Caitilin Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Ours just arrived today, finally; never did get a magazine, tho'. Oh well, this is what I really wanted anyway. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarmom4 Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 , There were some University commenters, but it seemed there were more celebrity/politician/entrepreneur commenters. This could be seen as good or bad I guess, it can be interesting but, for example, why do I care what Michael Douglas thinks? I'm with you on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMe Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I agree with cougarmom and Flux: It was free because it was a teleprompter/photo-op for Obama at the beginning :001_huh: and included his beer buddy Gates ( the guy who threw a fit by being arrested), Michael Douglas and others....just weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey Mom Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I got mine yesterday. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Still none here. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Alfred Academy Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 LOL - that's why I got that magazine! I was trying to figure out how I got signed up for that. Looking forward to the video, my dh had wanted to watch it when it was on TV. HA! I just thought the same thing! Hope the magazine isn't needed for the DVD. It's been recycled. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Mine arrived yesterday. I watched the first few parts of the series, so I know what to expect. Is this the US History show that throws in commercials for Bank of America all the time? I appreciate that they sent it to us free anyway, so I can't complain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildiris Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I'm not going to win any popularity contests and I'm probably starting off on the wrong foot with this as my first post(rant?), but here goes.I got mine yesterday, couldn't sleep last night, and watched most of the first disk. I agree that it is for older kids just because, obviously, there is war. Just give it a short preview to make a decision when you want your kids to see it. It could make a good supplement, especially if you have older or highly visual learners, helping to cement some facts or ideas for them. Um, I did find some things interesting, was entertained, it had a lot of pretty factor and cgi, and I will watch more. Reading earlier that they included mention of cannibalism actually gave me hope for a more thorough history, but really, I found it to be a broad overview touching on high points. Personally, I was irked by the short mention of Pocahontas ending on a positive note and the like. There were some University commenters, but it seemed there were more celebrity/politician/entrepreneur commenters. This could be seen as good or bad I guess, it can be interesting but, for example, why do I care what Michael Douglas thinks? Ugh, this is the part that both pains me and yet I feel compelled to write...Overall, I found the whole tone to be propaganda.:leaving: There, I said it. Again, not the worst thing in the world if you like that sort of thing or even if you're just "in the mood" for it. May I please offer the disclaimer that it is NOT my intention to start any arguments or political discussion. Just take it as my wackadoo opinion, to each his own etc. My intended standard first post was supposed to be along these lines::)New here, and just wanted to say Hi! Oh well! Hi flux~ After reading your comment and receiving the DVD yesterday, I had to check out the first episode. Audience: Middle grades and up. A supplement to American history. The way the filming is put together will appeal to kids and keep their interest. It is a superficial docu-drama with talking heads from various backgrounds. The issue of whether it is propaganda is interesting, and worth investigating with students in addition to discussing how history is retold, whose story is being told and why? So far I've seen Obama, Trump, Michael Douglas, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Colin Powell. It is also interesting to note that interspersed with the drama and commentary are bits of first source material such as letters and journal entries. Understanding how these sources are used and what/whose purpose they serve is also worth investigating. Cheers on your post. I look forward to reading more. Iris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flux Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Hi flux~After reading your comment and receiving the DVD yesterday, I had to check out the first episode. Audience: Middle grades and up. A supplement to American history. The way the filming is put together will appeal to kids and keep their interest. It is a superficial docu-drama with talking heads from various backgrounds. The issue of whether it is propaganda is interesting, and worth investigating with students in addition to discussing how history is retold, whose story is being told and why? So far I've seen Obama, Trump, Michael Douglas, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Colin Powell. It is also interesting to note that interspersed with the drama and commentary are bits of first source material such as letters and journal entries. Understanding how these sources are used and what/whose purpose they serve is also worth investigating. Cheers on your post. I look forward to reading more. Iris Yes Iris! I agree with everything you said! You mention some things I wish I had. It's not that I find the video without value, but you have to find what it's value is to you, and how you wish to use it. Depending on your views, it offers many places to pause and discuss, look into something deeper, and develop critical thinking skills. I watched much of the second disk today (I'm sick in bed), it is beautiful to watch and I do enjoy much of it. I'm also glad you've given me the opportunity to clarify my propaganda opinion (because I wish I had before). I wasn't implying a particular political party, liberal, conservative, etc. I meant just the plain old national, government variety. When I was 11 my parents pulled me and my siblings out of school to take a 4 month road-trip of America. At Fort McHenry we watched a video that ended with the Star Spangled Banner while a curtain opened to reveal the flag outside. I was surprised to find myself crying more than just a few tears. Watching these disks makes me remember that moment. It seemed appropriate there, but cloying and excessive in the movie. I don't think our kids need to have "what it means to be an American" or "who they need to be" in order to be an American pushed at them like that, when the stories speak for themselves well enough (especially if you're lucky enough to have a good knowledge of your personal family history, because then it really becomes your history). End rant. I have a soft spot for when things are glossed over. I do realize they are covering a lot of material in just a few disks, I guess I just wish it was more thorough from both viewpoints of any given situation. Sorry for rambling, it's past my bedtime... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 We watched the first 2 episodes this afternoon. IMO, it's pretty light; there are too many celebrity talking heads rather than professors or similar; the tone is fairly jingoistic; Native American cultures seem (so far) to get pretty short shrift. The production value is fairly high, and my kids loved the special effects of things like the houses building themselves. :lol: It's a nice quasi-educational thing to watch on a slow school day. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daughterofsarah77 Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I so hope we get our soon! I had given up hope...I requested it one day after the "deadline." I figured at this point that it wouldn't come. But I did recieve the magazine a few weeks ago, and hopefully that is a sign that the DVD's will show up soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I got mine yesterday! Haven't watched it yet, but watched some of it when it was on tv.