Free time for many students at Ohio University often signifies a trip to Ping or an evening at the Front Room. Marshall Lilly, who has a master's degree in political science and is now working on his thesis, used his free time and decided to inspire political awareness in as many people as possible.
Lilly created an Election Season Movie Night that has run on Tuesday nights in Bentley 240 and, so far, has seen success. Last evening, more than twenty OU students and area residents gathered to view the series' third film, titled Noam Chomsky: Distorted Morality -America's War on Terror?
The film is an hour-long lecture by renowned educator/linguist Noam Chomsky at Harvard University in early 2002. In it, Chomsky speaks at length on recent acts of terrorism, criticizes every administration from Reagan to Bush for contradictory efforts to quell acts of terror and cites countless instances in which the United States' actions fell into its own definition of terrorism.
Though controversial, Chomsky's remarks seemed to fit in with the beliefs many viewers already held.
I've already been pretty down on what's happening around the world lately. ... It made sense
what he was saying said Katie Ray, a junior political science major.
Chris Flower, 23, an area resident, said the film didn't change his views on the political situation but enhanced his opinions. It gave me some more information to base those off of he said.
Athens resident Robin Whealey, 74, said she was impressed and enlightened by the film Lilly presented. What I like about Chomsky is that he shows no fear.
These positive reactions are exactly the ones Lilly hopes the film series inspires. With a goal to raise awareness about issues that are important to this specific election
Lilly used the growing trend in popularity of documentaries to voice that message.
Before Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine became hugely popular, documentaries were relegated to art houses and television. Moore's Oscar win, his notorious acceptance speech and the subsequent deluge of controversy over Fahrenheit 9/11 have brought political documentaries into the forefront.
Lilly's own interest was sparked last summer when he watched Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism with a friend. I thought
I need to have as many people see this as possible
Lilly said. Outfoxed was the first film of the series and drew nearly 100 viewers.
Though Fahrenheit 9/11 is the final and most well-known film of the series, Lilly insists that the most crucial evening for him will be when Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election is shown this Tuesday, Sept. 28. ['Unprecedented'] is the most important film I'm showing
Lilly said. He timed the film, a documentary on the 2000 election crisis, to show right before the voter registration deadline and is confident that it could inspire political activism.
If [this movie] doesn't get people to go out vote
then there's nothing I can do... 2004 could make last time look like a walk through the park
he said.
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