courses on nonverbal behavior will want their students to see this latest addition to Prof. Dane Archer's video series on nonverbal communication. The video is interesting, funny, intriguing, and without one dull moment. It manages to portray the effects of space on everyday behavior in a vivid and often dramatic manner. I particularly liked the way the camera follows people's natural reactions to the invasion of their space and the way these people explain their reactions in a subsequent interview. I learned for the first time the meaning of 'heroic space' as used in cathedrals as well as in modern hotels. An experiment on spatial behavior in public bathrooms, particularly the choice of urinals, was amusing and instructive at the same time." -- Miron Zuckerman, Prof. of Psychology, Univ of Rochester American Psychological Assn. honoree Western Psychological Assn. honoree |
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Sexism in Language: Thief of Honor, Shaper of Lies |
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| Designed for use in a broad range of educational settings and disciplines, this lively
and provocative video analyzes the gender bias that permeates our everyday language.
Quick-paced, wide-ranging, and frequently humorous, the video explores sexism in
both the syntax and semantics of language and shows how it is often unintentional
or even unrecognized. Four key areas are explored: ''female'' words that are dependent
on a ''male'' version; words that are more positive for men than for women; words
for women that carry negative sexual connotations; and ''neutral'' words that become
inferior when applied to women. This is a powerful resource for anyone concerned
with understanding and eliminating the harmful effects of sexist language. Produced
by and featuring Prof. Lynn Lovdal. 29 min. Color 1995 Catalog #38327 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $55 |
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This video is sure to spark productive classroom discussion and encourage self-reflection by students and teachers. It cogently highlights the historical and ideological components of sexist language. It will increase classroom awareness of gender, language, and social power in much the same way that Killing Us Softly did for gender and advertising. I highly recommend this for classes in basic writing and speaking, interpersonal communication, gender studies, and communication. -- Matthew P. McAllister, Prof. of Communication Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. |
| Slippery Blisses | |
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| Kissing is one of our most complex and delicate
forms of communication -- and certainly among the most popular. Kissing
brings our senses of touch, smell, and taste together with a variety of
powerful emotions and behavioral messages.
This delightful and fascinating new documentary blends science, sensuality, history, and provocative speculation to probe two deceptively simple-sounding questions: What is a kiss? And what makes it magical? The film interweaves the commentary of ordinary people who recall their best and worst kisses with a quirky cast of behavioral experts who discuss the "science" of kissing and raise numerous discussion-inducing questions. For example, is kissing a learned, cultural behavior, or is it innate and "hard-wired" into our systems? What does a kiss mean? Can we analyze a prospective mate's genetic suitability from the information we receive from a kiss? What are the mechanisms by which a kiss stimulates the brain's pleasure centers? And what is the social significance of kissing as a form of greeting or respect? "Slippery Blisses" travels across America with a visit to Paris -- the world's most romantic city -- and along the way explores the turbulent history of kissing in the movies, interviews a sex therapist who views kissing as the key to better relationships, and features a socialite hairdresser who shows how cheek-kissing bonds high-society together. A highlight is a sequence featuring a professor who teaches university students how to kiss in wildly popular audience-participation seminars. Who would have thought that college students needed help? Punctuated with wonderful movie clips, hundreds of kisses of all kinds,
and (dare we say?) a healthy dollop of tongue-in- cheek humor, "Slippery
Blisses" demonstrates ultimately that, as with all human behavior and
communication, there is nothing simple about a simple kiss. This film
will certainly stimulate lively discussion in a wide array of courses
in communication, nonverbal communication, psychology, sociology, and
gender studies. It was produced by Silva Basmajian and directed by Jeannette
Loakman for the National Film Board of Canada. Close-captioned. |
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 "The human kiss is an important behavior, but one that is poorly understood. This film will help begin discussions and presents a number of interesting, lively, and speculative ideas about the different things a kiss might signify." -- Dane Archer, Prof. of Sociology, Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, and producer of the best-selling series of videos on nonverbal communication |
