CST Documentary Evenings

This academic year (2013/2014), Documentary Evenings were introduced as a new initiative combining entertainment with education. Organised on behalf and with support of the Centre for Conflict, Security and Terrorism (CST), these events were aimed at students (UG, PG, PGR) and members of staff across various departments of the University of Nottingham, seeking to widen the opportunities to learn and deepen their knowledge of world affairs using a non-traditional teaching approach with a focus on visual and emotional experience.

Throughout both semesters, there have been six such events consisting of a brief introductory lecture by a member of staff, screening of the movie/documentary, and, finally, a brief discussion with the audience about the wider implications of the presented stories. 

Guest speakers included Dr Maria Ryan (Department of American and Canadian Studies) introducing Fahrenheit 9/11, Professor Alex Danchev (School of Politics & IR) introducing Restrepo, doctoral researcher Jana Jonasova (School of Politics & IR) introducing Iraq’s Guns for Hire, Dr Rory Cormac (School of Politics & IR) introducing Charlie Wilson’s War, doctoral researcher Esther Akanya (School of Politics & IR) introducing The Attack, and Dr Ben Offiler (Department of American and Canadian Studies) introducing Argo. 

Utilising the small cinema facility in the Hallward library, all the documentaries and films selected for these events powerfully illustrated important themes in international affairs, and offered an additional opportunity for students to learn outside their classrooms.

Jana Jonasova, Doctoral Researcher