Educational Media Reviews Online

Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death, and Technology is about as easy to describe as the term “autoblogography” implies. At once it’s a film about sustainability and the notion that the earth is a single living organism and relatively unnoticed changes, for instance a dip in the honey bee population, can create a chain reaction leading to much bigger problems. The film is also an autobiographical work about the filmmaker and her relationship with her father, a doctor who had written several books about the concepts under discussion in the film. During the production of the film Dr. Schlain, the father, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and passed away before its completion. The blending of the narratives is a little disjointed and the theses of the father’s books aren’t explained with much clarity or detail however the film is well made and will be accessible to a wide range of audiences. It has an engaging narrative structure and will serve as a good discussion starter on sustainability and stewardship of the earth’s resources.

In addition to the grand sweep of the topic, the interconnectedness of all things, the video comes packaged with an educator’s guide, a summary booklet, and a pack of cards with questions and quotes to inspire deeper discussion e.g. What if everyone on the planet was online? How would that change the world? What is one difference you can make in the way you live your life today that could have a positive ripple effect in the world? What do you think the meaning of life is? The supplemental items are nicely executed and may prove to be of some use to viewers. Recommended for public libraries, K-12 libraries, and university libraries.