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A World of Differences: Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC The video examines 14 key facets of cross-cultural miscommunication. In each case, the power and subtlety of cultural differences are explored and illustrated. As the video demonstrates, culture can be like a veil that prevents us from understanding those from other societies, and also prevents them from understanding us. While some aspects of "culture shock" are predictable, such as language differences, many powerful differences are less obvious, and perhaps therefore even more "culture shocking." Examples include dramatic differences in personal space, patterns of touching, etiquette and ritual, the expression of emotions, ideas about edible and delicious food, gestures, courtship patterns, and parent-child relationships. A World of Differences: Understanding Cross-Cultural Communication was produced by and features Dane Archer, Prof. of Sociology at UC Santa Cruz. Like his other widely acclaimed videos, this one is both richly instructional and keenly enjoyable and features an exemplary in-depth Instructor's Guide. This is essential viewing for a variety of courses. Viewers will be rewarded with a greatly enhanced awareness of the importance and nature of cultural differences. 34 min. Color 1997 Catalog #38383 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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 Showing A World of Differences to students is likely to make a world of difference in them. This video will surely affect those student perceptions and attitudes which make or break encounters between people with different cultural experiences. It speaks directly and forcefully to students by using the words and experiences of their fellow students from around the world -- with an impact no instructor's lecture could duplicate. I would feel a lot better about the future of our planet if I knew every student in school today had seen this video and discussed the issues it raises. -- Mark L. Knapp, Distinguished Teaching Prof., Univ. of Texas An indispensable tool for the instructor who wishes to explain the difficulties inherent in cross-cultural communication. The video is fascinating and is sure to arouse and hold students' interest. The accompanying Instructor's Guide offers a variety of innovative techniques for using this tool in the classroom. Along with previous videos by Prof. Dane Archer, A World of Differences is bound to change the way that nonverbal communication is taught and understood. -- Myron Zuckerman, Prof. of Psychology, Univ. of Rochester Western Psychological Assn. honoree American Pychological Assn. honoree |
| A World of Food: Tastes and Taboos in Different Cultures | |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC From vegans to cannibals, human beings consume an infinite variety of foods. They also form fiercely emotional views about people who follow food practices unlike their own. Many Americans, for example, are horrified by the consumption of dog meat in certain Asian countries. But staples of the American diet may be equally horrifying to others. For instance, the simple American hamburger can deeply offend Hindus and others who regard cows as sacred creatures. When they visit an American supermarket, many Hindus try to avoid the meat counter, where the "dead animals" are kept. Among the many issues and questions covered in the video are: What are the prohibitions against certain foods in the major religions of the world? What are the reasons for these food rules, and what happens when the rules are violated? What is the "hierarchy of eligible foods?" Why are dogs near-sacred pets in some cultures, and just another food item in others? What is the "part/whole" problem, and how does it influence whether a food strikes us as delicious or disgusting? What common American foods are regarded as inedible or disgusting in other cultures? In turn, what foods and food behaviors do Americans find disturbing in other cultures? What are the important but unwritten food etiquette rules in other countries, and what happens if an unwary visitor violates them? "A World of Food" is the perfect "antidote" to ethnocentrism, the all-too-common assumption that one's own culture is superior to others. Students cannot see the video without learning the critical lesson that all cultures (including American culture) consume foods that people in other cultures see as highly debatable, inherently disgusting, or simply too bizarre to eat at all. All who view this funny, fascinating, and illuminating video will emerge with an enhanced understanding of food practices in other cultures and -- no less important -- a deeper awareness of the need for cross-cultural understanding in an increasingly interconnected world. "A World of Food" was produced by Prof. Dane Archer, of UC Santa Cruz,
