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July 6, 2008

Reinforcing the wrong message

Mr. Berdik, While I am pleased to see information about the film Darwin's Nightmare in BU Today, I am somewhat perplexed as to why you included these particular images to illustrate your synopsis. I realize these images appear on the Darwin's Nightmare web site as well, but by selecting only these two images, I feel you are reinforcing a stereotype, that Africans are savages (shirtless children, one of whom appears to be experiencing some kind of agonized rage). Why not use a picture of the journalists themselves or show whom I assume is the Russian pilot pictured http://www.darwinsnightmare.com/darwin/html/startset.htm. Aren't they just as much a part of this film? You also never mention in your brief synopsis that the film was shot in Tanzania. Instead, although you mention Lake Victoria several times, you talk about Africa as if it's a country. My 6-year-old daughter knows that Africa is a continent. When someone makes blanket statements to her about Africa, she usually follows up with, "What country?" I think you might want consider including a bit more context and objective content the next time you review a film for readers who might not know any better; who knows, maybe you'll actually teach someone something.

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