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetstitches Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Ours came yesterday, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennismomkelly Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I was pleasantly surprised to find ours in the mailbox yesterday. :) DH wants to preview it before we allow our DS to watch it so we'll probably watch it tonight while the kiddos are in bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I want mine! Waaaahhh!! :tongue_smilie: :) Still waiting. I had forgotten about it before this thread. Gosh, I love this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalonaD Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Got my DVD today :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anneofalamo Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Like many others I had forgotten I even requested it! The magazine came a few weeks ago, and due to my life, it is sitting 3 in the pile of my things to read when I get a moment pile! We did get the video yesterday, and my hubby and I watched the first 15 minutes. Me mostly with eyes closed, horrible motion sickness (this is me) at the zooming camera thru everywhere, across oceans, seas, plains and mountains. But I do that with most movies! Having kids that were pulled from PS late, (and excuse my embarrassment) have no idea of the foundations of America. Somehow, that never was taught in their many years of public school, or it wasn't caught by them. I am planning on using it as a base for History, and then building on it. I did think the computer graphics were wowza fun! That tobacco plant growing was uber cool, but I am easily entertained. We won't show during "school hours", but with popcorn with dad in the evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I received mine a few days ago :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclipse Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 We got ours a few days ago, too. We watched them all when they aired, so I haven't opened up the dvds yet. DS is on his second year of US history, and we might watch bits and pieces as we come to the era in his studies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Got mine yesterday, and we sat right down to watch the first episode. The kids, especially ds, loved it. My 2 cents... yes, there is violence, but that IS part of history. My kids have seen violence in other films as well (they LOVE Lord of the Rings, etc.). The filmography in this is pretty cool, with the time lapse effects of houses building themselves, etc. I do see the series as a brief overview that touches on many important names, dates, and happenings - a good overview that we can build on. I don't care for some of the people they have speaking but honestly, not only professors make up the American population - these people are part of it too, and part of the culture of our times, so I don't see it as inappropriate, merely unfortunate. Overall, I'm pretty well satisfied with it, especially since it was free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I got mine a couple of days ago. I just started the four-year history rotation so we're doing Ancients right now. I wasn't planning on doing dedicated US History until we finish the first four-year rotation but I wanna use the DVD now! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiffanyl Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I got mine yesterday!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runamuk Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Ours showed up on Thursday! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I received the DVD last week and I just finished pre-watching it. I have to say, I am not terribly impressed and not sure I will actually use it. I have to think on it for a while. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoccm Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Got ours a few days ago. Haven't had time to look at it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pooh bear Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I watched a few clips from the History channel, and I am not at all impressed. Way too many celebrities who know nothing about history. And a couple of descriptions of people did not sit well with me. I'm very glad I did not buy this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JESSICAinMD Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I just got mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nov05mama Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 My 2 cents... yes, there is violence, but that IS part of history. My kids have seen violence in other films as well (they LOVE Lord of the Rings, etc.). The filmography in this is pretty cool, with the time lapse effects of houses building themselves, etc. I do see the series as a brief overview that touches on many important names, dates, and happenings - a good overview that we can build on. I don't care for some of the people they have speaking but honestly, not only professors make up the American population - these people are part of it too, and part of the culture of our times, so I don't see it as inappropriate, merely unfortunate. Overall, I'm pretty well satisfied with it, especially since it was free! :iagree: Ditto this!! I think it will be a great supplement and we will likely use it when we are studying a specific topic of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole M Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 You know, I'd forgotten that I'd ordered this, too. When the magazine thingy came last month, I was not impressed, and after reading through it, tossed it right in the recycle bin. Seemed like one big advertisement for the History Channel. In the past month I'd watched several History Channel DVDs from the library and was so disappointed! Someone here used the term "edutainment" once, and that term comes to mind. So much filler, so much repetition, so much use of weird visual, nausea-inducing camera techniques. I think it speaks ill of our culture that we require our "history" served up like we're idiots. My DVD arrived the other day, and we may or may not watch it. We've been thoroughly enjoying the Teaching Company DVDs on American history (not the high school ones), and while they aren't quite the screaming bargain that the History Channel DVD is, sometimes you get what you pay for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani3boys Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Ours came last Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Mine came yesterday. Finally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheBugsMom Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 We got ours last week and after viewing the first disc, trashed the thing. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudreyTN Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Mine came yesterday. I probably won't be able to view it for a while, but it's here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I finally got mine. I plan to watch the first episode tonight. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 i watched the first bit, and I have to say it it made me dizzy. I had to turn it off. The camera angles and zooming reminded me of why I never go to Omni theaters or bother with Merry-Go -Rounds. My inner ear is getting old. ;) Obama looked good, however. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 FINALLY got mine today! Ds is so excited that he is downstairs watching it right now on his computer. He is doing the Ancients for History this year, but did American last year. oh well. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsiew Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Interesting to see all the replies... we just got ours yesterday and I haven't seen it. I think now I'm going into it with some bias... not sure if that's good or bad yet! :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 I was beginning to wonder if we had been forgotten. Finally arrived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GVD22 Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 Got mine yesterday and have watched the first two hours. We're enjoying it.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmwife Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) Recieved our DVD today. I recieved the mag a few weeks ago. I read through it and then it went out for recycling. We don't get the history channel, although one of the programs piqued my interest. Edited September 23, 2010 by farmwife spelling error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 Yay!! Got it on Tuesday. Sweeet!! Haven't had time to see it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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