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Collage of screenshots from the featured films.

Can you believe the summer is almost over? Make the most of these final weeks by exploring these intriguing Docuseek films, hand-picked by our library student assistants. This fifth installment brings us stories from around the world--from kitchens in the Cyclades to the waterways of Mexico; from an impoverished neighborhood in Havana to an Olympic training center in Colorado; and from the ancient forests of British Columbia to early virtual worlds in Myst Online.


In the final installment of A Perfect Meal, sustainability takes center stage. Not only is the diet beneficial for our health, but it also turns out to be good for the planet. The Mediterranean diet is based on seasonal ingredients and emphasizes fresh produce. Watch the last episode to see how the Mediterranean diet benefits not only your health but also the Earth. By Nadia

In the early days of online gaming, a group of independent creators developed Myst Online, which unfortunately did not receive as much attention as their original game Myst. The game, however, survived through the collaborative efforts of its dedicated fans. Join Max, also known by his player name Zib, as he talks about the Myst Online experience as one of its loyal community members who had been following along since the game’s launch in the mid-2000’s. By Kianna

This documentary looks into the relationship between the ancient forests of British Columbia and the Indigenous people of the lands. Corporations aim to exploit the resources of the forests through old-growth logging, but this film follows the people in their fight for the forests. Features interviews with many people who take part in the protection and advocacy of the forests and the culture of the Indigenous people, and who are opposed to clear-cut logging in the area. By Gabby

Going against the norms in Olympic weightlifting and mainstream culture, Cheryl Haworth redefines what it means to be fit and healthy. We follow her journey to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as she faces injuries, but also how she accepts her size regardless of societal norms. The raw emotions throughout the documentary depict her vulnerability, mindset, and strength as a female weightlifter of her size.

Peer into an empowering mother’s life through artistically framed and shot scenes. Afibola is a Black, queer woman raising her son Olorun in Havana, Cuba, and this is not without unique challenges. Living under impoverished conditions, she and her partner work hard to support their family, while protecting and strengthening Olorun in a society that treats and views him as lesser simply because of the color of his skin. By Kianna

This 64-minute documentary talks about the Indigenous people of Mexico, their relationship with water, and their continuous struggle for water to help grow their crops. The people featured in this documentary tell their stories about how things used to be before, when water was abundant, and how the lack of water in their rivers has affected their lives and livelihoods. Also discussed are the change in rainy weather patterns and the government's negligence in mishandling sewage and pollution from the city of Pinotepa Nacional. By Gabby


We hope you have enjoyed the Docuseek films chosen by our library student assistants this summer, and maybe even had the chance to explore some of them. Which ones were your favorites? We will continue to share student picks from time to time.

As a reminder, our electronic resources are available to all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students. When accessing our resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly librarians at lccref@hawaii.edu.

Collage of screenshots from the featured films.

Ready for the fourth installment of our student-curated Docuseek films? This week's lineup includes documentaries on nutrition, the dawn of the Internet, cosmetic surgery, the Holocaust, Japanese female wrestling, and the Tunisian Revolution.


In the fourth installment of A Perfect Meal, researchers examine the adverse effects of consuming a Western diet. Lowering your risk of early-onset dementia and other brain-related diseases is just one of the many benefits of adopting a Mediterranean diet. Watch this short episode to learn how the Mediterranean diet can help address the global health crisis. By Nadia

One of the oldest hobbyist game development tools was created in 1991, known as ZZT. Doctor Dos, an avid user of ZZT, maintains a repository to preserve a record of the plethora of games that have come across this platform. This short film showcases the history of ZZT and the many different kinds of games that were created by amateur game developers with this free, open source tool. By Kianna

With the arrival of new technologies and media, becoming beautiful has never been easier and more desired. Made Over in America discusses the complex relationship between beauty and ourselves, as technology enables us to see ourselves in ways that would've been impossible in the past. Producers, surgeons, reality show participants, everyday college students, and psychologists converse about how society’s attitude towards beauty is altered due to the convenience of plastic surgery and the expectations of being beautiful.

