Close to Eden (URGA). (Teaching Notes).By Nikita Mikhalkov Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov (Russian: Никита Сeргеевич Михалков . In Russian and Mongolian with English subtitles sub·ti·tle n. 1. A secondary, usually explanatory title, as of a literary work. 2. A printed translation of the dialogue of a foreign-language film shown at the bottom of the screen. tr.v. . 109 minutes. Miramax Home Video. Set in the steppes of Mongolia, the Russian-made Close to Eden has a classical story structure. A family of shepherds living in a yurta are tempted by the fruits of modernization modernization Transformation of a society from a rural and agrarian condition to a secular, urban, and industrial one. It is closely linked with industrialization. As societies modernize, the individual becomes increasingly important, gradually replacing the family, . At the urging of his wife Pagma, Gombo sets out for the city to buy a television and condoms. What follows is a comic meditation meditation, religious discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. It may be a means of invoking divine grace, as in the contemplation by Christian mystics of a spiritual theme, question, or problem; or it may be a means of attaining on the costs and benefits of modern living. I showed this film to my world geography students in a diverse working-class community college. Following the movie, I designated one blackboard (1) See Blackboard Learning System. (2) The traditional classroom presentation board that is written on with chalk and erased with a felt pad. Although originally black, "white" boards and colored chalks are also used. "tradition" and the other "modernity" and passed around chalk. Students wrote things they viewed as traditional and modern on the blackboards. A lively discussion ensued as they defended their choices. "Why did you put apples on the modern board?" "I didn't see any apple trees there. That means those apples came by plane or truck." "How come their family is on both boards?" "Well, it's an extended family, so it's traditional. And the whole family works together, which is also traditional. But Gombo really respects Pagma, which is very modern." "How do you know that isn't traditional in Mongolia?" The film offers opportunities to discuss gender issues, child-rearing practices, family planning family planning Use of measures designed to regulate the number and spacing of children within a family, largely to curb population growth and ensure each family’s access to limited resources. , modernization, ecology, and cultural dominance. Moreover, it offers students a picture of a sustainable economy in its final hours. Students must wonder whether the road that destroys Gombo and Pagma's land is a worthwhile price to pay for television and condoms. |
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