MuchMusic | Media Education | BookTelevision

MuchArctic

Program Length: 1/2 hour
Produced: 2001

This program documents George Strombolopoulos' and Scott Moffatt's visit to Nunavut. They visit clothing stores, schools, a camp, a golf tournament and a fishing tournament.

The program presents opportunities to see and consider many aspects of life in Nunavut.

The following activities appear chronologically as they occur in the video. Leaders may use them all, or select those that best suit the group and the time frame.

1. The Expedition

The beginning of the video shows us the journey: George and Scott on an airplane, an animated map, and a stopover in Iqaluit to buy warm clothes.

Do you think George and Scott would take the same steps if they journeyed from Toronto to Vancouver? Why or why not?

At this point in the video, we have not yet seen Nunavut; however, the program has already given us some information about Nunavut. At this stage in the program, how do you feel about Nunavut? What are you expecting to see?

2. Oral History

While standing in front of The Hudson's Bay Old Blubber Station, an historic trading post, George presents the history of Pangnirtung. Make notes on what he is saying. Now, in your own words, recount the history of Pangnirtung to a partner. When you have finished, compare your version of the history of Pangnirtung to that which George presented. Was your version exactly the same as George’s version? What might account for some differences in the way you explained the history of Pangnirtung, and the way George explained it?

Repeat this exercise when Scott Moffat and Donald Mearns explain the Spring Camp. This time, allow the other partner to present the information.

3. Preserving Nunavut Culture

Several people express concern about the decline of Nunavut culture as a result of southern Canadian influences such as television and the English language.

Explain how each of these influences might contribute to the decline of traditional northern culture. What are the people of Nunavut doing to maintain their culture? What else might they do?

Which other groups in Canada are concerned about the influences of Canadian culture on their own culture? What are their specific concerns? Are they the same as those of the people of Pangnirtung? What are these groups doing to maintain their cultures?

Donald Mearns explains that “school is a white enclave. It always has been.” Why do you think there are so few teachers from Nunavut? What might the people of Nunavut do to encourage their people to become teachers?

4. The PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy

The PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy was started by Canadian radio host Peter Gzowski in 1986. Thirteen tournaments are held across Canada annually. In its fifteen years of existence, the PGI Golf Tournament has raised over 6 million dollars.

Could the tournament be counter-productive to preserving Nunavut culture (i.e., could a tournament that raises money to increase the literacy of the people of Nunavut actually be eroding native culture)? Explain.

5. The Floe Edge

Why is visiting the floe edge an exciting experience? Would you ride a snowmobile over open water hundreds of metres deep? Why or why not?

Why do you think these youth do it?

What might youth in your community do to get a thrill and show that they are exciting people?

Do you think the Nunavut youth would ride a snowmobile over open water if there were no MuchMusic camera recording them?

Do you think there are any other moments in this show that might have been influenced by the presence of a MuchMusic camera? Which ones? What makes you think this?

Why do you think there are no female youth on the trip to the floe edge? Do you think most young females from Nunavut would ride a snowmobile over open water? What does this tell us about the roles of young men and women in Nunavut culture? Do you think young men and women in southern Canada would act in a similar way? Why or why not?

6. Images

What were the most memorable images of MuchArctic for you? What do those images suggest about the arctic? What do your choices reveal about your interests and personality?

George strongly urges us to visit Nunavut. Would you visit? Which activities would you like to see while in the arctic?

Would you consider living in Nunavut? Why or why not?

7. Production Techniques

The production style of this program is distinctive:

·        Dark borders are used at the top and bottom of the screen;
·        The camera is almost always hand-held;
·        The cuts are frequent and rapid;
·        Multiple images, both moving and still, are presented on the screen simultaneously;
·        George and Scott address the camera directly.

How do these production techniques influence the viewer?

Are viewers more or less involved when they have to make sense of rapid images? Explain.

Are viewers more or less involved when they are spoken to directly? Explain.

Compare the techniques described above to those used in other MuchMusic productions. Do all the programs use similar techniques? How do differences in technique modify the feeling viewers might get from a program?

8. For more information on Nunavut, visit

http://www.gov.nu.ca/cley.htm
http://www.nunavut.worldweb.com/
http://www.arctictravel.com/
http://www.gov.nu.ca/
http://www.nunavut.com/

For more information about MuchMusic's media education programming, or to give us your feedback, please contact:

Kim Rapagna
Manager, Public Affairs
CTVglobemedia Inc.
krapagna@ctvglobemedia.com

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