IRD Post 2

How have the modes of communication been a reflection of history and society?
The film shows how society was in the 1960s not only by describing the lifestyles at Harvard and Yale, but also delving into topics such as the Vietnam War and the sexual revolution. This film reflects how life was in the 1960s as one player from Harvard stated, "the 1960s began with the Gulf of Tonkin and ended when Nixon resigned." This film not only described Harvard and Yale, but how the colleges and the game were part of the 1960s. Rafferty showed that the game was a small part of the 1960s, but all of the game's participants were still living in the 1960s such as Tim Conway. Conway was a Harvard student who served in Vietnam and then returned to Harvard in 1968 to play cornerback. He describes his experiences on the field, but also discusses the war and the perceptions of the Harvard student body. He said that when he returned to Cambridge he was egged because of the negativity towards the war. The film reflects America in the 1960s, but Rafferty focuses towards the population of students at Harvard and Yale.

How have the modern modes of communication been received and perceived by the global community?
The film showed the story of the 1968 Harvard-Yale football game as the backdrop for an exploration into the culture of the 1960s. The film tells a story that is not as well known as other stories in sports, but presents it in a way that not only describes the game, but the country during the time of the game. With documentaries, filmmakers have the opportunity to expand a story with the information around them to not only tell the story at hand, but also tell the whole story: in this case, the 1968 Harvard-Yale football game and the attitudes of the colleges towards the Vietnam War and the various social revolutions in America. The film was given high praise by many critics for its excellent story telling of the game and America during the 1960s. This film is an excellent example of how film has evolved to tell stories and become a tool to present claims and defend, challenge, or qualify an argument. This film is more expository, but clearly and effectively tells a story and presents information that has not been considered greatly before. There have been films and movies about colleges during the 1960s, but this is a unique film that delves into two of the world's premier learning institutions and sets a football game as a backdrop to the story. The documentary shows how film can inform its viewers and establish a claim that may not have been thoroughly considered before.