World Folk Art

Comprised of six filmstrip programs transferred to video, World Folk Art is a curriculum-based program designed to introduce students to the diversity of folk art within different cultures. The six programs are: "An Introductory Overview," "The Influence of Tradition," "The Influence of Religion and Spirituality," "The Influence of Architecture and Natural Designs," "A Product of the Community," and "Expression of Cultures." Using examples from the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of New Mexico, each program offers between 50-75 slides, while voiceover narration explains what is being seen. Every so often, a question is thrown in to check student progress. Regardless of how good the instruction is (and the methodology here is more along the line of using many examples, as opposed to a logical progression of ideas), the question is: how effective is the filmstrip today as an audio visual medium for instruction? I, for one, have serious doubts for any audience of three-year-olds or over. Obviously inappropriate for public libraries, this series would only be useful in the hands of a teacher who was already very knowledgeable in the subject. Not a necessary purchase. (Available from: Crystal Productions, P.O. Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025.)