ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I agree with Heather. It originally never occurred to me that "we"  
would  ever screen this movie (although I don't see why not, see  
below). I assumed that they would be disseminated through some sort  
of direct to the teacher outlet. Hopefully as part of a larger  
Climate Change curriculum packet.

On the other hand why not screen it? Follow it up with scientist  
debating the merits of the science. Maybe some policy experts. Maybe  
some media or film critics or some professional documentarians? Why  
not? Remember this film is basically a hyped up Powerpoint  
presentation and look how well it did. That alone is worthy of  
discussion. Maybe a historian working in the history of meteorology  
or climate science? Why not? Al Gore is not currently running for  
anything so our 501(c)3 status shouldn't be in danger. Invite him to  
defend himself against critics. He is not shy about talking on the  
subject.

Let me open this sore a little wider.

What if we sold the DVD in our stores? Which I suspect many of us do  
now or will soon. Would it be as much an issue with us? I suspect not  
but it should be. We see a line between our Business Ventures and our  
intellectual content, but our visitors tend to see everything in our  
walls as one continuous experience. Is there a moral or PR difference  
between what we sell in our store and what we give away through our  
educational programs? Do funders, the press, and our visitors see the  
distinction? I'd rather give this or any other DVD of equal  
scientific content to a teacher than charge her money for it.


What if a science center screened the movie in an Imax, Omni-Max,  
Mega-Max, Maxi-Max type theater for profit? Would that be acceptable?  
If so, why? If not, why not? A lot of pop culture first run films run  
in Science Center Imaxes. Why not this one? Many of those a big  
budget cartoons that contain little or no science (I saw the last  
Harry Potter Movie in the Air and Space Museum's Imax. In the  
Lockheed Martin Theater no less. Okay, there are flying brooms)

I once saw a 3-D T-Rex movie that was preceded by a disclaimer that  
the movie contained historic inaccuracies. It was a very popular  
movie with wide circulation.

Why is that acceptable to screen, but we hesitate with the   
"Inconvenient Truth" because we are worried about the political  
fallout? Is it all about public perception? Money?

Where in all of this discussion do our missions come in?

Thanks for a great discussion. Gotta go to class.

Matt White

On Nov 27, 2006, at 2:38 PM, Evan Koblentz wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> Maybe I'm an image wimp .... but I can foresee myriad problems of
> perception.  I'd be very concerned about the opinions of both Joe  
> Visitor
> and professional grant givers.  If either party saw that a museum was
> offering the Gore film, then they'd probably (and perhaps  
> rightfully) jump
> to conclusions about who's behind the museum and what's the agenda.
>
> Feel free to tell me that I'm being a paranoid politically correct  
> nutcase.
> :)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Orselli [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 2:06 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ISEN] Objectivity
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> ******
> *
>
> Hi Evan,
>
> "Objective" can mean many things.  Most museums and their programs  
> take at
> least an "editorial" point of view.  Personally, I think that's a good
> thing.  I don't want to see an animist's sincerely held belief that  
> rocks
> are alive, for example, espoused in a Geology exhibition as an  
> alternative
> view in the name of objectivity.
>
> Gore's film takes a clear point of view, which people are free to  
> debate or
> disagree with (like our current President.) While Gore is a
> liberal, I don't think the science presented in the film is bogus.
> Again, people may disagree on the conclusions drawn from the data,  
> but isn't
> that part of scientific discourse?
>
> All that being said, I'd rather have DVDs offered to interested  
> science
> centers (or science teachers) than sitting in a California warehouse.
>
>
> On Nov 27, 2006, at 1:47 PM, Evan Koblentz wrote, in part:
>>
>> Just seems to me that it's a bad idea for a science center to  
>> screen a
>> film made by a very well-known liberal, just as it would be to screen
>> a film made a very well-known Republican, or bible-thumper, or
>> moon-landing- conspiracy theorist, or anyone else who clearly is not
>> objective.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Paul Orselli, President and Chief Instigator
>
> Paul Orselli Workshop (POW!)
> 1684 Victoria Street
> Baldwin, NY  11510
>
> www.orselli.net
>
> (516) 223-1043  voice
> (516) 238-2797  mobile
>
> The Great Big List of Exhibit Resources:  http://www.orselli.net/
> sources.htm
>
>
>
>
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