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Herculaneum:
Diaries of Darkness and Light
Marcellino de Baggis, 2007
DVD - colour - 52 minutes. Onionskin productions
Language: Italian with English subtitle |
Available from HTANSW:
Standard
price $40.00 + postage (GST inclusive).
HTA NSW member price $30.00 + postage
(GST inclusive)
For
many reasons, Herculaneum has long been considered the
poor relation of Pompeii and this is reflected in the
relative lack of academic research and resources on the
site. This situation has made it difficult for many teachers
to find historically accurate and stimulating material
on Herculaneum that meets the content requirements and
outcomes of the NSW Ancient History syllabus. Herculaneum:
diaries of darkness and light, by renowned Italian film
maker Marcellino de Baggis, is the first step towards
correcting the imbalance and making the workload of teachers
a little easier.
The
documentary takes the viewer on a visually splendid tour
of Herculaneum with a narrative that operates on two different
temporal levels: one moment we are in the present and
being guided through the streets and buildings of Herculaneum
as they are today, then suddenly we are transported back
to the 1930s as archival footage reveals the processes
of transforming the site into an open-air museum. De Baggis
has cleverly used the diaries of eminent Italian archaeologist
Amedeo Maiuri as the thread that binds his narrative:
we are treated to archival footage of the 1930s excavations
as well as a rare interview with ‘Don Amedeo’
himself in which he reflects on his 40-year career as
director of the site.
The
visual images are stunning, and show details of streetscapes,
shops, houses, baths and many artefacts now housed in
the National Archaeological museum in Naples and the Herculaneum
storerooms. HSC students should find the DVD easy to follow.
Although the audio narrative is in Italian, English sub-titles
are well translated and easy to read. Teachers will need
to show the DVD at least twice so that students can absorb
the densely-packed information in the narrative. The audio-visual
format should stimulate memory and facilitate understanding
of the complexities of the site. This is a resource that
NSW Ancient History teachers will definitely welcome to
the classroom.
For
further details of the correlation between content of
Herculaneum: Diaries of Darkness and Light DVD and
the NSW Ancient History syllabus click
here
Louise Zarmati
Arndell Anglican College
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