A Look at Films Conveying Environmental Awareness in the 1960s
With environmental risks of听air pollution a听major global issue,听顿谤.听Jennifer Peterson, Chair of 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Communication program, recently听辫耻产濒颈蝉丑别诲听an听essay, 鈥�鈥澨�for the National Library of Medicine鈥檚 鈥淢edicine on Screen鈥� project in Washington D.C.听
The essay听reviews听six films about听historical听air pollution held by the National Library of Medicine that were produced or supported by the United States Public Health Service (PHS) between 1960鈥�1972.听The timely piece听was also reviewed by听the听Washington Post听(see Erin Blakemore, 鈥淓ducational films reflect evolving views in 1960s about the health dangers of air pollution,鈥澨�Washington Post,听September 19, 2020).听听
According to the National Library of Medicine鈥檚 site, 鈥�In examining these historic films, Dr.听Peterson brings forward the work of scientists and others in the Public Health Service, and how their findings and priorities shaped health policies and public communications during the era.鈥澨�听
As听顿谤.听Peterson writes, 鈥�Air pollution was certainly not a new problem in the 1960s (urban air pollution dates back hundreds of years), but it became a newly urgent topic in this period.鈥� Moreover,听these historical air pollution films have听taken on renewed听resonance today as we are facing the return of poor air quality with the fires in California听and all over the western U.S.听this season.听听
鈥�Medicine on Screen鈥�听is a curated portal to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) historical audiovisual collections. The听site showcases unique, rare, and important medical films enriched with contextual information, scholarly essays, and related resources.听听
鈥疞ast Updated on September 28, 2020. 听