and is filled with the same characteristic zest, vibrancy, and instructional
savvy that have brought widespread acclaim to all of his best-selling
videos on nonverbal behavior and communication. Also like his other titles,
this one is accompanied by an outstanding Instructor's Guide. |
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 "We could all use an extra helping of this outstanding video, which is full of nourishment for both the brain and the heart. In it, food practices and preferences around the world are used to stimulate thinking about tolerance, understanding, and culture. Viewers may be surprised at the many ways food can reflect values which cut to the heart of our individual, cultural, and religious identities. This discussion of food, told engagingly by students from different countries, is a unique and provocative way of encouraging viewers (high school or college) to think about issues of ethnocentrism and effective communication across cultures." -- Mark L. Knapp, Jones Centennial Prof. in Communication and Distinguished Teaching Prof., Univ. of Texas, author of Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction "Dane Archer's new video manages to bring an intellectual idea to life, right in the pit of one's stomach! The use of food preferences and food taboos is a brilliant means of communicating the profound impact that one's shared experiences within a given culture can have, not only on one's beliefs, values, and norms but also on one's own gag reflex. Discussions following the viewing of this video will undoubtedly be energetic and emotionally evocative given that they will almost necessarily center on one another's visceral responses to the examples shown within. I will most certainly incorporate this video in my course on social psychology! -- Frank Bernieri, Prof of Psychology, Univ. of Toledo, Co-Editor, Interpersonal Sensitivity: Theory, Measurement, and Applications "Students will be engaged, amused, and occasionally disgusted by this unique video. The examination of how culture shapes our tastes and appetites will stimulate students to rethink their own assumptions about which foods are sickening and which foods are savory. This is a terrific tool for combating dietary ethnocentrism." -- Mark Costanzo, Prof. of Psychology, Claremont College "An entertaining look at some of the unwritten rules that govern the use of foods in different cultures. Students will sometimes laugh and sometimes cringe as they listen to people's personal accounts of what they have eaten or not eaten on certain occasions. The video will be useful as a discussion-starter or as part of an orientation for students about to travel overseas, but its real power is as an antidote to ethnocentrism. Viewers, especially American viewers, will discover that what is delicious, disgusting, or even edible is very much in the cultural eye of the beholder." -- Lawrence T. White, Prof. of Psychology, Beloit College "This video is going to become a regular feature in my introductory course in cultural anthropology. The succession of examples and brief interviews are an invitation to contemplate the reasons we find each other's food practices humorous, engaging, or revolting. It also is an exercise in thinking through, with understanding and humor, the personal expression of cultural beliefs about food. Reflections, many of them by college students, invite further discussion and comment. Dane Archer's film is not only original and engaging, but his own commentary presents a clear and comprehensible framework for exploring the rich collection of examples. While considering such possibilities as the consumption of various cow parts, crunchy caterpillars, and one's own spit, the film leads to an exploration of cultural differences and touches gently on the significance of tolerance and the enjoyment of such differences. I am looking forward to watching and discussing the video with my own undergraduate students." --Laura Lein, Prof. of Anthropology, Univ. of Texas, Austin "I believe I've seen all of Prof. Archer's videos in his extraordinary
series on nonverbal communication. Having now seen his latest, I can say
with confidence: Dane Archer has done it again! Here is a video dealing
with an issue rarely considered explicitly, yet important to all our lives
and on a daily basis. And, as is so typical of the Archer Touch, here
is a video that entertains and enlivens discussion even as it informs
and provokes." -- Robert Rosenthal, Edgar Pierce Prof. of Psychology,
Emeritus, Harvard Univ., and Distinguished Prof., Univ. of California,
Riverside |
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A World of Gestures |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 28 min. Color 1991 Catalog #38112 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $55 |
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An outstanding teaching tool. Nothing like it exists and, having seen it, I can't imagine teaching my classes without it. -- Prof. Robin Akert, Dept. of Psychology, Wellesley College Western Psychological Assn. honoree American Anthropological Assn. honoree |