Upon its publication, the international bestseller Maus took the world by storm through its unique storytelling of the Holocaust, garnering mixed reception from its publishers to its readers. This documentary captures the author’s thoughts, the struggle to even create and print the then-controversial comic, and the reactions of actual Holocaust survivors and their families. A significant piece of historical work, the only way to truly experience Maus is to read it. By Kianna

In a society where women are expected to be docile and submissive, Gaea Girls are a group of Japanese female wrestlers who opposed the typical expectation. Their training is rough and intense just like any other athlete’s regimen, making some feel as though they are distinguished individuals in the ring. This documentary shows the physical and mental frustrations these trainees face while trying to become a professional wrestler.

This 90-minute documentary looks at the Tunisian Revolution which leads to the wider Arab Spring. The film follows two women who have differing perspectives post-revolution on the state in which to rebuild their country along two different political parties which they each are part of. Each explains how their country should move forward in its post revolution phase. As Tunisia moves in reconstructing their nation in different ways, the film follows these two women and their families through several years of Tunisian government, revolution, election, and politically fueled incidents. By Gabby


Many thanks to our library student assistants for their thought-provoking Docuseek selections. With such a diverse range of films, there's truly something for everyone to learn from and enjoy.

As a reminder, our electronic resources are available to all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students. When accessing our resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly librarians at lccref@hawaii.edu.

Collage of screenshots from the featured films.

We are back with the third round of student-selected Docuseek films! This week’s documentaries cover a rich variety of topics spanning diverse historical eras and regions around the world.


In the third installment of A Perfect Meal, researchers discuss the benefits of adding more vegetables and fruits to your diet. A study of several participants with a peculiar mutation that allows cancerous polyps to grow in their intestines showed a decrease in inflammation when they adopted a Mediterranean diet. Tune in to discover other benefits that come from switching to a Mediterranean diet! By Nadia

Curious about the Internet’s earlier days? One of the earliest online chat environments, WorldsChat, was created in 1994, and even today, it remains a relatively safe, unmonitored gathering place for all sorts of people. Issac Thacker, better known by his screen name GradualDIME, a self-proclaimed archivist that operates in WorldsChat, talks about his memories and experiences in this unique online chat game. By Kianna

Garçonnières is a documentary filmed by an anthropologist, Celine Pernet, in hopes to understand the relationship with masculinity. She interviews men to discuss what it means to be a man in the 21st century as they converse about love, couples, and even fatherhood. It allows us to understand how society has shaped the way humans act, process, and connect things in a certain way.

Learn about a period of American history that is fading from our memories--the Salem Witch Trials. Persisting into the modern day, the persecution of fabled witches was merely a disguise and excuse to punish women who did not conform to society. In this documentary, 400 years of history is dug up and researched by Alice Markham-Cantor, a writer and eleven-time great-granddaughter of an innocent woman hanged during these dark times. By Kianna

A documentary on prostitution in urban Brazil that consists of interviews with residents and women involved in the profession. The interviewees discuss life before and outside of prostitution, their families, and working life. Hardships include troubles with law enforcement, disease, and health. Many of the women state that they partake in prostitution to fulfill their need to provide for their families and put food on the table. By Gabby

This documentary looks into the lives of some of the 23 resistance fighters of the Affiche Rouge, who were executed in 1944 by Nazi occupiers in France. The fighters were labelled on a notorious red poster as foreigners, communists, and Jews. Friends and family close to the resistance fighters talk about their lives from what they can recall and from what the fighters left behind through letters left to their loved ones before execution. By Gabby


Mahalo to our library student assistants for sharing their Docuseek picks. What will you discover?

As a reminder, our electronic resources are available to all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students. When accessing our resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly librarians at lccref@hawaii.edu.

Collage of screenshots from the featured films.

Our library student assistants are back with the second round of curated picks from Docuseek. Offering more than 3,000 high-quality independent films with an emphasis on social and environmental issues, Docuseek is an invaluable resource for teaching and learning. Why not get started with one of the following standout selections?


