Details of the Documentary
Intended audience: The documentary is intended for geologists who wish to expand their knowledge and skills, specifically regarding how planet Earth’s geography has revolutionized over time.
Purpose
The purpose of the documentary is to disclose that geology is a crucial discipline in delineating world formation, structure, and evolution. It should help people make future wise decisions that can help safeguard the planet. The director intends to enlighten the audience on the importance of Scotland and Scottish geologists in promulgating the discipline of geology. Accordingly, the documentary supports the notion that Scotland-based people and Scotland-born people have primarily contributed to the global view of geology (The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2016). The documentary additionally reveals that the Scottish enlightenment alongside the intellectual thought among Scottish scholars helped promote many great ideas about the planet.
Prior Knowledge of the Subject
I had little information about Scotland’s contribution to world geology through notable figures whose participation extensively improved the field. Scotland’s geographical features and landmarks also add meaning and understanding to world geology. I hoped to see a lot of scientific deductions and quantitative analyses that would result in empirical findings. Besides, I expected inferences based on calculations and some scientific elements, like charts and graphs. My previous question about the subject is how geology contributed as a scientific discipline in academics. I have learned that geology is a derivative science that employs concepts from all the other sciences to create meaning and understanding.
Documentary Summary
The documentary is structured in three phases that outline the planet Earth’s tour, focusing on Scotland and Scottish researchers. The first phase identifies a world in motion and reveals a continually changing planet characterized by a revolution over thousands of years. The second phase of the documentary discusses a succession of worlds. The documentary portion tells of a real-time gap that is only evidenced in rock formations and layers piled over millions of years (The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2016). The third phase explores the anthropocentric world and reveals that humans are a significant driver and influence the current and future world instead of the natural factors that initially defined the planet’s geology.
Camera Works and Special Effects
The sound effects are impressive because they add to the continuity and set in a proper transition between the various phases and parts of the documentary. The sound effects also arouse emotions in the viewers, particularly in the region that reveals the thunderous and scary nature of the Victoria Falls on the river Zambezi. The images are sharp and show a clear picture of the intended scene or object. Besides, the better part of the documentary was filmed in shoulder-level and eye-level shots. Still, high-angle and low-angle shots were equally used during filming. Unfortunately, the documentary did not focus on any interview but mainly consisted of a professional talk from Professor Iain Stewart. Special effects have been used in the documentary, mainly when the professor explains the crystal growth after volcanic eruptions that created the massive rocks evident to date.
Personal Comments and Recommendations
The best part of the documentary is the part that outlines the Victoria Falls on the river Zambezi. The scene is beautiful and frightening at the same time but lovely to watch. I learned that the foundations of the African continent could be traced from the region, and I was surprised to learn that the Vitoria falls descend over 100 meters below the surface. One drawback of the documentary is that it featured a passive audience that is not part of the documentary. Overall, the documentary is educative and reveals a lot of adventure, and therefore, I would recommend it to my friends.
Reference
The Royal Society of Edinsburgh (2016). Scotland rocks – A tartan tour of planet Earth with prof Iain Stewart. YouTube. Web.