Playing with Poison 2002
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by John Ritchie & Bob Bromley / Force Four Entertainment Inc.
Directed by John Ritchie
VHS, color, 64 min.
College - Adult
Anthropology, Child Development, Psychology, Medicine, Environmental Studies, Sociology, Agriculture, Physiology, Food, Nutrition, Disability Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Tara Hurt, University Archivist, Eastern Connecticut State UniversityPlaying with Poison from CBS’s from the Nature of Things is a well organized presentation of over ten years of research and study by American anthropologist Dr. Elizabeth Guillete. Dr. Guillete’s work with eminent scientists within the fields of pesticides and child psychology is demonstrated by her research style and through interviews with community members and other professionals. Throughout the video Dr. Guillete speaks of her anthropological methods and there are sections within the video that discuss the overall similarities, differences and controversies between anthropological methodology and medical methodology.
The video is divided into four sections, which can be very helpful to instructors wanting to introduce Dr. Guillete’s theories and concepts over several class sessions. The video’s strength is that it introduces several themes: case study work, the concept of control groups, psychological analysis, chemical analysis and funding from sources such as state, government and local government groups.