Become inspired and emotionally invested in a facet of life that is commonly taken for granted: music. A classical pianist worthy of eternal preservation across time and space, take a look at how impactful Ludwig van Beethoven’s compositions have been on people from different backgrounds. To most, Beethoven’s music pieces are simply works of art, but to the individuals in this documentary, they mean salvation, hope, and freedom. By Kianna

Motherhood is a beautiful thing, but there is a side to it that is often not seen. The wife of a passionate film director, Valerie’s happiness was captured through a camera lens, but it failed to document her descent into depression. Once a respected and renowned makeup artist, she slowly fell apart after having to trade her old life to fulfill her role as a mother of two. Emotional and intimate, this documentary is an ode to all women like Valerie who feel like they sacrificed their freedom for family. By Kianna

This documentary follows a woman who helps connect families with those who have loved ones incarcerated. The film follows a van and the woman named Kristal who drives it and her story with her own family being in and out of prison and how that has affected her life and her loved ones as well. Their story revolves around love, the unsureness of it all, hope, and their rocky journey. The film emphasizes the flaws in the criminal justice system and the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown people. By Gabby

Vincent Van Gogh’s rise to become one of the most renowned artists is a tale of struggle and perseverance. This documentary follows his sister-in-law, Johanna Van Gogh, facing over 15 years of disdain in order to follow her late husband’s ambition for the world to see Vincent’s artwork. With beautiful impressionistic-style animations and rich emotions, this documentary brings their story to life, one of passion and resilience--if people can understand the man, perhaps they will understand his craft.

This film discusses the use of pharmaceuticals that help the consumer find happiness, lessen pain, or even attain peace. The documentary follows six individuals from six different countries who face different personal issues such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, tiredness from work, etc. It shows how everyone faces similar struggles despite living different scenarios, and questions if humans use pharmaceuticals as a crutch rather than constructing their own happiness.

In the second installment of A Perfect Meal, researchers explore the many benefits of olive oil, also known as liquid gold. During this episode, a study involving approximately 7,500 participants was conducted to examine the benefits of adopting a diet rich in fats from olive oil. Tune in to find out the results! By Nadia


Many thanks to our library student assistants for their summaries. We'll be posting these throughout the summer, so stay tuned!

As a reminder, our electronic resources are available to all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students. When accessing our resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly librarians at lccref@hawaii.edu.

Docuseek student picks, part 1.

Summer is here! It's the perfect time to expand your worldview and gain fresh perspectives. Fortunately, the Leeward CC community has access to Docuseek, the premier resource for curious minds. But with more than 3,000 high-quality documentaries to choose from, how do you get started?

We consulted with members of our most important campus community: our students! Please enjoy these film recommendations, personally selected and summarized by our awesome library student assistants.


Kianna's Picks

Take a trip through the history of the Olympics to learn about the women athletes whose achievements were lost to rigid gender stereotypes during their time. This short film highlights game-changing competitors that were never taken seriously simply due to their gender. The discrimination and scrutiny faced by women in the past persists into the modern world of athletics, additionally impacting women of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

Follow filmmaker Martina Radwan’s touching six year journey, as she guides and mentors three Mongolian children, Baaskaa, Baani, and Nasaa, through their youth in an emotional documentary. From orphans living on the street and being forced into child labor, Martina was the one person who stayed to help equip these kids with skills, education, and values so they could have a chance at success and survival in their merciless world.


Nadia's Picks

In the first episode of The Perfect Meal series, we dive into the health risks associated with the Western diet and explore the benefits of embracing a Mediterranean way of eating. Through vivid storytelling and expert insights, this episode unveils the impact of highly processed foods and contrasts them with the wholesome, nutrient-rich meals of the Mediterranean. Discover why this age-old diet could be the key to healthier living in a world increasingly overwhelmed by unhealthy food choices.

In this short film, Adonis, the director explores the underground world of bodybuilding, shedding light on the impact of steroid use and the unhealthy body image that dominates modern society. The story follows a group of young men as they navigate their journeys with fitness, self-esteem, and peer pressure. As they delve deeper into the world of extreme bodybuilding, the film emphasizes the physical and psychological consequences of their choices, particularly focusing on how societal expectations and toxic masculinity drive them toward dangerous solutions for self-improvement. The director's aim is to raise awareness of the harmful effects of steroid use and the societal pressures that contribute to male body insecurities.


Gabby's Picks

This 93-minute documentary looks into the US housing crisis with its racial inequality and classism. The film interviews those who have experienced being houseless and their feelings on the housing crisis along with their own individual experiences. They share their stories on the hardships and how they can advocate within their own community through this crisis. The film features groups that advocate for affordable housing, one of them being Moms4housing which is an activist group created by three formerly homeless Black women that advocate for housing rights. The film talks about the importance of finding solutions and working together to solve this crisis so that others do not have to go through this forever. The film also emphasizes the history of how people of color and ex-convicts face the brunt of the housing crisis and continue to do so affecting every aspect of their lives.

