We're bringing Energy to the historic Austin City Limits stage and going live worldwide by webcast...
From the gushing geysers of Giant, to the plutonium-powered time machine of Back to the Future, Hollywood has entertained us with unforgettable, often iconic images of energy. Whether intentional or not, films frequently serve as a snapshot of society, capturing sentiments of each time period. Many films have themes or scenes that memorialize collective optimism, fears, and observations about energy. Using film clips as a historical road map, Energy at the Movies is an entertaining lecture that will enlighten audiences about the ways films influence how we think about energy, and in turn, how we influence energy policy.
A central element of human civilization, energy is critical for water, food, mobility, comfort, and industry. In fact, the emergence of the modern energy sector has been a critical enabler for economic development over the last 150 years. However, the path to affluence came at heavy costs; most notably environmental degradation and persistent threats to national security. Today, society continues to grapple with the consequences of how we produce, use and trade energy. Fortunately, history has useful lessons to teach us, and many of those lessons are captured in film. This two-part event builds on Dr. Michael Webber’s successful university honors course of the same title. By incorporating clips from various films, humorously interspersed with snippets of energy history, technology, policy and observations on current affairs, he shares universal truths and trends about energy. The evening begins with a fun-spirited multi-media lecture, followed by a moderated panel discussion with filmmakers, historians, and commentators. Join us as we navigate through 70 years of energy on the big screen. This event is being produced by The University of Texas at Austin with support from KLRU-TV, Austin PBS. It is sponsored by the American Clean Skies Foundation.
Day: Wednesday, March 9, 2011 Time: 600 pm Where: KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, Studio 6A Schedule: 600-730 pm Dr. Webbers’ Energy lecture with film clips 730-800 pm Reception 800-930 pm Moderated panel discussion (with interactive global Q&A)
Panelists: • Sheril Kirshenbaum (co-author of Unscientific America) • Turk Pipkin (producer of Nobelity Project & One Peace at a Time) • Matthew Chapman (great-great grandson of Charles Darwin, screenwriter and director for such films as Runaway Jury and 2011’s The Ledge) • Charles Ramirez Berg (film historian and distinguished UT professor)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50WphCvOubE
