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It would be easy to jump on this as just another example of educational
institutions caving in to the right wing agenda, which it probably is, but
lets face it, the iMax/OmniMax films have never been the gold standard for
accuracy, completeness, and objectivity. They are, and have always been,
revenue enhacing entertainment. Any educational content has been a happy
by-product.
At the begining of the long running T-Rex Back to the Cretaceous, they
actually ran a disclaimer warning of historically innacurate content. This
doesn't even speak to the embarassing portrayal of women archaeologists and
museum professionals in general.
It's a difficult question to answer. Would you want your iMax theater to run
an inaccurate, stereotyped movie that contains evolution as a core theme, or
be afraid to run that same film because of fears from creationists.
Its an embarrassng choice to have to make.
Just having a cynical Moday afternoon.
Matthew White
Director, Hands On Science
Smithsonian Institution
PO Box 37012
NMAH MRC 603
14th St. & Constitution Ave
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
202/633-3698
FAX:202/357-3328
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>>> [log in to unmask] 03/21/05 10:13 AM >>>
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
*****************************************************************************
This is symptomatic of a national conservative attack on
empirical based scientific theories (though no one seems to be
attacking other theories like relativity). What is sobering is that
institutions that are established to present science as observable
and testable-not based upon faith-are caving to this pressure.
One wonders if the remarks of viewers in the focus group who favored
the films were as emphatic as those opposed to it? Was there was
less of a risk of pressure from them if the film were not shown? Of
if their thoughts are deemed less important?
It would be interesting to hear from Fort Worth and other
institutions about how they came to their decision and just what the
pressure or the perception of is like?
If you'd like to keep to date on the campaign to inhibit and prohibit
teaching of evolution be sure to consult NCSE's (National Center for
Science Education, Inc.) web sitehttp://www.ncseweb.org
where you can always find the latest news on evolution education and
threats to it.
For another aspect of the attacks on evolution see: To read "Battle
on teaching evolution sharpens" (registration required), visit:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32444-2005Mar13.html
e-mail me off list if you can't get this and want a copy of the article.
The New York Times article is
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/19/national/19imax.html
Martin
>This article is from the New York Times . . .
>say it isn't so!
>Denise
>
>NATIONAL | March 19, 2005
>A New Test for Imax: The Bible vs. the Volcano
>By CORNELIA DEAN
>Several Imax theaters are refusing to show movies that mention
>evolution, fearing protests by opponents of the theory.
>
>
>Denise LeBlanc
>Education Director
>Science Discovery Museum
>177 Main Street
>Acton, MA 01720
>978-264-4200 x 20
>www.discoverymuseums.org
>
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--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356
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To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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