This 28-minute documentary relates a women’s perspective on abortion from a liberation point of view. The women interviewed in this video reveal their experiences with abortion in America during the time in which it was still illegal to obtain one safely, before the Supreme Court decision of 1973 which made it legal. This first-hand perspective on abortion from the women who got one is the first account made in a documentary in support of abortion rights for women in the US. It gives insight into how the women felt, their headspace when pregnant, and their abortion stories. The video also includes the forced sterilization stories of women of color in a time where the discrimination and genocide of people of color in many areas of the US happened through sterilization. These are their intersectional stories to tell and the inequality of it which all comes down to women being allowed to have the choice.

Many thanks to Kianna, Nadia and Gabby for their summaries. More to come!

As a reminder, our electronic resources are available to all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students. When accessing our resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our friendly librarians at lccref@hawaii.edu.

Collage of screenshots from four Docuseek titles.

Docuseek continues to add interesting new documentaries to its streaming platform. Here are just a few of the more than 2,800 titles available.

A fascinating look at the Haenyeo, female divers in Jeju Province, South Korea. These fearless women, some well into their 80s, work tirelessly year-round, diving deep into frigid and often dangerous waters to retrieve abalone, conch, and other treasures of the sea. Shunning underwater breathing devices and modern tools, their breath-holding capacity is their greatest asset.

La Paloma is one of the most frequently played songs in the world. This film traces its journey through history from its birth in the 1860s to the diverse settings across the globe where the haunting melody lives on. From a political rally in Mexico to a burial in Romania; from Nazi Germany to a wedding in Zanzibar; La Paloma has even left its mark on Hawaiian slack key guitar.

After serving in Afghanistan, an Islamophobic former U.S. Marine hatches a plan to bomb the Islamic Center of Muncie, hoping to kill at least 200 people. But what happens when he goes to assess his target and is welcomed warmly by his enemies? Interviews with the ex-Marine, his family, and members of the close-knit Muslim community reveal the surprising outcome of this story.

Equal parts repellent and fascinating, this short film is like a visual poem, narrated and set to music. Time-lapse photography reveals the natural process of food and animals molding, decomposing, and ultimately transforming into new forms. Who knew that putrefaction could be so beautiful? Even so, watching this film during your lunch break is probably not a good idea!

As a reminder, all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students are welcome to use our streaming video services. When accessing our electronic resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first.

Great news! Hawaiian Soul, the award-winning short film by ʻĀina Paikai, is now available to stream! All current Leeward CC faculty, staff, and students may access the video through this link (click on the UH Streaming Videos link).

Hawaiian Soul movie poster.

About the film

Against the backdrop of the 1970s native rights movement, George Helm, a young Hawaiian activist and musician must gain the support of kūpuna (community elders) from the island of Maui to aid in the fight of protecting the precious neighboring island of Kahoʻolawe from military bombing.

More about George Helm and Kahoʻolawe

Inspirational, beautifully filmed, and featuring exquisite music, Hawaiian Soul is a must-see!

Due to high cost and low usage, access to Feature Films for Education will end on 1/31/2024. Other options for streaming videos include Kanopy, Swank Digital Campus, Academic Video Online, and Docuseek. Please see our Videos collection page for more information.

If you need help finding a film for your class, please reach out to your librarian subject liaison for assistance. Not every film is available for academic streaming, but we always try our best to get you what you need.

 


 

New videos from Docuseek image with screenshots of 5 videos.

Docuseek continues to add interesting new documentaries to its streaming platform. One of our awesome library student assistants, Izumi Watt, selected and summarized five of these new titles below.

This film combines four short documentaries highlighting stories of immigrants to America from Korea, Cambodia, China, and Japan. The films are: A Portrait of Us, directed by Sarah Park; Conversations at the Register by Brandon Soun and Lan Nguyen; What Remains by Ginger Yifan Chen; and Sincerely Miné Okubo, directed by Yuka Murakami.

The phrase “Matter Out of Place” refers to any object or impact not native to the immediate environment. Nikolaus Geyrhalter, the director, travels all over the world to put a spotlight on various examples of matter out of place. The documentary focuses on the expanding problem of human-made refuse and the endless struggle to control it.

