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Author Samuel, Julian

Title Save and burn / by Julian Samuel
Published New York, NY : Filmakers Library, 2006

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Description 1 online resource (81 min.)
Series Filmakers Library online
Summary Save and Burn builds from The Library in Crisis by deepening an understanding of the history of civilization through the phenomenon of the library. From ancient China, India, Islam, and the Graeco Roman world, we see how the library radiated knowledge and spiritual values, and facilitated the cross fertilization of ideas from one culture to another. Save and Burn puts the institution of the library within a startling political context. Generally considered a preserver of culture, the documentary points out how libraries are subject to the ideologies of their time and place, and not above them, as may have been assumed. The film assays the commercialization of libraries, the irresponsible weeding and closing of libraries, the excesses of copyright law, but most of all, the fact that the West has not recognized the Orient for much of its cultural heritage. The film is packed with provocative ideas. Historically, libraries have been used to promote or inhibit democratic debate, with a nod to the Patriot Act. The filmmaker combines exquisite footage of the Alexandrian Library, the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, and Bromley House in Nottingham. Interviews include Tom Twiss, Government Information Librarian, University of Pittsburgh, who describes the destruction of Palestinian libraries by Israeli soldiers, as well as the fate of Iraqi libraries during the "liberation."
Audience For College; Adult audiences
Notes English
Print version record
Subject Libraries -- Destruction and pillage -- History
Libraries -- History.
Libraries -- Iraq -- History -- 21st century
Libraries
Libraries -- Destruction and pillage
Iraq
Genre/Form Documentary
History
Documentary.
Form Streaming video