As of April 1st, we have added a new service to our online resources: Kanopy! Kanopy is a video streaming service, similar in many ways to Netflix. The difference, however, is that Kanopy’s focus is “thoughtful entertainment”. It features documentaries and independent film on challenging topics designed to get the viewer thinking more deeply about current issues. It seeks to provide library patrons with access to films of unique social and cultural, not just entertainment, value; films that are often difficult or impossible to access elsewhere.
So, this weekend, grab your library card, use it to sign up for Kanopy, and prepare to learn a thing or two!
GTFO
Sparked by a public display of sexual harassment in 2012, GTFO pries open the video game world to explore a 20 billion dollar industry that is riddled with discrimination and misogyny. Although half of all gamers are women, females are disproportionately subject to harassment and abuse from other gamers, and are massively under-represented in the video game design world. Through interviews with video game developers, journalists, and academics, GTFO examines the female experience in gaming and begins a larger conversation that will shape the future of the video game world.
The Student Body
This is a true underdog story of two brave girls who take a stand against bullying, government intrusion and hypocrisy while exploring the complex and controversial truths behind the childhood obesity debate.
Coined the “Fat Letters” by students, notification letters forced by lawmakers were sent to kids whose body mass did not fall within a narrowly acceptable range, essentially telling children — even as young as kindergarteners — that they’re fat.
When a determined sixth-grader voices her protest against the letters, student journalist Bailey Webber is inspired to take up her fight. Convinced that her peers are being unfairly bullied by the government, Bailey’s investigation turns into a battle of wills between herself and state lawmakers who support the law.
The Lottery
In a country where 58% of African American 4th graders are functionally illiterate, The Lottery uncovers the failures of the traditional public school system and reveals that hundreds of thousands of parents attempt to flee the system every year. The Lottery follows four of these families from Harlem and the Bronx who have entered their children in a charter school lottery. Out of thousands of hopefuls, only a small minority will win the chance of a better future. The film explores the debate surrounding the education reform movement and highlights the opposition from the teachers’ unions to charter schools, and the contest between charter and public schools for building space.
The Lottery, Madeleine’s first documentary sparked a renewed debate on the future of public education and was shortlisted for the 2011 Academy Awards.
If you’re excited as we are to try out this new service, go to https://peclib.kanopystreaming.com/ to get started!