Directed by Eric Khoo, this film shares the life and creations of Yoshihiro Tatsumi, inspired by his book A Drifting Life and five of his iconic stories. Tatsumi’s works follow his experiences with high and low moments in life. His artistic style of gekiga (dramatic pictures) transformed the manga landscape in the mid-1900s.

The Pretendians, directed by Paul Kemp with Drew Hayden Taylor, discusses indigenous identity and appropriation of the rights of native people in Canada and the United States. Drew Hayden Taylor, an Anishinaabe author from Curve Lake First Nations, visits gift shops, universities, and reservation gas stations to investigate instances of fraud related to falsely claimed indigenous identity by “Pretend Indians.”

The Apollonia is a schooner, a type of sailing ship with two or more masts. She is captained by Sam Merrett as the crew ships freight up and down the Hudson River. Windshipped, directed by Jon Bowermaster, follows the ship and crew as they revive an age-old method of moving products to cities along the banks of the river. This practice of sail freight attracts businesses interested in sustainable and carbon neutral options for shipping their products.

We hope you find these videos as interesting and informative as we did!

As a reminder, all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students are welcome to use our streaming video services. When accessing our electronic resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first.

Picture of a movie theater screen with text: streaming video updates.

Seen any good movies lately? Crowds may be flocking to the theaters for live-action Disney mermaids and high-jumping Nintendo characters, but the library provides you with the best in academic video streaming from the comfort of your own home . . . or maybe even from the beach, weather permitting!

Kanopy, Docuseek, Academic Video Online, Feature Films for Education, and Swank Digital Campus are among our major streaming film platforms. We introduced you to all of these (and more) in a series of blog posts last summer. Perhaps you may recall, from the post on electronic resource access models, that some of our platforms regularly add and remove titles from their collections. Today's post will give you content updates from two such platforms: Kanopy and Docuseek.

Kanopy Additions and Removals

Picture of a film strip with text: New update Kanopy.

There's been a lot of activity on Kanopy, one of our largest streaming services.

Additions 😊

Removals 😢

If you notice that a film you need for your class has been (or is scheduled to be) removed from Kanopy, please contact your librarian subject liaison or the Reference Desk. It is possible we may be able to acquire it in another way, or help you explore other options.

Docuseek New Additions

Picture of a movie marquee with text: New Films on Docuseek.

More than 100 new titles have been added to our Docuseek platform recently. The titles below, with vendor-supplied descriptions, are just a handful of the newly available documentaries.

Filmmaker and philanthropist Abigail Disney grapples with America’s profound inequality crisis. The story begins in 2018, after Abigail encounters workers at the company that bears her name struggling to put food on the table. Could she, a descendent, with no role in the multinational conglomerate, use her famous last name to help pressure Disney and other American corporations to treat low-wage workers more humanely?

A chronicle of resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), WE ARE UNARMED bears witness to this historic event from the first week of September 2016 to forced evacuation on February 23rd, 2017. Award-winning filmmaker Gwendolen Cates goes behind the scenes with three Lakota women who play central roles – Kelly Morgan, the tribal archaeologist, Phyllis Young, the longtime activist who became the movement spokesperson and strategist, and Holy Elk Lafferty, the young camp leader.

ZERO GRAVITY follows a diverse group of middle school students from San Jose, CA, who compete in a nationwide tournament to code satellites aboard the International Space Station. Their mission: compete with teams across the country to write the most strategic code for surveying satellites, known as SPHERES. These satellites will help map out a GPS system to successfully orbit Mars in the future, opening the door to infinite opportunities and exploration on the Red Planet.

A story about the challenge of keeping Dolpo’s ancient culture alive as the area becomes less isolated. It centers on Pema’s parents’ expectation that Pema will return to Dolpo when he completes his education, marry a Dolpapa woman, and manage the family’s land. As the only son, this is his role in Dolpo’s traditional culture. Pema is torn between his duty to the family and his desire to live the modern life that he now prefers.

Town Destroyer explores the ways we look at art and history at a time of racial reckoning. The story focuses on a dispute over historic murals depicting the life of George Washington: slaveowner, general, land speculator, President, and a man Seneca leaders called "Town Destroyer" after he ordered their villages destroyed during the Revolutionary War.


As a reminder, all current Leeward CC faculty, staff and students are welcome to use our streaming video services. When accessing our electronic resources from off campus, you may be prompted to log in with your UH credentials first.

There are countless hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Let us know what you find!

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