Whether you prefer print or film, the Friends of Boca Grande Lifelong Learning Series has an instructive, entertaining lineup for your taste this season.
After spearheading the $60,000 modernization of the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium technology, the Friends decided to offer a ground-breaking six-date Film Forum series as a bookend to its well-established six-event Literature Forum.
The movie documentaries are free followed by a $10 panel discussion with experts on the subject.
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The first Literature Forum discussion of Pearl Buck's engrossing “The Good Earth” will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 10. Boca Grande resident Rosemary Bowler will moderate discussion of the book, which foreshadows the Chinese revolution still reverberating today across the globe.
"See something worth talking about," said Marta Howell, executive director of the Friends of Boca Grande.
Film Forum topics take on major U.S. areas of concern including energy consumption and production, education, finance and Mideast relations.
The first movie in the Film Forum schedule is "Gasland," a documentary about the domestic natural gas drilling boom in the United States. Gasland will be shown twice with the rerun followed by a panel discussion. Movies are free but panel discussions cost $10.
Fact Box
FILM FORUM SCHEDULE
ENERGY
Nov. 8: 'Gasland'
"Gasland," 7:30 p.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
Nov. 10: 'Gasland' movie/discussion
"Gasland" showing, 10 a.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium followed by 3 p.m. panel discussion. Moderators: Jean and Walt Meanwell and panel: Percy Angelo, Debra Highsmith,
Ken Smith and Tim Yonker.
Focus question: The process of has become widely used in the United States. What are the possible economic and ecological impacts of fracking to retrieve oil and natural gas from U.S. shale deposits.
EDUCATION
Jan. 17: 'Waiting for Superman'
"Waiting for Superman," 7:30 p.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
Jan. 19: 'American Teacher'
"American Teacher," 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
Jan. 20: 'Waiting for Superman' movie/discussion
"Waiting for Superman" showing, 10 a.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium followed by 2 p.m. panel discussion. Moderator: Rosemary Bowler and panel: Carolyn Cowen, Marcia Louden, Mark Pritchett, Chuck Richards, Bayne Stevenson and Emily Steffan.
Focus: Education - its purposes, practices, successes and failures - has aroused a high level of public interest . Reform proposals and new programs are implemented with great hope and often discarded with disillusion. What are the lessons of the charter school movement and what roles should high stake testing and teachers' unions play in the future?
FINANCE
Jan. 31: 'Inside Job'
"Inside Job," 7:30 p.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
Feb. 3: 'Inside Job'
"Inside Job," 10 a.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
Feb. 3: 'Inside Job' discussion
"Inside Job," 10 a.m. movie showing followed by 2 p.m. panel discussion at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium. Moderator: John Kissinger and panel: Richard Shreve, Mike Giobbe, David Maxwell, and Larry Hannah.
Focus: "Inside Job" traces the development of the financial crisis of 2008 as the domestic real estate bubble burst, mega-financial institutions failed and the U.S. economy fell into the worst recession since the Great Depression. Is more regulation of the financial sector necessary? What are the consequences and costs of more regulation?
MIDEAST POLITICS
March 12: 'Wham, Bam Islam'
"Wham, Bam, Islam," 10 a.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
March 13-14: 'Miral'
"Miral," 7:30 p.m. March 13 and 10 a.m. March 14 at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
March 14: 'Of Gods and Men'
"Of Gods and Men," 3 p.m. with intro by John Kiser at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
March 15: 'Wham, Bam Islam'
"Wham, Bam, Islam," 7:30 p.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
March 16: Arab Spring discussion
"Inside Job," 10 a.m. movie showing followed by 2 p.m. panel discussion at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium. Moderator: Jane Geniesse with panel: John Kiser, Eric Widmer, John Voll and Meera Viswanathan.
Focus: As dynamic changes take place in the Middle East, the vast and divergent Muslim world looks on. The big picture with debate between conservatives and liberals over Islam's role in society.
LIT FORUM SCHEDULE
The book list for the 2011-12 Literature Forum by the Friends of Boca Grande covers six classics. Lit Forums are held at 1 p.m. the second Thursday of every month November through April at the Woman's Club Room in the Boca Grande Community Center. Go to friendsofbocagrande.com for more information.
Dates, books, authors and presenters include:
Nov. 10: "The Good Earth" by Pearl Buck, presented by Rosemary Bowler.
Dec. 8: "So Long, See You Tomorrow" by William Maxwell, presented by Sandy Jacobs.
Jan. 12: "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy, presented by Pat Carey, David Jenkins and Tim Yonker.
Feb. 9: "The Dew Breaker" by Edwidge Danticat, presented by Hilari Fix and Bonna Edelman.
March 8: "Cry, the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton, presented by Jo Van Zoeren.
April 12: "Tinkers" by Paul Harding, presented by Bob Shandorf.
The intriguing new wrinkle of the Film Forum is moderated panel discussions after film showings on topics identified in the compelling and controversial documentaries.
The first Literature Forum is no less compelling. The Lit Forum discussion of Pearl Buck's engrossing "The Good Earth" will be held the same day as the second showing of "Gasland." Boca Grande resident Rosemary Bowler will moderate discussion of the book, which foreshadows the Chinese revolution still reverberating today across the globe.
