Quick, think of a great documentary film.
Got one? Whatever topic it covers, chances are, social sciences and humanities (SSH) scholars have thought about it—and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has funded research on it.
What about An Inconvenient Truth? We fund climate change research. The Maysles brothers’ Grey Gardens? SSH scholars study family dynamics and mental illness. Or Ava DuVernay’s 13th? We’ve got incarceration and social justice covered. Harlan County, USA? Roger and Me? Waiting for Superman? Labour relations, post-industrialism and education: check, check and check.
Documentary film can be a compelling, engaging way to mobilize knowledge and reach a wide audience. Have you ever wondered how you could use this medium to showcase your ideas? If so, join SSHRC at Congress 2018 to explore the possibilities of filmmaking in the social sciences and humanities.
To quote Arthur Miller, in the closing moments of Ken Burns’s Oscar-nominated Brooklyn Bridge, "Maybe you, too, could make something that could be lasting and beautiful."
SSHRC Documentary Film Series
Come by the Shu-Box Theatre in the Riddell Centre to watch documentary films and take part in a conversation with the researchers/filmmakers. Popcorn will be provided.
Sunday, May 27, at 19:00: The culmination of years of SSHRC-funded documentary filmmaking and research, the web-based Climate Atlas of Canada brings the human dimension of climate change to life, providing a holistic narrative about how this issue affects various aspects of Canadian society. In this interactive presentation, Ian Mauro will screen documentary stories from the Atlas—collaboratively developed with local and Indigenous knowledge holders as well as other experts—and share his experience as both a researcher and filmmaker.
Wednesday, May 30, at 19:00: Shot in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Iceland, Data Mining the Deceased explores the business of genealogy, uncovering the privacy and ownership concerns raised by one of the largest data mining operations in history—an operation driven by big religion, big business and big tech. A conversation with writer-director Julia Creet of York University will follow the screening.
The Art and Science of Mobilizing Research through Documentary Film
On Wednesday, May 30, at 15:30, in the Expo Event Space, join a panel of faculty, student and private-sector filmmakers to discuss the process and promise of documenting social sciences and humanities research on film. Panelists and audience members will share best practices and challenges, and discuss how film can be an effective way to share your ideas and research results with a broad audience.
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