What is it like living through a mass genocide and what can we learn from it?
The Global Nomads Group (GNG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating cross-cultural learning by connecting youth virtually with their peers around the world and using (in this case) film as a prompt for teaching tolerance. In GNG’s film,Siroun Webcast, now screening on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel, students from the United States, Jordan and Armenia connect virtually to talk about the Armenion Genocide. The young people reflect on their takeaways from a short virtual reality (VR) film, Siroun, that immerses audiences into a story from a rural Ottoman village during the Armenian Genocide.
Siroun was created to extend the central theme of The Promise, a 2016 feature film by Director Terry George set in the final years of the Ottoman Empire, immediately before the Armenian Genocide. “Lack of tolerance starts with fear – fear of someone being different,” says George, who appears with the students in the film as they speak about the importance of documenting history and acknowledging the issues of today.
Audiences will find themselves curious and empathetic to the people in Siroun and those who were affected by the Armenian Genocide. Siroun Webcast is an incredible watch that makes us wonder how the capabilities of virtual reality can be used to further education and understanding of the world as a whole. As one student noted in the film, her experience “made everything more personal; it made everything more real.”
I would give this film a 5 out of 5 stars. It was fascinating hearing the different takeaways of the students and their connections with what they learned through this experience. The film itself was very entertaining and eye opening. It made me watch the virtual reality film itself, which I also recommend checking out.
Patricia is a student at Portland State University majoring in Film with a minor in Theatre Arts. In addition to her internship at CMRubinWorld as an Audio/Video Editor Intern, she is a video editor, AAPI representative, and cultural chair for PSU’s Filipino American Student Association: Kaibigans, being an advocate for the Fil-Am community and leading the cultural events for the organization.
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