In complete contradiction of our last blog post, I’m choosing to face reality in an honest and embracive manner and admit: I procrastinate like a professional. If I could major in it, I would. I would probably have a full scholarship to University of Putting Things Off. Therefore, midterm week is one of the worst weeks of the year for me- or the best. I always find the most interesting things to do that can also be pawned off as productivity: reading a book that wasn’t assigned for class, re-organizing my music library, straightening my hair, writing letters to friends at different schools, listening to talk radio, straightening my roommate’s hair, brainstorming for future HerCampus articles, updating my diary- the list goes on.
One of the most dangerous refuges for my addictive procrastination is my Netflix® account, and most especially their Instant Watch section. For those of you unfamiliar with Netflix® Instant, it’s like Hulu.com on speed. They have vast collections of television shows, Oscar-winning movies, and even classic oldies. I’m completely obsessed. In exam weeks in the past, I’ve watched an unhealthy amount of Netflix®. Some notables include five straight seasons of 30 Rock, An Education, as many episodes as I could find of Skins, The Hills, Scrubs, Laguna Beach, The Office, Psych, andThe Rocky Horror Picture Show- again, the list goes on and on. And a true Netflix® addiction is contagious- currently my roommate is slowly working her way through every single episode of Family Guy.
Striking the balance between procrastination and my favorite hybrid (productive procrastination) is somewhat tougher in the Netflix® world. However, I’ve discovered the Mecca for every procrastinator: the documentary section. For those masquerading their dilly-dallying as productivity, this is an invaluable source of entertainment. I love documentaries. Sometimes –although I’d never admit this to my professors, or my parents who are paying for my education- I feel like they teach me more than I can learn in the classroom. Plus, it fits right into my procrastination hybrid: if I fail all my midterms, at least I will have learned something! Since I’m slowly making my way through the entire documentary section of Netflix®, I thought I could play resident expert and recommend some of my favorites to my fellow classmates looking to put off studying for just an hour and a half more.
5. No Impact Man: The Documentary (91 minutes): This documentary allows us to take an intimate look as a New York City family examines and then drastically reduces the mark they leave on the environment.
The film explores if it’s possible to completely erase your carbon footprint, or simply make no impact for one year. As a Fordham student, it’s fascinating to investigate going green in the Big Apple. Watching a family live with no impact in NYC certainly made me aware of the footprint I was generating.
4. The September Issue (89 minutes): For any die-hard Devil Wears Prada fans like myself, this is the documentary for you. This documentary follows the queen of Vogue, Anna Wintour, and the rest of the editorial team as they create the biggest issue that the magazine puts out- the September issue. It made me look at magazine production in a whole different way- between the cost of photo shoots and the extreme scrutiny that the magazine undergoes, I’ll never again take my copy of Vogue for granted. This documentary is especially fantastic for aspiring journalists or those interested in the fashion industry. You can’t beat one-on-one interviews with André Leon Talley, Vera Wang, and Grace Coddington. It totally makes you feel like you’re a part of the Vogue team- and what collegiette™ can resist that?
3. Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (92 minutes): As a total Holocaust history buff, this is one of the most intriguing perspectives on the Holocaust that I have ever seen. It explores Hollywood’s portrayal of the atrocities of the Holocaust, from right after the war ended until the early 20th century. With interviews with members of Old Hollywood and heavy-hitters like Steven Spielberg, this documentary combines a comprehensive look at nearly every movie made about the Holocaust with a focus on the public’s response to these films. This is a must-see for anyone with an interest in the film industry or a penchant for history.
2. Exit Through The Gift Shop (86 minutes): If nothing else, watch this documentary as a visual treat. This documentary follows various urban street artists and the underground community they create. Following infamous artists such as Bansky and Shepard Fairey (the guy who created the red, white, and blue posters of Obama during the 2008 campaign), the film takes an interesting twist when the filmmaker becomes the subject of his own film. Thierry Guetta, the amateur filmmaker who began exploring street art, becomes so invested in the project that he himself becomes a famous street artist. The instant I finished this documentary, I became incredibly aware of all the guerrilla art that surrounds me every day. I dare you to try walking down the subway platform without seeing the art that’s all around us!
1. The Cove (91 minutes): This is the one documentary that I tell people makes me want to invent a memory-eraser so I can watch it over and over and over again without knowing what happens at the end. This is one of the most powerful, suspenseful, haunting and all-around incredible documentaries I have ever seen. The documentary exposes the corrupt operation run in Taiji, Japan that collects dolphins both for their meat and for aquariums worldwide. I had no idea this was going on until I watched this documentary- and it’s truly horrifying. The documentary goes beyond just explaining the sickening nature of this ecological crime, but also demonstrates the obstacles the filmmakers must overcome simply to gain footage. For any animal-lovers, any lovers of adventure, and anyone with a passion for investigative journalism, this is a must-see.
Are there any documentaries that you collegiettes™ think I should be watching? Let me know- I’m always up for suggestions!