Trying to Make Science Entertaining in "The Flock of Dodos"

[warrens]

The conflict between the religious right and science -- about the origin of life -- has garnered a spotlight in liberal Manhattan with the Tribeca Film Festival screening of writer/director Randy Olson's "The Flock of Dodos" playing in the fest's Discovery section. Utilizing an entertaining and unacademic angle -- this is not your high school biology class film -- the film aims for the style of Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me," or a Michael Moore film to try to make science interesting. Olson, an evolutionary ecologist with a Ph.D. from Harvard, tackles the current debate in the United States over intelligent design and looks at its place in science and in the classroom.

"This film is a manifestation of my opinions developed over the years," explained Olson, who studied film at USC in the mid-90s after discovering that he enjoyed using the medium when making slide shows and later video projects on oceanography expeditions. After a screening Tuesday he said, "My feeling is when a boring documentary, it does the a disservice."

Using the historicallly criticized Do-do bird as a humorous on-screen reference, Olson asks, "who indeed are the do-dos?" The intelligent design crowd who have successfully promoted the idea of a higher being that guides how life exists today? Or are they the scientific community, which has thwarted opportunities to successfully communicate their science to the masses?

SNIP

http://www.indiewire.com/ots/2006/05/tribeca_06_tryi_1.html

[warrens]

1. I gotta see this

Another story had a few quotes from the movie, as he interviews design proponents and cuts them to shreds.

[stepnw1f]

2. GOP=Flock of Dodos

Hell... they ignore global warming.