Historically the word “pope” has been mired in controversy. Many have pointed to the shadows of those who have ruled the Vatican–strong shadows such as the Inquisition, Nazi collaboration, concealment of pedophilia, corruption, micromanaging the minds and lives of their congregations, and the persistent acquisition of immense wealth. And yet others have seen the pope… Continue Reading
Media for Children of all Ages: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
To my view, it has always been as hard to make substantial media programs for children as it has been to make successful programs about children’s media. Morgan Neville’s beloved documentary about the TV program “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” manages to do both and more. The 94-minute feature documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, not only… Continue Reading
You are the Medium That Matters
Throughout the two dozen “Media That Matter” blogs that have been published over the past two years, I have written about the media that we consume. But what about the media that we create? Although I have sought to point toward literally dozens of examples of elevating media in most formats, these are all films,… Continue Reading
Media Animals Who Matter
When I was a child, like many of my peers I enjoyed TV programs about animals such as Lassie, Mr. Ed, and Rin Tin Tin. As I grew older I took note of the endless parade of other animal stars from Flipper and Cheetah to the animated celebrities like Bambi, Mickey Mouse, and Nemo. Interspersed… Continue Reading
The Inspiration List
The Inspiration List Almost all professional media critics and pundits put out a top 10 or top 100 list of the best films, TV programs, albums, websites, or books of the year. I note that many people question these lists, especially since some choices may seem highly subjective. Indeed many lists have been controversial since… Continue Reading